During the first nine months of this fiscal year, the RCMP spent $2.5 million on security for MPs. If spending continues at the same pace, the cost of MPs’ security for this fiscal year could hit $3.4 million — almost double what it cost a year earlier.

Over fiscal 2022/23, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spent $1.8 million to protect MPs, up from $1.3 million the year before.

The figures obtained from the RCMP do not include the cost of protecting the prime minister. They also don’t include spending by other bodies that also provide protection for Canada’s 338 members of Parliament, such as local police services, the Parliamentary Protective Service and the House of Commons.

The House of Commons has also taken steps to increase security for MPs but has not said how much it has cost.

While the cost of protecting MPs has been rising, it’s still a fraction of the more than $30 million a year it has cost to protect Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family over the previous two fiscal years.

  • Candelestine@lemmy.worldEnglish
    81·
    10 months ago

    tbf, my American opinion is that we do need to pay to protect the safety of our politicians if we want them to have the courage to stand up to entrenched power. Otherwise its just too easy to cow them. Just because we believe in throwing them out via elections doesn’t mean everyone agrees with that method.

    • Hootz@lemmy.ca
      2·
      10 months ago

      Say that to the politicians over the decades that were murdered because they supported social progress. You can’t run a city/province/country when you need to be worried about being shot or stabbed constantly.