Roles and Responsibilities
Vessel and Port Facility Security
Marine Security Contribution Program

Roles and Responsibilities

Q. What is the Government of Canada doing to improve coordination among federal departments? 

A. On April 27, 2004, the Government of Canada tabled Securing An Open Society: Canada’s National Security Policy. The National Security Policy (NSP) sets out an integrated strategy and action plan designed to address current and future threats.

The NSP includes a six-point plan to enhance marine security. Transport Canada, National Defence, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, RCMP and Fisheries and Oceans will be allocated funding of up to $432 million to implement key elements of this plan, which:

• clarifies and strengthens accountability for marine security;
• establishes Marine Security Operations Centres;
• increases the on-water presence of the Coast Guard, RCMP and the Canadian Forces Maritime Command and increases the Department of Fisheries and Oceans aerial surveillance activities;
• provides secure fleet communications;
• pursues closer cooperation with the United States to enhance our collective marine defence and security; and
• strengthens security at ports and other marine facilities, such as our Seaway Locks.

Q. What is Transport Canada doing to improve coordination among federal departments? 

A. Falling under the National Security Policy’s six-point plan to enhance marine security, the Minister of Transport has lead responsibility for marine safety and security policy co-ordination and regulation.

As part of that leadership role, Transport Canada continues to chair the Interdepartmental Marine Security Working Group (IMSWG), which was established in October 2001 to identify and coordinate the Government of Canada’s actions in support of enhancing the security of Canada’s marine transportation system.

Q. What could Transport Canada do to improve marine security in the case of a major incident?

A. If a threat to the Canadian marine transportation system is identified, the Minister of Transport has the authority to require enhanced security measures by the marine transportation sector to address the threat.

In addition, under the Canadian Marine Transportation Security Regulations, Transport Canada is required to set marine security levels, and recommend the measures to be implemented for each of three, progressively higher-threat levels.

Q. Is Transport Canada responsible for conducting training or for approving courses for security officers?

A. No, although the International Maritime Organization has developed model courses for security officers, Transport Canada is working with interested Canadian training institutes to establish courses that follow the guidelines provided in the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, and is prepared to recognize training certificates issued by these educational institutions as meeting international standards for ISPS-related training.

Q. What is Transport Canada’s role in waterside security?

A. Transport Canada has the legislative and regulatory capacity to regulate waterside security requirements, however, the department currently has no direct role in enforcing waterside security.

In general, the police of local jurisdiction are responsible for providing waterside and landside security. The RCMP, and even the Canadian Armed Forces, can be activated when a counter-terrorism response is required.

Transport Canada is working with the RCMP to review the responsibilities for waterside security in Canada. In addition, the member departments and agencies of the Interdepartmental Marine Security Working Group (IMSWG) work together to coordinate all aspects of waterside security, planning, regulation and response.

Vessel and Port Facility Security

Q. Is a list of all the Canadian marine facilities compliant with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code available?

A. To view the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) official list of marine facilities that are now compliant with the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code, visit the IMO web site.

Q. Will there be funding provided to Canada’s ports to help defray the costs of implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code?

The Government of Canada announced on May 7, 2004, that it will assist Canada’s ports with the cost of modernizing and strengthening their security systems and programs.

The Marine Security Contribution Program is a three-year, $115 million commitment to assist ports and port facilities with security enhancements. The program is application-based and provides funding on a cost-shared basis for a number of clearly identified eligible expenses. This funding is in addition to marine security funding initially announced in the National Security Policy.

Under the new program, ports and marine facilities will be able to apply for funds to assist with new security equipment and programs called for under their approved security plans. These funds will not only assist by helping to offset the costs borne by participants in finalizing their initial work to meet the basic requirements of their plans, it will also help them to extend and build on these security enhancements in the future.

Projects eligible for funding include:

• surveillance equipment, including cameras and closed-circuit TV systems;
• improvements to dockside and perimeter security and access control, such as fencing, gates, signage and lighting; 
• command, control and communications equipment, such as portable and vessel-to-shore radios; and 
• infrastructure security protective measures, such as security guards 

The program allows for eligible expenses to date back to April 1, 2004, and is subject to all expenditure controls applicable to contribution programs.

Q. Will a program similar to the Marine Security Contribution Program be established in order to assist Canadian vessel owners and operators with their security costs?

A. There are currently no federal programs under which funds could be made available to Canada’s vessel owners and operators to cover the cost of security enhancements. This approach is consistent with that of the United States, which is only providing funding to American port facility operators and has made no plans to extend funding to commercial vessel owners and operators.

Transport Canada is aware of the concerns of Canadian shipowners and operators with respect to this matter, and the department will continue to monitor developments and take appropriate action if warranted.

Marine Security Contribution Program

Q. Why were the salaries for Security Guards and Port / Marine Facility Security Officers not considered for funding in rounds 1 and 2?

A. It was decided that priority would be given to projects which provided long-term sustainable security enhancements. Funding for Security Guards & PFSO salaries may be made available at a future funding round.

Q. Will funding be provided to cover ongoing maintenance costs of security enhancement projects?

A. Funding will not be provided to cover ongoing maintenance costs of security enhancement projects. Applicants must demonstrate that they have the capacity to maintain the continuity of the security enhancement outside of the program funding. Funds are only being provided to help offset the initial cost of implementing security enhancements.

Q. I bought my new security equipment between September 2001 and March 2004. If I paid for it after April 1st 2004, are these expenses eligible?

A. No, the government uses accrual accounting, as such an expenditure is made on the date on which the service was rendered or the good was received. The contribution program will only consider expenditures made after April 1, 2004.

Q. If my security enhancement project was not selected in the first funding round, may I re-submit it in subsequent funding rounds?

A. A project that was not previously selected may be resubsmitted for consideration at a future funding round. Before re-submitting your project, please refer to the letter of explanation you received outlining the reasons why the project was not selected.

Q. How many more funding rounds will there be?

A. The 3rd funding round is planned for December 2005/January 2006. It is anticipated that there will be up to two funding rounds per year depending on the availability of funds. Please check Transport Canada’s website regularly for up to date information.

Q. Can one eligible applicant submit an application on behalf of several other eligible applicants?

A. Yes. If the security enhancement projects are contained in other approved Security Plans, the identification of other plan holders involved and their Certificate of Compliance numbers are required. The organization that will be taking the lead must be clearly identified, as well the application must include an acknowledgement of the other parties involved.

Q. Direct project management and engineering costs are considered an eligible expense when they directly support a project. How would you define what a project management cost is? What components may or may not be included?

A. Project management costs may include:

• Salaries for the main project manager
• Salaries for the engineer
• Other engineering costs

Components that are not considered a project management cost include, but are not limited to:

• Overhead salaries (secretary, administrative staff, custodians)
• Executive salaries
• Salaries allocated to the time spent in meetings regarding a particular a project with senior & executive management
• Stationary expenses, incidentals