New RCMP units to protect ministers, top bureaucrats from threats of political violence

The RCMP is preparing to offer close protection services to both senior federal ministers and public servants in response to the rising threat of political violence, sources say.

New RCMP units are expected to offer protection to up to 10 ministers or high-level bureaucrats at a time, according to information obtained by CBC News and Radio-Canada.

These new protection units are to be assigned on a case-by-case basis to ministers or officials based on risk assessments conducted by the RCMP.

While ministers have been clamouring for more protective services for years, the government's decision to include senior bureaucrats among the people the RCMP protects points to a growing level of alarm in official Ottawa over the threat of political violence.

"The threat environment continues to evolve," said former clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick.

"We saw during the pandemic in Canada and in other countries that it is not just politicians but also officials that can be in harm's way. It makes sense to have the ability to extend greater protection for periods of time and to rely on the assessments by security and law enforcement professionals."

Permanent RCMP teams already protect the prime minister and the Governor General. A few cabinet ministers have received close protection services in recent years, but only on a temporary basis.

Sources tell CBC/Radio-Canada the government's plan is to give the RCMP additional funding to double the number of protection officers it employs. The matter has gone to cabinet and is currently in front of the Treasury Board.

There are no plans to grant the same protective services to backbench MPs, opposition leaders or political aides — even though several of them also have been threatened in recent years.

The office of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre did not respond to a question about satisfaction with current security arrangements.

Radio-Canada and CBC News granted confidentiality to sources who were not authorized to speak publicly about security issues or matters before cabinet.

Several sources pointed to the growing number of threats made in person or online against people in government in recent years.

Many threats have come from opponents of restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sources said other threats against politicians or bureaucrats have been related to policy issues such as gun control or the development of natural resources — and even the controversy at Hockey Canada.

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam and other bureaucrats associated with Canada's pandemic response have received many threats of violence.