An internal briefing note warns that protecting parliamentarians and public figures is putting a significant strain on RCMP personnel and taking resources from other federal policing priorities. The national police force must find a delicate balance in providing protective services in response to threats identified by parliamentarians. The RCMP’s protective services must prioritize based on these assessments.
The briefing note, obtained through the Access to Information Act, was prepared for a meeting of the deputy ministers’ protection committee. The note highlights ongoing concerns about shielding MPs, senators, and other prominent figures from online vitriol and physical threats.
The note stresses the need for constant review of protective priorities and identification of any remaining concerns due to strained resources. The RCMP must work with other departments to leverage security resources and mitigate risks.
Challenges such as labor market conditions and specialized training requirements for close protection officers pose a risk of delay in fully staffing funded positions. The RCMP anticipates being stretched to meet current and future demands for protective services.
Planning has begun for large events in Canada, including a North American leaders summit, the 2025 G7 leaders meeting, and the 2026 soccer World Cup, all of which have significant close protection requirements.
To address these challenges, the RCMP is implementing various recruitment and hiring strategies to overcome staffing challenges. They project a need for 235 additional close protection officers in the next five years to meet the increased demand for services.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme has called for new laws to make it easier to pursue charges against those who threaten elected officials. However, Justice Minister Arif Virani believes existing Criminal Code provisions are sufficient. Former Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino has proposed creating protective zones around political constituency offices to protect members of Parliament and their staff.
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