August 7, 2024
The following piece was written by National Police Federation President and CEO Brian Sauvé and published in the Hill Times on August 7, 2024.
The recent assassination attempt on a U.S. presidential candidate and arrests in Canada have highlighted the risks faced by our Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators. The need for enhanced protective services for elected officials is more critical than ever, both on Parliament Hill and in their constituencies.
Reports of threats and harassment against parliamentarians have surged. In 2019, the sergeant-at-arms for Parliament had eight open cases involving threats against parliamentarians; last year, there were 530. MPs have announced they are stepping down due to harassment, vandalism of their constituency offices, and a pervasive feeling of insecurity at work. Recently, there have been various threats against the Prime Minister. This situation underscores the urgent need for a more robust security framework on Parliament Hill.
Currently, the Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) handles physical security on Parliament Hill, but lacks the authority to enforce the law, as its members do not hold peace officer status. This limitation necessitates the frequent involvement of local police services, diverting them from their core policing duties. The 2022 Convoy protests highlighted the challenges of jurisdictional fragmentation and intelligence gaps, which led to an inadequate public safety response.
The RCMP is uniquely positioned to address these challenges. As Canada’s largest and most well-equipped police service, the RCMP already provides close protection for senior government officials, including the Prime Minister and ministers. The federal government has authorized over 150 RCMP officers to be stationed in Ottawa by September 2024 to bolster VIP and protective security on Parliament Hill. These officers would be even more effective if the RCMP were re-established as the police of jurisdiction for the Parliamentary Precinct.
Re-establishing the RCMP in this role would streamline intelligence-sharing and operational coordination, enhancing overall security. The RCMP’s national mandate and extensive network with other police agencies allow it to efficiently coordinate responses to threats, ensuring a more seamless and rapid deployment of resources. Furthermore, the RCMP’s experience and training make its Members ideally suited to handle the unique security needs of Parliament Hill.
The Public Order Emergency Commission criticized the existing security framework’s inability to deploy adequate police resources promptly during the Convoy protests. This failure underscores the necessity of having dedicated RCMP Members manage security on Parliament Hill. A dedicated RCMP detachment, comprising 200 to 300 officers, would protect the parliamentary precinct, ensure public safety, and reinforce the symbolic and physical heart of Canada.
Moreover, the RCMP’s ability to operate independently of other police agencies would alleviate the burden on local police services, allowing them to focus on their primary responsibilities. For example, the Convoy protest cost the City of Ottawa over $55 million, which the federal government reimbursed. The 2024 federal budget allocated another $50 million to enhance security around Parliament Hill. The Ontario government also provided a portion of an allocated $48 million to support the City of Ottawa for national protests, events, and public safety. The Federal Board of Internal Economy estimated PPS would cost $104.5 million, with additional RCMP protection for parliamentarians costing $3.4 million and off-site security costing $7.7 million, totaling over $115 million for 2024/25. This represents just a portion of the significant cost to having a fragmented policing model for Parliament Hill. If the RCMP were designated the protective responsibilities for the Parliamentary Precinct, interagency communications would improve and redundancies would be reduced, achieving both resource and cost efficiencies while ensuring the utmost security.
The RCMP has seen a surge in applications, with over 17,500 in 2023/24 alone, indicating a readiness to expand its jurisdiction and responsibilities. This growth, coupled with the RCMP’s existing infrastructure and experience, positions it as the most capable agency to assume jurisdiction over Parliament Hill.
Re-establishing the RCMP as the police of jurisdiction for Parliament Hill would send a strong message that Canada is committed to taking political threats seriously. It would ensure that MPs, Senators, and all Canadians can work and live without fear for their safety. The time has come to prioritize the security of our nation’s leaders by entrusting this critical responsibility to the RCMP, Canada’s most experienced and capable police service.
