Parliament Hill police unit fully staffed by end of 2026
A new unit of Ottawa police officers is set to patrol Parliament Hill by the end of next year, thanks to a federal funding boost of $50 million over five years. This funding will support the creation of 40 sworn positions and nine civilian positions at the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) to establish a Parliamentary District.
The new Police Liaison Team will be dedicated to engaging with community organizations around Parliament, aiming to build trust within the community while managing the impacts of protests. This initiative comes in response to calls for heightened security around Parliament, following recent events.
OPS Chief Eric Stubbs expressed his enthusiasm for the growth of the organization during a news conference where details of the new unit were unveiled. The creation of the Parliamentary District aligns with recommendations from the Public Order Emergency Commission, which were prompted by the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act during the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests.
The new unit will provide a heightened security presence around Parliament, especially when Members of Parliament are in the city for House sittings. Additionally, funding will be used to hire four full-time civilian positions dedicated to open-source intelligence monitoring and analysis.
In addition to the new positions for the Parliamentary District, three full-time civilian positions and one sworn position will be added to the event management section. These positions will assist with federal events like Canada Day, Remembrance Day, and ongoing protests related to the federal government.
The staffing increases for the new unit will be implemented gradually over the next year, with the Parliamentary District expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026. This will allow the police to focus on other priority areas such as improving safety in the ByWard Market and reducing intimate partner violence.
It is important to note that security in the Parliamentary Precinct involves multiple agencies. While the Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) is responsible for security on Parliament Hill, they do not have peace officer status and rely on OPS for law enforcement. The RCMP provides protection for Canadian dignitaries, including the prime minister and Governor General. The RCMP has reported a doubling in the number of MPs requesting security in the past five years.
Overall, the creation of the new unit and the establishment of the Parliamentary District represent a significant step towards enhancing security and community engagement around Parliament Hill. This initiative will not only strengthen security measures but also foster trust and collaboration within the community.
