Parliamentary Protective Service
| Parliamentary Protective Service Service de protection parlementaire | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | PPS/SPP |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | June 23, 2015[1] |
| Employees | ~400 (2016) |
| Annual budget | CA$62,000,000 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Canada |
| Constituting instruments |
|
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | M. J. Nadon Government of Canada Building 73 Leikin Drive Ottawa, Ontario |
| Elected officers responsible | |
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent agency | Royal Canadian Mounted Police |
| Divisions | National Division: National Capital Region |
| Facilities | |
| Detachments | 3 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) is a Canadian federal law enforcement agency that is mandated to protect life and property and maintain the peace and public order within the Parliamentary Precinct in Ottawa, Ontario.
Operationally, PPS is composed of over 300 constables[3] operating under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) National Division as well as 150 detection specialists. The Director of PPS, a superintendent of the RCMP, operates under policies set by the speakers of the House of Commons and the Senate.[4]
PPS is mandated to provide protective services to the parliamentarians, employees, visitors and buildings of the Parliamentary Precinct. Protection of the Prime Minister of Canada still remains with the RCMP.
PPS constables are provided a variety of equipment including the SIG Sauer P226 in 9×19mm Parabellum service pistols as well as bulletproof vests, batons, OC spray, Colt Canada C8 carbines, gas masks, and x26 tasers.[citation needed]
History
In 2009, members of Greenpeace were able to climb onto the roof of the Parliament Buildings as part of a protest. Then, on October 22, 2014, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau evaded security and entered the Hall of Honour with a rifle and a knife, injuring a constable.[5][6]
In November 2014 the Joint Advisory Working Group on Security identified lack of communication among security groups at Parliament Hill as a significant problem,[7] and recommended combining the existing House of Commons security, the Senate Protective Service, and RCMP detachment in charge of the grounds into one integrated security service. Parliament subsequently passed Bill C-59, which mandated this change.[8]
In 2015, organization of the new Parliamentary Protection Service began, starting with changes in weaponry, radio communication and surveillance equipment.[9] One indication of increased security at Parliament Hill is the appearance of RCMP officers with armed with carbines in front of the buildings.[7] About 30 new RCMP officers were added to the newly formed PPS. A Member of Parliament pointed out that not all of the officers in the unit spoke French, creating a potential for problems when directing the public during an emergency.[10]
In June 2016, the members of the new service were provided with uniforms designed to identify them as members of PPS.[11] Officers expressed concern that the uniforms did not differentiate armed and police-trained constables from unarmed security scanners.[12] In November 2016, PPS constables stopped a man from entering the Centre Block with a meat cleaver.[13]
References
- ^ "Welcome". Parliamentary Protective Service. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
- ^ "Parliament of Canada News Release - New Director of Parliamentary Protective Service" (PDF). House Of Commons Canada. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- ^ MacLeod, Ian. "New Parliamentary Protective Service officially unveiled". CBCNews. CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "Parliament of Canada Act". Justice Laws Website. Justice Canada. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ MacLeod, Ian (8 May 2015). "New Parliamentary Protective Service officially unveiled". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ Thibedeau, Hannah (14 May 2015). "RCMP hiring 30 officers for new Parliament Hill security force". CBCNews. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ a b MacLeod, Ian (21 October 2016). "Could Zehaf-Bibeau have made it past today's 'armed to the teeth' Hill security?". Ottawa Citizen.
- ^ Thibedeau, Hannah. "RCMP hiring 30 officers for new Parliament Hill security force". CBCNews. CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ MacCharles, Tonda (21 October 2015). "Parliament Hill security reinforced in wake of Oct. 22 attacks". The Hamilton Spectator.
- ^ "English-only RCMP officers on Parliament Hill spark complaints". CBCNews. 27 April 2016.
- ^ Levitz, Stephanie (16 June 2016). "Old, new Parliament Hill security expose tensions over social media". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press.
- ^ Naumetz, Tim (22 June 2016). "Parliamentary security officers fear safety risk over new uniform policy". The Hill Times.
- ^ "Toronto man arrested on Parliament Hill allegedly carried a meat cleaver". Global News. The Canadian Press. 18 November 2015.