PSEPC and Community Outreach

"Canadians have built a remarkable country shaped by a deep attachment to democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and pluralism. Our way of life is based on an openness to ideas and innovations, and to people from every part of the world -- a commitment to include every individual and every community in the ongoing project that is Canada -- and a steadfast rejection of intolerance, extremism and violence"-- Building an Open Society, Canada's National Security Policy.

The Government's commitment to include all Canadians in building this country extends to those efforts to protect it. The stigmatization of any community within Canada is unacceptable and so too any such notion that our diversity or our openness to newcomers needs to be limited to ensure our security.

From the outset, and notably with the creation of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada in December 2003, the protection of individual rights and freedoms has been a fundamental principle in the Government's approach to national security. It is a “made in Canada approach, guided by Canadas traditions of tolerance and inclusion.

To ensure that the approach to national security and public safety remains effective, the Government requires the help and support of all Canadians. To that end, the Government has taken steps to reach out to communities in Canada and engage them in the development of a balanced approach to safety and security. These include:

• The National Security Policy, released in April, 2004, articulates Canada's core national security interests and provides a framework within which the Government will work to address current and future threats. The key values of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and pluralism are embodied in the policy.
   
• The Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security (CCRS) was created to bring Canadians and the Government together in a long-term dialogue on topics matters related to national security and the impacts they may have on Canada's diverse and pluralistic society. The CCRS, convened for the first time on March 7, 2005, provides a forum to discuss trends and developments in national security, and offers policy makers insights into how Canada's diverse communities and the Government can better engage in national security policy and program matters.
   
• The Anti-Terrorism Act, passed into law in December, 2001, was developed to combat terrorism, while ensuring respect for privacy and human rights. It contains a number of safeguards -- including a Parliament ary review of the Act, as it has been commenced to do, within three years of receiving Royal Assent and that the publication of annual reports -- to ensure that the Act remains transparent and accountable to Canadians. The Act respects such important qualities as fairness, due process and judicial review.
   
• An Advisory Council on National Security, which the Government is establishing to receive advice from external experts on issues related to national security.
   
• A proposed model for a National Security Committee of Parliamentarians, with a mandate to review the framework for security and intelligence in Canada, and the ability of departments and agencies involved these activities to fulfill their responsibilities. As outlined this past April, the proposal builds on a commitment set out in the National Security Policy and the Action Plan for Democratic Reform.
   
• A request by the Government that Mr. Justice Dennis O'Connor provide advice on the creation of a new arms-length review mechanism for RCMP activities relating to national security. This will add to safeguards already in place: the Security Intelligence Review Committee; the Inspector General for Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the Commissioner of the Communications Security Establishment; and the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP to ensure that government security and intelligence agencies act appropriately and in compliance with Canadian law and policy.

All portfolio agencies have policies and programs in place to ensure their activities are carried out in a way that is sensitive to the diversity of Canada's communities and that respects the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Human Rights Act. Training, recruitment and outreach activities are constantly being re-evaluated and enhanced to ensure they respond to the needs of Canada's changing population. For example:

• The Canadian Border Services Agency's Fairness Initiative, announced in July 11, 2005, seeks to ensure that Canadians and visitors to Canada are treated fairly and can expect to receive the best possible service when crossing the border and in their other dealings with the Agency. As a first step, the CBSA is consulting clients and stakeholders for their views on the development of the overall initiative. The Canadian Border Services Agency's Fairness Initiative, announced in July 11, 2005, seeks to ensure that Canadians and visitors to Canada are treated fairly and can expect to receive the best possible service when crossing the border. As a first step, the CBSA is consultating clients and stakeholders to for their views on the development of the overall initiative.
   
• The RCMP's philosophy of Community Policing is built on a model of consultation and engagement with those they serve. The RCMP Service Standards state that service to the public will be provided at all times in a courteous, helpful and culturally-sensitive manner. Diversity training is integrated into the overall delivery of the Cadet Training Program, and the Commissioner meets regularly with his Advisory Committee on Visible Minorities and Aboriginal people. Based on this philosophy, the RCMP has approved a bias-free policing strategy that includes community outreach for both policy development and incident resolution.
   
• CSIS had conducted community outreach for years but this has usually been done quietly and with small groups. CSIS now intends to take a more structured approach to community outreach and will coordinate a national effort to meet with a larger variety of community groups, particularly those representing Muslim Canadians and other visible minorities. The Service will also produce material in non-official languages that will be available on its web site and that can be distributed when meeting various groups. More speakers from community groups will also be invited to speak at CSIS's speakers' series.

  As of March 31, 2005, almost 10 per cent of CSIS employees had self-identified as visible minorites, a higher percentage than for the Government of Canada as a whole. CSIS continues to welcome visible minority candidates, a fact made clear in its recruiting material and images and public communications. Intelligence officers are trained to recognize and respect the diversity of Canada's many cultures and learn a great deal about the communities with whom they will interact before being placed in the field.

• The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has well established community outreach and diversity training programs. CSC reaches key community stakeholders through various initiatives, such as: active consultation with Citizen Advisory Committees and National Associations Active in Criminal Justice; participation in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' sub-committee on community corrections; the Speakers Bureau; and, the Community Forum Program. Both the Correctional Training Program and the New Employee Orientation Program include a half-day session on diversity. In addition, CSC has established a National Advisory Committee on Diversity responsible for promoting diversity within the organization across Canada.

Taken together, these measures reflect the guiding principles and ongoing objectives of the Government's approach to national security and public safety in its determination to protect the rights and freedoms of Canadians. In the coming months, PSEPC will pursue further number of other measures to strengthen its relationship with Canadians.

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