Public Safety committee  The work to draft this legislation was guided by the motions passed by the House of Commons and the Senate, which clearly identified three key requirements for an integrated security force: first, that the RCMP lead operational security; second, that the privileges, immunities, a

Public Safety committee  The bill defines what area will be covered. It is essentially all the parliamentary precinct and the grounds as well. You won't have the distinction that you have now. The bill also allows the Speaker to designate in writing any another area. If for some reason, for constructio

Public Safety committee  No, I'm not sure about that, either.

Public Safety committee  That's correct. Both speakers have the overall control of the new service that's being created. They are the ones who will be responsible to enter into an arrangement with the RCMP and define the modality of this arrangement with the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Prepar

Public Safety committee  It's actually quite common. I'm appearing again with Minister Poilievre on an electoral bill this week. We do in this case support Minister Duncan, who, as you know, was the sponsor of the motion that was adopted by both the Senate and the House of Commons. We're here to assist h

Public Safety committee  The way the bill is designed, it has two clear roles, one for the director and one for the Speakers. The Speakers are responsible for the overall services in terms of, for example, the main estimates. They are also responsible for preserving privileges, and finally they have the

Public Safety committee  The link to the RCMP commissioner is that the agreement that the Speakers are going to enter into asking the force to provide that service will be with the RCMP. This director will be accountable in the sense that he will have to make sure the agreement is properly implemented as

Public Safety committee  No, but they are the ones who sign the agreement, so the analogy here is that the Speakers will co-sign the agreement as will the Minister of Public Safety.

Public Safety committee  The bill addresses these concerns in two ways. First the Speakers, as custodians of the parliamentary privilege, are in charge of the service. They also have the power to issue broad policy direction. In addition to all of that, there is another provision that says nothing in th

Public Safety committee  It's a good question. Essentially the accountability is shared because there are different purposes for each of the roles and responsibilities. In the case of the Speakers, they are the ones who are in charge of the services and they are the ones who will enter into the agreement

Public Safety committee  The ultimate authority...?

Public Safety committee  It's the Speakers who are in charge of the services.

Public Safety committee  The bill does not touch specifically on the Sergeant-at-Arms. That will be a matter for the Speakers of the House and the Senate to determine.

Public Safety committee  The bill makes in no way changes the internal parliamentary rules. It protects these rules by very clearly indicating that the bill does not change the privileges. Furthermore, it does not change the rules of internal economy of the House of Commons or the Senate.

Public Safety committee  The rules on bilingualism, whether for individuals already part of the protection and security services of the House, the Senate or the RCMP, remain exactly the same. The bill does not change them.