Evidence of meeting #76 for Public Safety and National Security in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was witnesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Rafferty.
We'll go back to Mr. Leef.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
And you'll have the last few moments, and then we have five minutes of committee business.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Ryan Leef Conservative Yukon, YT
Thank you again, Mr. Pecknold.
I have a comment on some of the last questions. I know you weren't able to comment on the level of training, but we did hear from divisional representatives from the RCMP who were certainly proud to comment that both the witness protection program training and the operators in Canada are world renowned in their opinion. That probably dovetails with provincial and municipal agents and operators in witness protection programs, so I think Canada is in a good position with our protection program when compared to other nations'.
You mentioned the combined forces special enforcement unit and you talked a bit about the complexity of investigations that go on among municipal, provincial, and federal bodies. Sometimes one incident can involve all three. This does tie in to Mr. Rafferty's question about first nation policing programs, their funding and ability to access the witness protection program. You may not be able to comment specifically on an individual case. I'll try to characterize this and see if you feel fit to comment on my characterization of investigations.
When investigations become complex on a municipal, provincial, and federal level, a witness entering a witness protection program by and large is not going to be entering that program because of testimony provided on a break and enter. It's going to be a rather complex case where there is a serious threat to personal and community safety. From that position, it's usually going to be a complex investigation that extends well beyond municipal boundaries.
From that point of view, there could or should at least be an angle of application for witness protection program access via the federal protection program under the jurisdiction and authority of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or at least a larger municipal centre or provincial body that has the funds available to do that, to allow a witness to enter the witness protection program. We can think of the smallest municipal jurisdiction in British Columbia. If they had a witness who required protection, they might not be able to afford access to the program, given their small municipal budget. But I would hazard a guess that if the smallest municipality providing its own municipal policing services in British Columbia finds itself with a case in which a witness is testifying and requires the services of the witness protection program, it's not likely that it would be solely a municipal issue. It's not likely that it would involve any less than an integrated unit, the RCMP, or even a federal investigation into the matter on which the witness is testifying.
Would that be an accurate characterization?
10:40 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Director, Police Services, Policing and Security Programs Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Justice
The reality is that in a situation like that, my responsibilities as director for the province come into play to ensure that there's an effective response. Whether that means we leverage provincial resources or we work with the RCMP to leverage federal resources, the reality is that we find a solution that's in the best interest of British Columbians and protecting public safety.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Ryan Leef Conservative Yukon, YT
Great. So we're never going to see an investigation or a witness or a community left out to dry, so to speak, simply because a municipality doesn't have the internal resources in their small budget to bring somebody into that program?
10:40 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Director, Police Services, Policing and Security Programs Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Justice
I can't speak for the rest of the country. I can tell you that in British Columbia we certainly are going to make sure that the investigation is properly resourced and supported, and we provide funding and support to municipalities through the CFSEU on all sorts of major investigations that happen within their jurisdictions, many of which have made the news recently.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you very much, Mr. Pecknold. Unfortunately, our time has concluded. We want to thank you for taking the time to get up early out there in British Columbia and to appear and help our committee with our deliberations. I know that your testimony and answers, along with Justice Major's, have been very valuable for us today.
Thank you very much. We are going to suspend momentarily. We are going to come back in camera to deal with the committee business very quickly.
[Proceedings continue in camera]