(Ottawa) Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus believes cabinet ministers should be kept safe by reservists from the Canadian Armed Forces when traveling across the country.
This is an inexpensive solution that he had already proposed to ministers of the Conservative government of Stephen Harper, when he was a member of the reserve force in the Quebec City region.
Now a Conservative MP for six years, Mr. Paul-Hus returns to the charge with this proposal which, according to him, would offer better security to ministers while being inexpensive. Because members of the Canadian Armed Forces reserve, there are all across the country and they could very well perform this task, he argued in an interview with Press.
Mr. Paul-Hus made these remarks at a time when there is growing concern about the safety of elected officials, whether they work on the federal, provincial or municipal scene.
“We have a reflection to make”
Influential member of the Trudeau government, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, did not hide his concern at seeing the increasing threats on social networks against elected officials . Ultimately, he confided in an interview with Press, this scourge risks dissuading talented people from running for office if nothing is done. The vitality of democratic institutions could suffer.
“We have a reflection to do. We must learn lessons from what we have seen and prevent what could happen, ”said the minister, referring in particular to the increase in online threats and violent incidents, especially in the United Kingdom, where an MP curator was assassinated.
Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus also supports the idea that we must review the security measures offered to elected officials. And he intends to submit his proposal to the competent authorities in Ottawa.
“I was entitled to more services than the ministers”
Mr. Paul-Hus remembers as if it was yesterday the day in 2010 when he saw the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon arrive by taxi at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec, where he was to deliver a speech.
“I was a member of the reserve at the time. I was waiting for him to welcome him. And I couldn’t believe that Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs was arriving at the Château Frontenac by taxi. I was a lieutenant colonel in a reserve unit and I was entitled to a driver and more services than federal government ministers, ”he explained.
He also raised this issue in 2014 with former Minister of Public Safety Steven Blaney, while they were on their way to a political convention in Calgary. Party workers had transported them from the airport to the city center in an old van that reeked of gasoline in bad weather.
The federal government would have been in embarrassment if the Minister of Public Safety had been involved in a traffic accident at the time, he said.
“I understand that we cannot have drivers across the country for ministers. It would be too expensive. However, it would be a great way to use reservists because they are found across the country, and in all municipalities, large and small. ”
“It would be safer”
“It can be very simple and very effective. When a minister travels, we can coordinate everything between the government and the Ministry of Defense. A minister who goes to Matane to make an announcement could have a member of the reserve who takes care of transportation. It would be safer. It could be done that way across Canada. And the members of the reserve would be very happy to do that, ”he explained.
Mr. Paul-Hus, who was a member of the reserve force for 22 years and who was lieutenant-colonel of a regiment from 2003 to 2007, also underlined that the person who is Minister of Defense is entitled to such a service while traveling across the country.
“I proposed this when the Conservatives were in power. I repeat it today even though we are in opposition. The safety of elected officials is a very important issue. We can see it clearly with what is happening on social networks, ”he said.