Extra RCMP security on Parliament Hill costs $6.6M

OTTAWA—The effort to boost the visible presence of Mounties on Parliament Hill after brazen Greenpeace activists embarrassed the Conservative government has turned into an expensive move.

Increased security on Parliament Hill cost the RCMP an extra $6.6 million this year, according to supplementary spending estimates provided to the House of Commons.

On Dec. 7, 2009, Greenpeace activists scaled the stone walls of West and Centre Blocks to stage a protest on the day an international climate change conference opened in Copenhagen, Denmark.

After the incident, the RCMP said it would beef up security until a full review of the incident was completed. It appeared to triple the number of uniformed officers outside on Parliament Hill. An internal review recommended short- and long-term improvements.

Now, day or night, Mounties patrol or idle in RCMP cruisers around the parliamentary precinct, block roadway entrances onto the hill, and conduct vehicle screening for all buses and cars that drive onto the roadway that winds in front of the West, Centre and East Block buildings.

The Star already reported that security upgrades also meant that the Mounties were to get small machine guns added to their arsenal on the Hill. The Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun was to be carried in cruisers as a secondary weapon, with Mounties wearing their standard-issue semi-automatic 9mm pistols.

RCMP media relations Sgt. Julie Gagnon said in an email the $6.567 million was for “resources (salaries and operating and maintenance) and in support of the security projects.”

However, she declined to provide any breakdowns “which may actually divulge the amount of additional resources on the Hill.”

In 2009, just after 7:30 a.m., two groups of activists — about 20 people in all — equipped with climbing gear and a ladder mounted rooftops over the Centre and West Blocks and unfurled banners that read “Stop the Tar Sands” and “Harper/Ignatieff: Climate Inaction Costs Lives.”

The RCMP, which is responsible for security on the grounds outside the buildings, appeared not to notice immediately when the protesters clambered up through construction scaffolding on West Block or — as web-streamed video showed — climbed straight up onto the Senate’s front door overhanging roof at the eastern entrance to Parliament.

The Commons and Senate each have separate security guards who have responsibilities for their precincts within the buildings. Ottawa city police take over any criminal investigations that arise.

The RCMP has also set aside $4.1 million for lawsuits over vendor contracts and loss of business arising out of the Vancouver Olympics.

Supt. Kevin DeBruyckere said the amount is money earmarked for the potential settlement or judicial resolution of claims “without any admission of liability.”

The $4.1 million represents an estimate of the RCMP’s potential costs. There were about half a dozen lawsuits that were filed against the RCMP and other government departments for loss of business in Vancouver and Whistler. A couple have been withdrawn or dismissed without costs, said DeBruyckere.

Still outstanding are claims by an American cruise ship operator that says it had a preliminary contract that was scuttled by the RCMP to provide accommodations during the Olympics; another business that sought to provide accommodation in Whistler; an aviation company that claims it lost business due to air perimeter restrictions; and an ice cream shop owner that is suing for lost business due to security surrounding the athletes’ village.

Original Article
Source: Star