The RCMP want to ramp up security at the prime minister's two homes, after a few embarrassing security incidents dating back to when Jean Chretien occupied 24 Sussex Drive.
The "threat evaluation" report says the force wants to install an "anti-ram, anti-scaling fence" to keep anyone considered a threat from gaining access.
Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a security analyst and former CSIS agent, said 24 Sussex and Harrington Lake -- the prime minister's country residence in Quebec's Gatineau Park -- must be "put up to speed with current threats."
He noted that in the case of the so-called Toronto 18, the alleged terrorist group wanted to behead Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
"The prime minister is a big symbol for the country, he's the leader, and from that perspective it would make quite a psychological impact," he told CTV Newsnet.
Ken Rubin, a public interest researcher, obtained the report through an access-to-information request. It says that for the prime minister "and the associated residences, one adversary that has been identified is al Qaeda."
It's unclear if the report mentions a specific threat from al Qaeda; portions were blacked out for security reasons. However, Osama bin Laden mentioned Canada has a potential target more than six years ago.
In 2007, there were minor security scares at 24 Sussex drive and Harrington Lake, but they had nothing to do with any terrorist group.
Just as the year began, a woman drove her car through the gate at Harrington Lake, while Prime Minister Stephen Harper was inside the home. A judge later ruled she was unfit to stand trial.
Five months later, RCMP responded to a bomb scare at 24 Sussex, where a man had thrown a suspicious package over the entrance gate. But police later said the package contained personal hygiene products.
Both of those incidents pale in comparison to what happened to then-prime minister Jean Chretien on the night of Nov. 6, 1995. His wife, Aline, ran to their bedroom after encountering an intruder armed with a knife at 24 Sussex.
She hit the panic button while Chretien clutched a heavy Inuit sculpture to defend them.
It took the RCMP about 10 minutes to reach them, partly because the officers on call couldn't find the right keys to get into the building.
While there is an RCMP officer at the entrance gate at all times, Juneau-Katsuya said security must take the entire property into account.
"The geographic location of the house is very important. There's a cliff behind it, so it's difficult to gain access but not impossible," he said.
