Home Programs Emergency management Critical infrastructure protection NCIAP A case for action

A case for action

• Introduction
  • The complexity of essential services
  • Complexity and vulnerability
  • The changing threat environment
    
• Accountability and cooperation : the case for partnership
  • Critical infrastructure and the private sector
  • Preparation and response depends on cooperation
  • Canadian expectations

Originally published in 2002.

Introduction

The complexity of essential services

Canada and Canadians depend on a network of physical and computer-based infrastructures that provide essential energy, transportation, communications as well as safety, financial, health and emergency response services. These infrastructures -- collectively referred to as National Critical Infrastructure or NCI -- are critical to the health, safety, security and economic well-being of Canadians and to the effective functioning of governments. The NCI includes physical structures (bridges, canals and pipelines), as well as information technology-based networks and services (in the financial, telecommunications and energy sectors, for example). In addition to infrastructures of national significance, Canada has infrastructures that are essential to citizens living in a particular geographic region.

Complexity and vulnerability

Canada's critical infrastructures are highly connected and highly interdependent. Corporate consolidation, industry rationalization, efficient business practices such as just-in-time manufacturing and population concentration in urban areas have all contributed to this situation. Perhaps most importantly, over the past decade or so, the nation's critical infrastructures have become more dependent on common information technologies, including the internet. Problems can cascade through these interdependent infrastructures, causing unexpected and increasingly more serious failures of essential services. Interconnectedness and interdependence make these infrastructures more vulnerable to disruption or destruction.

The changing threat environment

At the same time as vulnerabilities are changing and increasing, so too are the threats. The frequency and impact of natural disasters that affect the critical infrastructures are increasing. The infrastructures are also vulnerable to a changing threat environment, one that includes catastrophic terrorist attacks and destructive computer viruses and worms (for example, like the September 11 attacks in the U.S. and the Code Red worm attack on the world's computer networks). In order to provide Canadians with greater assurance of resilience and survivability of these critical infrastructures, PSEPC has been developing and maintaining partnerships for action.

Accountability and cooperation: the case for partnership

Critical infrastructure and the private sector

Only a small portion of the NCI is publicly owned. About 85% is controlled by private industry and other non-government organizations. The owners and operators of each component of the National Critical Infrastructure are accountable for safeguarding their own critical assets and ensuring the availability of their goods and services to their customers and clients. They accept this responsibility as good management of their organizations and businesses. The public sector is accountable to citizens through their elected representatives.

Preparation and response depends on cooperation

We have learned through the Year 2000 experience, the Eastern Canada ice storm, the Red River and Saguenay floods and the September 11 attacks that it isn't enough for organizations, governments, companies or even whole industry sectors to plan in isolation. Effective protection planning and response to emergencies need the cooperation of interdependent organizations, industry sectors and governments. Effective planning for the continued functioning of the National Critical Infrastructure requires an exchange of information and a commitment to work together among industry sectors, as well as between industry and government. Better understanding of the new vulnerabilities and the changing threats allows for better planning of consequence management.

Canadian expectations

Canadians expect the National Critical Infrastructure to continue to function, regardless of which organizations own or operate the component parts. They expect the federal government to play a leadership role in ensuring that this happens. They expect all levels of government and private sector owners and operators to co-operate to assure the continuity of the services on which Canadians depend.So much of both regional and national critical infrastructure is international. Pipelines and highways do not stop at borders, cables vital to information technology services are buried deep on ocean floor beds. This means that international cooperation is also an important component, particularly with our U.S. partners.

It is important to establish ongoing, dynamic national and international partnerships among critical infrastructure owners/operators and governments.