New Ottawa City Hall security measures costing $149,000
Posted Mar 2, 2020 04:03:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The pricetag is in for the latest security measures at the entrance to council chambers at Ottawa City Hall, and city staff are defending the measures.
Some city councillors have questioned the necessity of the installation of metal detectors and extra security guards, including Capital Ward Councillor Shawn Menard. He submitted a request for information from city staff about the details of the costs of the measures, and the evidence that they're needed.
Installing the metal detectors and setting up the security checkpoint cost $149,000, according to city staff.
The city defends the new security measures by pointing to things like the Parliament Hill shootings of 2014, and various recent protests at city hall.
Staff add that since the metal detectors were installed, in late January, multiple probibited items have been seized, including six knives.
The city plans to conduct an academic literature review, benchmarking analysis and review industry best practices through the development of a new Corporate Security policy, which will be brought before city council for consideration later this year. The report will also include public and stakeholder consultation, as well as consultation with members of council, staff say, but admit that consulting with elected officials beforehand could have improved the implementation of the security measures.
The report will go to next week's meeting of the city's finance and economic development committee, but Menard says committee and council need to get a chance to debate the security measures.
