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Legislation to establish Department Of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness comes into force

Ottawa, April 4, 2005 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today announced that the Governor in Council has approved the coming into force of the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act .

“The passing of Bill C-6 is a critical step towards delivering on the Government’s core commitment to protect the safety and security of Canadians,” said Minister McLellan. “By enhancing the ability of public safety partners to work together, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada helps ensure the safety and security of our country and our citizens.”

The Minister also thanked Parliamentarians for their attention to this bill, so that the Government can operate more strategically to protect Canadians.

Bill C-6 provided the legislative framework for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC), created by Prime Minister Paul Martin on December 12, 2003. The creation of this new department and portfolio integrates, under one minister, the core activities of the previous Department of the Solicitor General, the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness and the National Crime Prevention Center and, the new Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

The coming into force of the Act follows the introduction of the first National Security Policy last year and an extra $1 billion in public safety and security funding announced in the February 23, 2005 Budget. In this Budget, the Government reaffirmed its confidence in PSEPC’s mandate and its abilities by giving the Department and the portfolio agencies additional resources to continue our work on behalf of Canada and Canadians.

Highlights of Budget 2005 include:

• $56 million over five years for emergency management initiatives such as the federal-provincial-territorial forum on emergencies and emergency exercises;
• $88 million over five years for Canada to work with the US on the Container Security Initiatives, and increase our collective capacity for targeting and sharing information on high-risk cargo;
• $433 million for CBSA over five years to strengthen the Government’s capacity to deliver secure and efficient border services;
• $30 million for the National Crime Prevention Strategy -- in addition to its base funding -- to support community crime prevention initiatives; and

• $117 million to the Integrated Proceeds of Crime Initiative to continue disrupting organized criminal groups by seizing profits and assets.

For more information:

Alex Swann
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
(613) 991-2863

Media Relations
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
613-991-0657