QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety

Government leader, during a recent Inter-Parliamentary Union mission to Arusha, Tanzania, senators were once again informed they were not entitled to Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or RCMP, protection, despite travelling in a high-risk region.

I know our colleague Senator Ross raised this issue with you last June. At that time, you told this chamber that you would make inquiries and that the responsible minister “. . . obviously has to have a conversation with the RCMP to make sure that they understand the rules as we do.”

Senator Moreau, has that conversation taken place? If so, why are senators still being told that RCMP protection applies only to members of the House of Commons?

Like all engagements I take here in the Senate, I fulfill those engagements. That conversation took place. My understanding is that there is a different comprehension of the rules by the RCMP and by the government and the minister herself.

We are still continuing to work on it. In my own personal opinion, I think it would be wise for the RCMP to read the rules that are now in place differently. I think that members of this chamber should be entitled to have the same protection as members of the House of Commons.

That being said, I will again bring your question, as I did with the question of Senator Ross, to the attention of the government.

Senator Moreau, this situation undermines Canada’s credibility in parliamentary diplomacy. During our trip to Tanzania, a fellow senator and I were left stranded after a field visit because transportation was only available if we were accompanied by an MP. All we needed was to be picked up and taken to the hotel or the conference centre. Will your government commit to ensuring that senators receive appropriate security support while abroad, or are we not worth protecting, in your government’s view?

I will certainly commit to bringing the question up once again with the government. I understand perfectly the situation you are describing, which is similar to the situation Senator Ross brought to my attention, and I think this needs to be addressed.