Who Are The Security Guards At the G8/G20 Summit?
By Ian Scott
A few days ago, I wrote about the fact that the security firm that has been hired by the Federal Government, Contemporary Security Canada, has no security license to operate in Ontario. Since then, I’ve seen nothing in the news about any progress in the license process that Contemporary Security needs to go through. There are only 14 days left before the G8 Summit begins.
Assuming that the Province of Ontario is able to fast track the license process and Contemporary Security will be allowed to operate in Ontario, who will actually be providing the ground level security services?
In Ontario, any individual that holds a Security Guard license, issued by the Province, could be eligible to be hired and provide security guard services. The minimum requirements for a Security Guard license are:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be eligible to work in Canada, and
- Have no convictions for a prescribed offence for which you have not been granted a pardon.
Presently, there are no tests or courses that security guards in Ontario must pass in order to apply for and receive a Security Guard license, but those who’s licenses expire after July 16, 2010 must pass a Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services test. Those who have licenses that expire before July 16th will not have to pass the test until 2011.
The Ministry also requires that holders of a Security Guard license have a “clean criminal record.” This does not mean no criminal record; rather there are about 83 criminal offenses listed for which a conviction of will deny a license being issued. For example, if you have been convicted of Impaired Driving, you still could obtain a Security Guard license. However, if you have been convicted of offenses like fraud, drug trafficking, sexual crimes, fraud, theft, murder, and others, you will not be granted a Security Guard license.
The cost of a Security Guard license in Ontario is $80.00 per year and the payment is made by the individual who wishes to have a license. It is the responsibility of the security company hiring the guard to ensure they hire only those with a license, but it is the responsibility of the individual guard to keep their license renewed each year.
So, Contemporary Security will be hiring the majority of the security guards that will be providing the security at the G8 and G20 summits from the pool of individuals in Ontario who presently have a Security Guard License. They will of course likely have their own hiring standards that will require more than just the holding of a license, but in Ontario up to now, there are no special requirements or skills for a person to become a security guard.
Correction Update – June11, 2010
In the above article, I wrote “Presently, there are no tests or courses that security guards in Ontario must pass in order to apply for and receive a Security Guard license…”
This should be corrected. According to the Province of Ontario “Newsroom,”
- Starting April 15, 2010, require those applying to become security guards or private investigators who have not been issued a licence before this date to undergo a mandatory training program and pass a test before they can be licensed.
- Beginning July 16, 2010, require existing security guard or private investigator licence holders to pass the mandatory test prior to the expiry of their current licence in order to complete its renewal.
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