N E W S   R E L E A S E

NORMALLY SEDENTARY COMMITTEE

TO UNDERTAKE FIELD TRIP

OTTAWA, April 12, 2002. A parliamentary committee will be inspecting the security measures on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, April 16, 2002. The MPs will be visiting the Bank Street entrance to the parliamentary precincts at approximately 11:30 a.m.

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs of the House of Commons is reviewing the enhanced security precautions that were introduced in the wake of the events of September 11, 2001.

On Thursday, April 11, 2002 – seven months to the day after September 11 – the Committee received a briefing from MGen. G. Cloutier, Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons, and Mr. Michel Thivierge, Director of Security Services, regarding the security measures and changes that had been made to the House of Commons, including scanning of visitors and deliveries and reduced access. In connection with the new initiatives, the RCMP has introduced access control and inspection for vehicular traffic on Parliament Hill.

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs rarely travels. Following a 30-minute briefing from the RCMP at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, April 16, 2002, in Room 112‑N of the Centre Block, the members of the Committee will proceed to the Bank Street entrance in a convoy of House of Commons green buses. The Committee has been advised that it does not require a House order to travel in connection with this expedition.

For further information, contact Peter Adams, M.P., Chair of the Committee (Tel: 995‑6411), or Patrice Martin, Clerk of the Committee (Tel: 996-0506).

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