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A Strong Security Partnership

National Security in Canada

The Government of Canada understands that the core responsibility of any government is to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. Since Budget 2001, the Government of Canada has announced in excess of US$6.2 billion in specific measures to enhance Canada’s national security.

Canada supported this plan with strong new legislation, improved co-operation with its allies, and the investment of billions of dollars to fight terrorism and reinforce public security in six key areas. 1—Intelligence and policing. 2—Screening of immigrants, refugee claimants and visitors. 3—Critical infrastructure protection, emergency preparedness, and expanded anti-terrorism capacity for the military. 4—Border security and infrastructure. 5—Health security. 6—Aviation security.

On December 12, 2003, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced the establishment of the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, which brings together the core functions of crime prevention, policing and enforcement, security and intelligence, corrections, border services and integrity, and emergency management.

He also created the new position of National Security Advisor to “co-ordinate integrated threat assessments, help strengthen interagency co-operation, and assist in the development of an integrated policy framework for national security and emergencies.”

On March 23, 2004, the Government announced additional financial investments for priorities such as intelligence, border protection, marine and cyber security, and enhanced co-ordination of systems, information, threat assessments and emergency response. Funds continue to be strategically allocated to complement and enhance existing initiatives.

Government of Canada releases comprehensive National Security Policy

April 27, 2004, Ottawa, Ontario — Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan tabled in Parliament Canada’s first comprehensive statement on national security. Securing An Open Society: Canada’s National Security Policy, sets out an integrated strategy and action plan designed to address current and future threats.

The National Security Policy addresses three core national security interests: protecting Canada and Canadians at home and abroad; ensuring Canada is not a base for threats to our allies; and contributing to international security.

Selected highlights:

• Further investments to enhance Canada’s intelligence collection and assessment capacity.
• Increased capacity to predict and prevent cyber security attacks.
• Strengthened marine security to increase the on-water presence and aerial surveillance and to pursue greater marine security co-operation with the United States.
• The development of next-generation smart borders agenda with the United States and Mexico, building on the success of the Smart Borders Declaration signed with the United States in December 2001.
• The establishment of an Integrated Threat Assessment Centre to ensure that all information is brought together, assessed and communicated in a timely and effective manner.
• The creation of a new Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Emergency Response Teams to respond to health emergencies.

Full report

Additional Information:

Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness
www.psepc-sppcc.gc.ca

Canada Border Services Agency
www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

Canadian Security Intelligence Service
www.csis-scrs.gc.ca

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Canada-United States Relations
www.can-am.gc.ca

Canadian Embassy
www.canadianembassy.org

What's been said

Exhaustive examinations by U.S. and Canadian security authorities have unearthed no connection between the September 11 terrorists and Canada.

“None of the terrorists from the Sept. 11 carnage came to the United States through Canada to my knowledge. Each of them that I know of, and we’ve done considerable work to trace their activities, came to the United States directly... The stubborn facts are that these individuals did not come to the United States through Canada.” — Attorney General John Ashcroft, December 3, 2001 ¹

“The assistance on September 11th and since then by our Canadian neighbors has been remarkable.” — Attorney General John Ashcroft, October 2, 2001 ²

“It’s a pleasure to be back in Detroit, just across the river from Windsor, to reaffirm a special relationship, an important relationship; and to address a common challenge. America and Canada face new threats to our security. It’s the new reality of the 21st century, and we can’t forget that.” — President George Bush, September 9, 2002 ³

“...Of the 19 hijackers who attacked America September 11... all had legally entered the country on tourist or student visas...” — Washington Times article, November 22, 2001 ⁴

“Our goal is to continue to enhance security for Canadians and make Canada’s borders more secure, while ensuring that they remain open and efficient to legitimate commerce and travelers.” — Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, March 25, 2004 ⁵

“...All of America is very much aware of the extraordinary support that we have received from our friends in Canada since September 11th, from opening homes to not only American air travelers but travelers from around the world... to the extraordinary outpouring of public support on September 14th... [and the] work with the United States to provide enhanced security and to facilitate the movement of goods and services and people across our northern border.” — Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, December 11, 2001 ⁶

“Beyond our borders, we need to engage our partners in North America and other allies around the world. We must work to protect them, as well as ourselves — just as we expect them to do in return.” — Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, March 25, 2004 ⁵

“[Our] close cooperation has reduced substantially the ability of terrorists to move across our common border to harm our citizens.” — Attorney General John Ashcroft, December 17, 2002 ⁷

“We have a choice in Canada — to be in denial, or to be prepared. This government, this nation, chooses to be prepared.”— Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, March 25, 2004 ⁵

“The bottom line is that we want to ensure that individuals who should not be in this country are turned away or deported.”— Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, March 25, 2004 ⁵

“Long before the attacks of September 11, Canada provided consistent and invaluable assistance to law enforcement officials in the United States. And since the attacks, our nations have collaborated more closely than ever to secure our borders and protect our citizens from the threat of terrorism.” — Attorney General John Ashcroft, February 10, 2003 ⁸

“Ressam... was a situation where, with the help of Canadian authorities, we apprehended him transporting significant explosives into this country.” — Attorney General John Ashcroft, October 2, 2001 ²

“We've got a history of wide open commerce with our friends to the north and south. That's one of those things we want to preserve. Canada is our leading trading partner in the world. And free movement of goods and ideas and people back and forth across those borders is very important.” — Vice President Dick Cheney, August 3, 2004 ⁹

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