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Daily Brief

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

DOB06-001 - 3 January 2006

News

Canada unprepared for large-scale emergencies: Defence Science Advisory Board study
According to a Defence Science Advisory Board study released to the Ottawa Citizen under the Access to Information Act, new laws are needed to ensure private companies stockpile key supplies required for the country in the aftermath of a terrorist attack and that government is guaranteed access to that material. The study also concluded that the Department of Defence does not have the means to adequately respond to a large-scale disaster. The Defence Science Advisory Board is made up of experts drawn from industry and academia, and provides independent advice to the Department of Defence.
(Source: Winnipeg Free Press, 2 January 2006)
Source article

In brief

Fiji Islands region earthquake prompts tsunami information bulletin for B.C.
On January 2, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Fiji Islands region, 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 tsunami, but some of these areas might experience small sea level changes.
(Source: USGS, National Weather Service, 2 January 2006)
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.

Cyber risk assessment

Over the course of the past 96 hours, the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) has not detected any significant new threats or vulnerabilities. Because of recent developments, the Windows Meta File (WMF) vulnerability that affects Microsoft Windows remains a concern. Microsoft has released Security Advisory (912840), and a path is forthcoming. Refer to AV05-038 for additional information.

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 medium.  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.