Home Policy National security Securing an Open Society: One Year Later

Securing an Open Society: One Year Later (April 2005)

• Executive summary
• Highlights of key achievements
  • Integrated security system
  • Intelligence
  • Emergency planning and management
  • Public health emergencies
  • Transportation security
  • Border security
  • International security
• Budget 2005 commitments

For more information, consult Securing an Open Society: One Year Later  on the Privy Council Office website.

Executive summary

Securing an Open Society: Canada’s National Security Policy was released by the Government of Canada on April 27, 2004. The first-ever policy of its kind in Canada, it sets out a strategic framework and action plan designed to ensure that the Government of Canada can prepare for and respond to a range of security threats, including terrorist attacks, outbreaks of infectious diseases, natural disasters, cyber attacks on critical infrastructure and domestic extremism.

The Policy focuses on three core national security interests:

• Protecting Canada and the safety and security of Canadians at home and abroad
• Ensuring Canada is not a base for threats to our allies
• Contributing to international security

The National Security Policy focuses attention and actions on building a more integrated security system and sets out specific actions in six key areas: intelligence, emergency planning and management, public health emergencies, transportation security, border security, and international security.

Over the last year, significant progress has been made in implementing a number of initiatives identified in the National Security Policy, as well as several other national security enhancements.

Highlights of key achievements

Integrated security system

• Separate reviews of the Anti-Terrorism Act are now underway by the House of Commons and the Senate. In the House of Commons, the review is being undertaken by the Subcommittee on Public Safety and National Security of the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. The Senate has created a special committee specifically to undertake the review of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
• The Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security has been created to provide a forum for men and women from diverse ethnocultural backgrounds to discuss emerging trends and developments emanating from national security matters. It facilitates a broad exchange of information between the Government and diverse communities on the impact of national security issues, consistent with Canadians’ rights and responsibilities. The Roundtable also serves to better inform policy makers by providing insights into how national security measures may impact Canada’s diverse communities and promoting the protection of civil order, mutual respect and common understanding.
• The Government is in the process of establishing an Advisory Council on National Security; this will allow the Government to receive advice from security experts external to government on issues related to national security and on strategies, mechanisms and activities required to develop, implement, evaluate and improve a fully integrated security system.
• The Government has recently released details of a proposed model for a National Security Committee of Parliamentarians, initially put forward by the Prime Minister on December 12, 2003, and included in the Government’s Action Plan on Democratic Reform.
• Improvements have been made to Canada’s watch list system, to ensure that watch lists are better integrated and updated on a realtime basis and that appropriate safeguards are in place to respect the privacy rights of Canadians.

Intelligence

• The Integrated Threat Assessment Centre (ITAC), comprising staff from across the federal security and intelligence community, began operations in October 2004. To date, ITAC has prepared and distributed over 40 comprehensive threat assessments to key partners in the intelligence community, other government departments and first line responders.
• The Communications Security Establishment has significantly enhanced its security intelligence focus and collection capabilities.
• The Commission of Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Maher Arar has issued a call for proposals to assist in formulating recommendations on a review mechanism for the national security activities of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Emergency planning and management

• The new Government Operations Centre is providing stable, around-the-clock coordination and support across government and to key national players in response to situations and events affecting the national interest.
• The Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre was established in February 2005. The centre has a mandate to deal with threats and attacks to Canada’s cyber critical infrastructure and operates 24/7.
• Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for emergency management have established a permanent, high-level forum on emergencies and approved a detailed work plan to improve emergency preparedness throughout the country.
• Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for emergency management met for the first time in 11 years in January 2005.
• The Government released a position paper on a National Critical Infrastructure Protection Strategy for Canada. The paper will inform a national dialogue leading to the development of a forward-looking, resilient Canadian strategy.
• In January 2005, the Communications Security Establishment held a Cyber Security Forum, which brought together government decision makers, information technology (IT) security professionals and industry to more effectively align IT security efforts within the Government of Canada with the National Security Policy.
• Canada participated with the United States and the United Kingdom in Exercise TRIPLE PLAY / TOPOFF 3 / ATLANTIC BLUE, a major counterterrorism exercise to assess Canada’s ability to collaborate effectively with international partners in the event of a terrorist attack or other emergency.
• On March 31, 2005, the Government issued the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Strategy of the Government of Canada.
• Development and implementation of the National Emergency Response System is ongoing under the leadership of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada.

