Home PSEPC Daily Brief DOB06-037

Daily Brief

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

DOB06-037 - 22 February 2006

News

Public sector walkout in Ontario
On February 21, the CBC reported that the Ontario branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) warned that a possible walkout by union members might occur on February 23.

The walkout of up to 120,000 workers from across the province could disrupt various services of the Ontario provincial government. CUPE indicated that the potential impact of the strike was not immediately evident because some CUPE locals have indicated that they would not participate in a walkout.
(Source: CBCNews , 21 February 2006)
Source article

CUPE Ontario is the political wing of Canada’s largest union in the country’s most populated province.

HMCS Athabaskan to receive replacement Sea King helicopter
Further to PSEC Daily Brief DOB06-024, on February 20, the Department of National Defence (DND) announced that the HMCS Athabaskan will be equipped with a replacement Sea King helicopter.

The replacement helicopter is to be transferred to the HMCS Athabaskan while in port in Malaga, Spain, between March 8 and 11.
(Source: Canadian Forces, 20 February 2006)
Source article

In brief

Austria finds H5N1 in chickens and ducks at animal sanctuary
On February 22, the Austrian authorities announced that the H5N1 avian influenza virus was discovered in five birds from an animal sanctuary.

The two chickens and three ducks were housed in a sanctuary in the southern city of Graz. The birds are the first cases of the H5N1virus found domestically in the European Union.
(Source: Reuters AlertNet , 22 February 2006)
Source article

Nigeria confirms new cases of H5N1 avian influenza virus
On February 21, Nigerian authorities confirmed that new cases of H5N1 avian influenza virus were found in poultry in two new states and in the federal capital of Abuja.

The latest cases were discovered in the northern states of Katsina and Zamfara, and in the city of Abuja.
(Source: Reuters AlertNet , 20 February 2006)
Source article

H5N1 avian influenza virus confirmed in Hungary
On February 20, the Hungarian government confirmed that three swans tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The birds were found earlier this month in the village of Nagybaracska, approximately 100 kilometres south of Budapest.

The three swans are the first confirmed cases of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in the country.
(Source: BREITART.COM , 21 February 2006)
Source article

The Public Health Agency of Canada provides information on avian influenza.

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.

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