Procedure and House Affairs committee  We're happy to work with the PPS on that point, but I should point out that we want to keep members safe, and it's not always safe to let members off just in any old location. This is a question that has arisen before, and drivers are very careful to keep people safe. We'll look

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Essentially, Mr. Schmale, this comes from the set-up of PPS a little over a year ago. At that time, it had to be done fairly quickly, so very quick decisions were made as to which unit would go and which unit would stay and so on. After that has all shaken out, we're now in a sit

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes, but when committees are travelling, if security risks are identified, we coordinate with local police forces and, if needed, hire locally for those purposes.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  When PPS was set up, obviously the House contributed more personnel and more money to the setting up of PPS than did the Senate, because we had a bigger security service. But now that doesn't really matter anymore. It's one service with separate institutions and separate votes in

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The RCMP put money into PPS as well. The complement of RCMP officers that was on the Hill became part of PPS.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  This question came up earlier. In fact, it's up to the committee entirely to decide on its priorities. Since there is no obligation to report at all, the committee can do what it wishes on either case. Therefore it follows that if the committee has other priorities, it can decide

Procedure and House Affairs committee  There are examples of that.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  We have other engagements. We had counted on being here until noon.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That's entirely up to the committee. In the past, if you look at these cases, you'll see different avenues followed: the member who raised the point in the first place, possibly the minister, or government officials. That's what was done in those cases that I'm referring to.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It's hard for me to comment. I'm not familiar with the details of the case.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Again, it's up to the committee to decide if it wants to invite witnesses or seek information on the point Mr. Christopherson was making. That's up to the committee. Sure, it could be done.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'd simply draw your attention to the case of March 2001, which again is in your documentation. In that particular case, further steps were taken. The committee obtained documents from the government. It states that in October 2001, the government house leader provided the commit

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That's up to the committee, of course.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It could be. Sure.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Again, in the material you received I would draw your attention to the reference to the Speaker's ruling of November 5, 2009. That one is of interest given what you've just said. In that case the Speaker found there was no prima facie case of privilege since—and I'm paraphrasing