Home PSEPC Daily Brief DOB05-221

Daily Brief

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

DOB05-221 - 18 November 2005

News

New Emergency Management Act introduced in the House of Commons
On November 17, the Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, introduced the new Emergency Management Act in the House of Commons. The modernization of the Emergency Preparedness Act was identified as a key element under the National Security Policy in the effort to better address the new risk environment and the immediacy of response now required for the complex and sustained nature of emergencies we face today. The new Act provides for a comprehensive, all-hazards approach to emergency management by:

• reflecting the elements of modern emergency management (mitigation/prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, as well as critical infrastructure (CI) protection);
• emphasizing the need for a coordinated and integrated approach to emergency management activities within the Government of Canada;
• enhancing cooperation with other jurisdictions and the private and voluntary sectors by promoting a common approach and information sharing; and
• protecting CI information provided by the private sector to the Government of Canada.

(Source: Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, 17 November 2005)
Click here for the source article

To view the proposed Emergency Management Act, click here.

Government of Canada committed to Mackenzie Gas Project
On November 17, the Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, made a statement regarding the Government of Canada’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that the Mackenzie Gas Project will proceed subject to necessary legal, environmental and regulatory requirements being met.
(Source: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 17 November 2005)
Click here for the source article

The Mackenzie Gas Project proposes to develop natural gas fields in the Mackenzie Delta of Canada 's Northwest Territories , and deliver the natural gas to markets through a 1220-kilometre pipeline system built along the Mackenzie Valley. For more information on the Mackenzie Gas Project, click here .

Climate change may cause Prairie drought: Journal report
According to a new research report in the latest issue of the journal Nature , global warming could cause water shortages in the Canadian Prairies, leading to an increase in the frequency and severity of droughts. Climate models predict Canada will have a longer growing season due to global warming; however, the research report suggests that crops dependent on river water might not be sustained due to reduction of the river water source, mountainous snow pack.
(Source: GLOBEANDMAIL.COM , 18 November 2005)
Click here for the source article (free subscription required)

In brief

Kashechewan residents to return home to help with reconstruction efforts
Approximately 100 evacuated Kashechewan First Nation community members will be returning home on November 18 to help with federally funded reconstruction efforts. The work involves renovating and rebuilding homes, and ensuring the community's water treatment facility is up to standard.
(Source: CBC News , 18 November 2005)
Click here for the source article

Saskatchewan to spend $15 million in provincial disaster assistance
On November 17, the Saskatchewan government stated that it would spend $15 million in provincial disaster assistance to help communities and individuals who suffered uninsurable losses as a result of severe storms.
(Source: cbc.ca SASKATCHEWAN , 17 November 2005)
Click here for the source article

Freight transportation projects receive funding under Freight Incentives Program
On November 17, Minister of Transport Jean-C. Lapierre announced funding of more than $2 million to the Freight Incentives Program (FIP) for 10 new projects. The funding will help the freight transportation sector reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The FIP is a four-year, $5-million program designed to encourage the adoption and use of technology and equipment towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cost-effectively, in the rail, marine and air freight transportation sectors.
(Source: Transport Canada, 17 November 2005)
Click here for the source article

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 Canadas. Any suspected criminal activity should be reported to local law enforcement organizations. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) National Operations Centre (N.O.C.) provides a 24/7 service to receive such reports or to redirect callers to local law enforcement organizations. The N.O.C. 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.