Public health emergencies

• The Government strengthened Canada’s public health and emergency response capacities through the creation in September 2004 of the Public Health Agency of Canada. On September 24, 2004, Dr. David Butler-Jones was appointed Canada’s first Chief Public Health Officer.
• A national office was established to facilitate the creation and operation of health emergency response teams, made up of volunteer health professionals who will be trained and equipped to assist local authorities in emergency situations.
• The Government established a state-of-the-art emergency operations centre at the National Microbiology Laboratory.
• The Government has deployed key elements of the Canadian Integrated Outbreak Surveillance Centre.
• The Government has provided $300 million to the provinces and territories for the National Immunization Strategy.
• The Government has provided $100 million to the provinces and territories to relieve stress on the front lines of their public health systems and to address immediate gaps in capacity.
• The Government announced a federal contribution of $24 million toward the creation of a national antiviral stockpile for use against an influenza pandemic.

Transportation security

• The Government is establishing Marine Security Operations Centres on the east and west coasts to bring together civilian and military resources necessary to detect, assess and respond to a marine security threat.
• The Canadian Forces, RCMP and Canadian Coast Guard have increased their on-water presence, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has increased its aerial surveillance activities.
• Canada is strengthening marine defence and security cooperation with the U.S. For example, Transport Canada and the U.S. Coast Guard have finalized a bilateral agreement to implement the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.
• The Marine Facility Security Contribution Program came into effect on December 1, 2004, and will assist ports and port facilities with security enhancement. Additional funds are also being made available to improve security at Transport Canada’s public ports and public port facilities.
• Transport Canada’s Transportation Security Clearance program, which currently only applies to aviation workers, is being expanded to include marine workers as well. Options are also being considered for extending the requirements for security background checks to other transportation workers, with particular attention to issues of access to restricted areas and the transportation of dangerous goods.
• Application of the Airport Restricted Area Access Clearance Program has been strengthened and the Non-Passenger Screening Program was launched to enhance airport security.
• Canada continues to work with the U.S. and other international partners to enhance security throughout the intermodal transportation system. One example of this work is the Canada-U.S. Cargo Security Project, which will test container security technology.
• Transport Canada has launched the development of a national Transportation Security Strategy.

Border security

• A new Canadian passport that uses a biometric chip for facial recognition is being developed and tested. The new passport will be issued to Canadians beginning in August 2006.
• Implementation of the RCMP’s Real Time Identification project is proceeding.
• Canada and the U.S. implemented the Safe Third Country Agreement at the land border in December 2004.
• Progress continues to be made in implementing the Canada-U.S. Smart Border Declaration. The fifth status report was released in December 2004, indicating significant progress made on many elements of the 32-point Action Plan.
• A framework has been issued to implement land pre-clearance pilot projects at the Buffalo-Fort Erie Peace Bridge and at one other Canada-U.S. border crossing.
• The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program has been expanded to seven new high-volume commercial crossings along the Canada-U.S. land border.
• The NEXUS-Air pilot project for pre-approved, low-risk air travellers, which uses iris scan biometric technology, was initiated at the Vancouver International Airport in November 2004.

International security

• On April 19, 2005, the Government issued Canada’s International Policy Statement -- A Role of Pride and Influence in the World, the country’s first integrated plan designed to strengthen Canada’s role in the world.
• The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America was launched by the leaders of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico on March 23, 2005.
• Canada is creating a Counterterrorism Capacity Building Program that will contribute to the security of Canadians and the inhabitants of vulnerable states by providing those states with training, funding, equipment and technical and legal assistance to enable them to prevent and respond to terrorist activity.
• Canada continues to play an important role in preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. A Canadian resolution establishing an expert panel on verification measures for non-proliferation and disarmament was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2004.
• The Government is establishing a special fund for global peace and security initiatives.

Budget 2005 commitments

Although significant progress has been achieved on many aspects of the National Security Policy, implementation of the policy and further enhancements to national security will require ongoing work and investment of resources.

Budget 2005 allocates $1 billion over five years (on an accrual basis) for key national security initiatives, including improvements to marine transportation security, cargo security, border security, emergency management initiatives, and security at Canadian diplomatic missions abroad. This brings to more than $9.5 billion the Government of Canada’s additional investments in national security initiatives since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Additionally, Budget 2005 provides Canada’s military with $7 billion in new budgetary funding over the next five years, which will support $12.8 billion in additional expenditures by the Canadian Forces in that period -- the largest increase in defence funding in the past 20 years. Budget 2005 also includes $34 million over five years to improve pandemic influenza preparedness as well as $100 million to fund global peace and security initiatives.