Fact Sheet

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January 2005

National Risk Assessment Centre

In January 2004, the Government of Canada established the National Risk Assessment Centre (NRAC) within the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The NRAC, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, acts as a focal point and an interface between intelligence agencies at the international, national, and local levels to protect Canadians against current and emerging threats.

Through the analysis and sharing of information, the NRAC increases Canada's ability to detect and stop the movement of high-risk people and goods into the country by using sophisticated intelligence-gathering techniques and technology. The NRAC ensures the timely distribution of this information to its intelligence and law enforcement partners and field officers who are ready to act quickly and decisively to apprehend and stop the entry of terrorists, high-risk people, illegal contraband, drugs and weapons into Canada.

Under the Smart Border Declaration, Canada and the United States have agreed to combine their efforts to quickly and effectively detect persons or goods that can pose a threat to national security.

Canada and the United States are committed to providing a more secure border and North American perimeter. Together we are building a smart border for the 21st century: a border that protects against terrorism and the entry of high-risk people or illegal contraband while facilitating the free flow of legitimate people and goods.

With today's rapid advancement in information technology, the CBSA and the Government of Canada are making every effort to protect Canadians' privacy. Safeguards are in place to ensure that the information is used only where necessary to support the safety and protection of our nation and abroad. The CBSA exercises every effort to shield Canadians' privacy while at the same time ensuring the integrity of our border protection and national security mandate.

Canada and the United States have a long history of cooperative border management.

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