Question Period Note: Parliamentary Security

In recent years, the security environment for Parliamentarians has continued to evolve, as public figures are increasingly subject to threats.

• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) takes all threats against public officials seriously.

• Public figures continue to be increasingly subject to a broad range of threats, ranging from harsh online comments to direct threats of harm.

• The RCMP constantly reviews and monitors the protective measures put in place in response to evolving threat landscape to effectively support the security of Ministers and Parliamentarians.

• The RCMP is committed to establishing a multi-faceted approach to modernize and centralize the Protective Policing Program to meet client’s needs and expectations by bolstering capacity to provide additional designated public figures with close protection security services.

On May 28, 2024, The Globe and Mail reported that “threats and harassment of MPs have risen [by 700 percent] in the past five years”. The article addresses that online harassment and abuse experienced by the MPs is related to either a public stance they take on a specific issue or due to “clipping culture, where clips of questions at committees are posted on social media”. These clips can change the narrative of the information or evidence being presented, and then are used by some MPs on social media to target other MPs in a harmful and harassing way.

The RCMP has a broad mandate to provide protective services to officials through its Protective Policing Program (PPP), which is also responsible for the protection of designated sites and Government-led events. Composed of approximately 435 personnel nationally, including 250 Close Protection Officers (CPOs), the PPP provides close protection to the PM (and family), the Governor General, Supreme Court Justices, Ministers of the Crown, Internationally Protected Persons and other designated individuals.

Additionally, the RCMP assesses those who have been identified as potentially posing a threat to officials – for instance individuals who may be fixated, are known to police, and have been regularly involved in adverse incidents.

In addition to duties set out in the RCMP Act, under the RCMP Regulations 2014, section 14(1) the Minister of Public Safety Canada can designate any Canadian citizen or permanent resident for protective services inside or outside of Canada. Under this designation, peace officers are required to provide protective services for that individual. The level of service provided is determined based on a threat and risk assessment.

Public figures in Canada, and abroad, are operating in an increasingly threatening environment. Reported threats, on-line and in person, including criminal behavior towards politicians and senior officials are intensifying.

The number of threats targeting Parliamentarians and other public figures is increasing and has
led to fear for their safety and that of those around them. The RCMP has continued to make progress on its commitments to enhance parliamentary security. The RCMP has, and will continue to:
• maintain a ministerial liaison team (MLT);
• support enhancements to behavioral analysis capacity;
• engage in regular outreach with Ministers and staff to increase awareness of threats and available services through the MLT;
• deliver security awareness training and briefings to Ministers, Chiefs of Staff and other senior officials; and,
• advance work on new projects to support the front-line demands, such as enhancing experienced police officer recruitment, and a direct entry capacity that will streamlining the traditional approach to hiring and training close protection officers (CPOs).

In addition to these activities, the RCMP has also created a new assistant commissioner position to oversee protective policing, which will allow for focussed senior management attention on this work. The RCMP is actively engaged with partners on work to assess and respond to evolving needs.

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