Parliamentary Protective Service

The Dominion Police Force, the first federal police agency in Canada, was created in 1868. Initially comprising 12 men, the Dominion Police were responsible for the protection of federal government buildings, including the Parliament. In 1919, the Dominion Police were absorbed by the Royal North-West Mounted Police (RNWMP), which took over responsibility for protecting federal buildings. In 1920, the RNWMP became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Six members of the RNWMP also left to form the first dedicated parliamentary protective unit, with three assigned to the Senate and three to the House of Commons. The RCMP would continue to be responsible for protecting the exterior grounds of Parliament Hill.{{Cite web|title=The Service|url=https://pps.parl.ca/the-service/|access-date=2022-01-10|website=Parliamentary Protective Service|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=How secure is Parliament Hill? Most security officials lack extensive background checks|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/how-secure-is-parliament-hill-most-security-officials-lack-extensive-background-checks|access-date=2022-01-10|website=ottawacitizen|language=en-CA}}{{Cite web|last=Canada|first=Senate of|date=2020-04-14|title=Senate of Canada - Speaker's Statement – 100 years since the creation of protective services on Parliament Hill|url=https://sencanada.ca/en/speakers/georgefurey/rulings-and-statements/2020-02-25-100-years-since-the-creation-of-protective-services-on-parliament-hill/|access-date=2022-01-10|website=Senate of Canada|language=en}}

The Senate Protective Service was formed in 1920 and reported to the Usher of the Black Rod. The House of Commons Security Services were formed in 1927. During their early years, the service's members gave guided tours of the Parliament and sold information booklets to the public.

{{Main|2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa}}

On October 22, 2014, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau evaded security and entered the Hall of Honour with a rifle and a knife after fatally shooting Corporal Nathan Cirillo of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's), injuring a constable.{{cite news|last=MacLeod|first=Ian|date=8 May 2015|title=New Parliamentary Protective Service officially unveiled|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/politics/new-parliamentary-protective-service-officially-unveiled|access-date=22 December 2016}}{{cite news|last=Thibedeau|first=Hannah|date=14 May 2015|title=RCMP hiring 30 officers for new Parliament Hill security force|website=CBCNews|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-hiring-30-officers-for-new-parliament-hill-security-force-1.3073102|access-date=22 December 2016}} In November 2014, the Joint Advisory Working Group on Security identified lack of communication among security groups at Parliament Hill as a significant problem,{{cite news|last=MacLeod|first=Ian|date=21 October 2016|title=Could Zehaf-Bibeau have made it past today's 'armed to the teeth' Hill security?|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/could-zehaf-bibeau-make-it-past-todays-armed-to-the-teeth-hill-security}} and recommended combining the existing security forces under the Senate, the House of Commons and RCMP detachment in charge of the grounds into one integrated security service. Parliament subsequently passed Bill C-51, the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015, which among other things, amalgamated the Senate Protective Service, House of Commons Security Services and Parliament's RCMP detachment into the Parliamentary Protective Service.{{cite web|last1=Thibedeau|first1=Hannah|title=RCMP hiring 30 officers for new Parliament Hill security force|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-hiring-30-officers-for-new-parliament-hill-security-force-1.3073102|access-date=23 May 2016|website=CBCNews|publisher=CBC/Radio-Canada}}

File:Parliamentary Protective Service Cruiser.jpgBy June 23, 2015, the PPS was created by law under an amendment to the Parliament of Canada Act. The speaker of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Commons are responsible for the PPS.

The new Parliamentary Protective Service began, starting with changes in weaponry, radio communication and surveillance equipment.{{cite news |url=http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5972103-parliament-hill-security-reinforced-in-wake-of-oct-22-attacks/ |title=Parliament Hill security reinforced in wake of Oct. 22 attacks |newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator |date=21 October 2015 |first=Tonda |last=MacCharles}} One indication of increased security at Parliament Hill is the appearance of RCMP officers armed with carbines in front of the buildings. 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/rcmp-unilingual-parliament-hill-complaints-1.3555231 |title=English-only RCMP officers on Parliament Hill spark complaints |website=CBCNews |date=27 April 2016}}

In June 2016, the members of the new service were provided with uniforms designed to identify them as members of PPS.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/06/16/old-new-parliament-hill-security-expose-tensions-over-social-media.html |title=Old, new Parliament Hill security expose tensions over social media |newspaper=Toronto Star |first=Stephanie |last=Levitz |agency=The Canadian Press |date=16 June 2016}}

In November 2016, PPS constables stopped a man from entering the Centre Block with a meat cleaver.{{cite news |url=http://globalnews.ca/news/2347691/toronto-man-arrested-on-parliament-hill-allegedly-carried-a-meat-cleaver/ |title=Toronto man arrested on Parliament Hill allegedly carried a meat cleaver |work=Global News |agency=The Canadian Press |date=18 November 2015}}

{{Main|Canada convoy protest}}

File:Parliamentary Protective Service Vehicle, Ottawa.jpg

In late January to mid February 2022, demonstrators occupied the downtown core of Ottawa, including much of the Parliamentary Precinct. The Ottawa Police Service acted as the lead agency, with a number of other agencies from across Canada providing support.{{Cite web |title=City expects occupation will cost $30M, but with an ongoing police operation, the bills are still coming in |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/city-expects-occupation-will-cost-30m-but-with-an-ongoing-police-operation-the-bills-are-still-coming-in |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=ottawacitizen |language=en-CA}} The PPS was responsible for security at Parliament Hill, and the Senate of Canada Building.

The PPS uses a similar ranks system to the RCMP, with the Director being a Chief Superintendent on secondment from the RCMP.{{Cite web |url=https://pps.parl.ca/the-service/ |title=The Service |website=Parliamentary Protective Service}} The Officer-in-Charge of PPS Operations holds the rank of superintendent, team managers hold the rank of sergeant, supervisors hold the rank of corporal, and officers with no leadership responsibility hold the rank of constable.{{Cite web |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/media-availability-2021-international-women-s-day-849099185.html |title=MEDIA AVAILABILITY - 2021 International Women's Day |website=Newswire |date=1 March 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://sp.ltc.gov.on.ca/sites/mol/drs/ca/Public%20Administration/911-7640-20%20(909-0105).pdf |title=Agreement Between the Parliamentary Protective Service and the Senate Protective Service Employees Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320220559/https://sp.ltc.gov.on.ca/sites/mol/drs/ca/Public%20Administration/911-7640-20%20(909-0105).pdf |archive-date=20 March 2023}}

Source: Parliament of Canada{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary Protective Service Directors |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/OfficersParliament/ParliamentaryProtectiveServiceDirectors |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=lop.parl.ca}}{{Portal|Ontario}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/p-1/index.html Parliament of Canada Act]

{{Officers of Parliament in Canada}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Federal departments and agencies of Canada

Category:2015 establishments in Canada

Category:Organizations based in Ottawa

Category:Protective security units

Category:Government agencies established in 2015

Category:Parliament police services

Category:Officers of the Parliament of Canada