Manitoba announces new security measures at the Legislative Precinct

The agreement outlines how Manitoba Justice and the Speaker of the legislative assembly will manage security programs for the Legislative Building, Government House and the grounds.

“The Manitoba Legislative Building is unique in housing both the executive and legislative branches of the Manitoba government. This important partnership between those two branches will ensure appropriate plans and processes are in place now, while also formalizing the way we will address emerging issues and risks,” said Driedger.

The agreement and the Legislative Security Act will come into effect on October 7. Changes will include:

• Establishment the position of director of legislative security, responsible for providing direction of the legislative security officers on the legislative precinct
• Establishment of a Legislative Security Management Working Group consisting of the director of legislative security, the sergeant-at-arms, the deputy clerk of the legislative assembly and officials from the Community Safety Division of Manitoba Justice
• Provision of peace officer status to legislative security officers and authorization of the use of reasonable force by security officers to deny entry or evict a person
• Authorization of security officers to refuse entry of a person or enforce eviction for a variety of reasons including refusal to verify identity, refusal to be screened for weapons, threats to safety or interference with the operations of the assembly, or if an individual refuses to comply with a reasonable request by a security officer to ensure safety
• Authorization of the director of legislative security to enter into information-sharing agreements with police and government agencies, and arrangements with police to provide security services in the legislative precinct when warranted
• Authorization of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to disclose vehicle licensing records to legislative security officers

Staff with expertise in security issues will be responsible for setting security processes, identifying and responding to issues and reporting regularly on their activities to the Speaker of the legislative assembly and Minister of Justice.