Home PSEPC Daily Brief DOB05-239

DOB05-239

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

DOB05-239 - 14 December 2005

News

Ontario and Quebec sign agreement to protect Great Lakes
On December 13, Ontario, Quebec and the eight Great Lakes states signed the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement at the annual meeting of the Council of Great Lakes Governors in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Agreement establishes a virtual ban on diversions, a basin-wide environmental standard for water uses, better conservation measures and an increased role for science in decision making. At the same meeting, the Great Lakes states signed a binding compact among themselves with similar terms. Portions of the agreements are effective immediately; others will be phased in over time.
(Source: Ontario, 13 December 2005)
Source article

Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources provides the final Great Lakes Charter Annex agreements

Canada’s first radiation detector installed at New Brunswick port
On December 13, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced that Canada’s first radiation detector has been installed at the port of Saint John in New Brunswick.  Eventually, all major Canadian ports will have these devices installed in efforts to detect potential shipments of nuclear or radiological materials. More details about this radiation detection program, which is a key part of Canada’s $172-million plan to enhance marine security, will be released in late-January.
(Source: TORONTO STAR, 14 December 2005)
Source article

The CBSA provides an explanation of the planned radiation detection process and program.

On the CBSA’s Integrated Border Management website, information is available on the procurement of radiation detection equipment for Canada’s marine container sites.

In brief

Propane leak forces evacuations in Newfoundland and Labrador town
On December 13, a propane leak forced the evacuation of more than 250 people from Glovertown, Newfoundland and Labrador.  The leak occurred at the Fab-Tech boat-building yard. As of December 14, evacuees are returning to their homes.
(Source: CBC News, 14 December 2005)
Source article

Alaskan earthquake prompts tsunami information bulletin for B.C.
On December 13, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck the Andreanof Islands and Aleutian Islands in Alaska, prompting the West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center to issue a tsunami information bulletin to Alaska, Washington, B.C., Oregon and California. The bulletin stated that the earthquake was not sufficient to generate a damaging tsunami; therefore, there is no tsunami watch or warning in effect for these states and province.
(Source: USGS, National Weather Service, 14 December 2005)
Source article
Source article

The Geological Survey of Canada provides an explanation of the Richter scale.

The B.C. Provincial Emergency Program provides information on tsunami preparedness.

Avian Influenza: Update
The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed its 14th case of human avian influenza H5N1 infection in a 35-year-old man from West Jakarta. The victim has died from the illness.

Since 2003, the World Health Organization has confirmed that a total of 71 people have died due to infection from the H5N1 avian influenza strain.
(Source: World Health Organization, 14 December 2005)
Source article
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.

Any suspected criminal activity should be reported to local law enforcement organizations. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (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.

Some hyperlinks in the PSEPC Daily Brief direct users to sites of organizations or other entities that are not subject to the Official Languages Act. Users should be aware that these sources are only available in the language in which they are written.