Home PSEPC Daily Brief DOB05-211

PSEPC Daily Brief

The PSEPC Daily Brief is a compilation of summaries of publicly available and PSEPC information concerning critical infrastructure protection and emergency management.

DOB05-211 - November 3, 2005

News

U.S. Department of Homeland Security announces Secure Border Initiative
On November 2, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff announced a comprehensive, multi-year plan to reduce illegal migration and secure U.S. borders. The plan, called the Secure Border Initiative (SBI), addresses all aspects and challenges of border security, including deterrence, detection, response, apprehension, detention and removal. SBI is designed to enable DHS to achieve operational control of both the northern and southern border within five years.
(Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, November 2, 2005)
Click here for the source article

To view a fact sheet on the Secure Border Initiative, go to http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0794.xml.

World Health Organization confirms number of human avian influenza cases
On November 1, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that, since December 2003, a total of 122 human cases of H5N1 avian influenza have been reported to the WHO, and a total of 62 human deaths have been attributed to the virus.

The WHO also reports that Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has confirmed another human case of avian influenza. Since the beginning of the avian influenza outbreaks in Asia in December 2003, Thailand has confirmed 20 human cases, of which 13 have been fatal.
(Source: World Health Organization, November 1, 2005)
Click here for the source article
Click here for the source article

For more WHO information on avian influenza, go to http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/.

In brief

Additional Kashechewan residents airlifted out of community
On November 2, the Government of Ontario airlifted another 80 Kashechewan residents out of the community and transported them to Sault Ste. Marie to get medical treatment. Media is reporting that approximately 1,100 people remain in the community and a total of approximately 815 residents have already been evacuated from the community.
(Source: CBC News, November 2, 2005)
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Telus employee union requests return to bargaining table
Further to the story reported in PSEPC Daily Brief DOB05-208, the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU), which represents nearly 14,000 locked-out Telus employees, has asked Telus to return to the bargaining table for further contract discussions. TWU is awaiting a response from the company.
(Source: cbc.ca BRITISH COLUMBIA, November 2, 2005)
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Cyber risk assessment

Over the course of the past 24 hours, the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) has not detected any significant new threats or vulnerabilities. No significant incidents with the potential to affect critical infrastructure have been reported. Accordingly, based on the information available to CCIRC, the cyber risk facing Canadian critical infrastructure is assessed as low. Personnel responsible for information, systems and network security should continue to apply appropriate security precautions and monitor their systems.

Recent cyber alerts and advisories issued by CCIRC can be viewed under “Recent analytical releases” at www.psepc.gc.ca/ccirc.

See also...

• The Weather Office
• FAC - Travel Updates

Note to readers

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC) collects information related to cyber and physical threats to, and incidents involving, Canadian critical infrastructure. This allows us to monitor and analyze threats and to issue alerts, advisories and other information products. To report threats or incidents, please contact the Government Operations Centre (GOC) at (613) 991-7000 or goc-cog@psepc-sppcc.gc.ca by e-mail.

Unauthorized use of computer systems and mischief in relation to data are serious Criminal Code offences in Canada. Any suspected criminal activity should be reported to local law enforcement organizations. The RCMP National Operations Centre (NOC) provides a 24/7 service to receive such reports or to redirect callers to local law enforcement organizations. The NOC can be reached at (613) 993-4460. National security concerns should be reported to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) at (613) 993-9620.

Links to sites not under the control of the Government of Canada (GoC) are provided solely for the convenience of users. The GoC is not responsible for the accuracy, currency or the reliability of the content. The GoC does not offer any guarantee in that regard and is not responsible for the information found through these links, nor does it endorse the sites and their content.

Users should be aware that information offered by non-GoC sites not subject to the Official Languages Act, and to which the PSEPC Daily Brief links, might be available only in the language(s) used by the sites in question.