The House of Commons, Senate and RCMP have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a new integrated security service on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
The document, obtained by CTV News, was signed earlier this summer by Senate Speaker Leo Housakos, House Speaker Andrew Scheer, as well as Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney and RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson.
The document outlines how the various security services on Parliament Hill will collaborate, including House and Senate security, and the RCMP. Ultimately, the RCMP is responsible for all security on the Hill, however responsibility for selecting personnel remains under the purview of the Senate and House speakers.
A government source told CTV’s Mercedes Stephenson that the creation of the Parliament Protective Service creates a much-need unified security force on the Hill.
The PPS will provide physical security in the Parliamentary precinct and on the Hill’s grounds, including physical security of Parliament, its premises, Parliamentarians, Parliamentary staff and guests of Parliament.
The government source said integrating security forces will make it possible to respond to security situations more efficiently and effectively.
According to the MOU, the PPS will include RCMP members, as well as members of the current House of Commons and Senate Protective Services.
The beefed-up security measures come in the wake of a fatal shooting in Ottawa last year.
On Oct. 22, 2014, a lone gunman killed a Canadian reservist at the National War memorial, before storming Parliament Hill's centre block.
Following the incident, an OPP report revealed gaps in security on Parliament Hill. The report made recommendations on how to improve security on the Hill.
