It has been five years since Transport Canada (TC) is giving high priority to protecting our critical infrastructure — those facilities, systems and networks that are essential to the health, security, safety and economic well-being of Canadians. Over this time, TC has worked in close partnership with its government partners, with Canada’s ports and with others to develop an effective marine security program.

Canada has one of the most secure marine transportation systems in the world and our ports are among the most competitive. Every year, Canadian Port Authorities generate more than $20 billion worth of economic activity. They are responsible — directly or indirectly — for more than a quarter of a million jobs. And they handle $100 billion worth of goods.

Of course, Canada’s marine security does not exist in a vacuum. It is part of a much larger North American and global marine transportation system. And the economic activity generated by this system could be compromised if there was a serious security incident in our marine transportation system — or if our global partners simply lost confidence in our security vigilance and competence.

Therefore, since 2001, Transport Canada has worked in close partnership with its government partners, with Canada’s ports and with others to develop an effective marine security program. The federal government has invested over $9 billion to fight terrorism and reinforce public security. Over $930 million was specifically committed to improve marine security in Canada, including measures to protect marine infrastructure, increase the surveillance of maritime traffic, and improve Canada's capability to respond to emergency situations. A variety of programs and processes have been put in place in Canada to strengthen the security of our marine transportation system in the post-September 11th environment (http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/backgrounders/b06-M002e.htm).

Most recently…

Transport Canada continues to recognize the importance of pursuing efforts to improve the security of our marine environment. Most recently the Minister of TC made announcements of concrete actions under the Marine Security Contribution Program and the Marine Transportation Security Clearance Program.

Transport Canada’s $115-million Marine Security Contribution Program (http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2006/06-h151e.htm) was implemented to enhance the security of their port and marine facilities. The Marine Security Contribution Program is application-based and provides funding to recipients on a cost-shared basis for a number of clearly identified eligible expenses. Recently, the Minister of TC announced up to $42 million for 101 ports and marine facilities across the country under this program. Additionally, this announcement launched the fourth funding round, open only to Canada Port Authorities and domestic ferry facilities and vessels on high-risk routes. Applicants have until January 19, 2007 to submit their applications.

The Minster of TC also announced the amendments to the Marine Transportation Security Regulations to establish a Marine Transportation Security Clearance Program (MTSCP) for background checks on marine workers (http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2006/06-h148e.htm). The regulatory amendments were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on November 15, 2006. By ensuring the integrity of our marine workforce, we add a layer of security to our marine transportation system and Transport Canada is also looking at providing security clearances to other marine workers, including pilots and seafarers. The MTSCP was developed with over three years of consultation and collaboration, resulting in an unprecedented partnership between government, industry and labour groups. The government has used stakeholder input throughout the development of proposed regulations and, based on a risk management process, adopted a more targeted approach as a result. The MTSCP will be implemented initially in the key ports of Halifax, Nova Scotia; Montreal, Quebec; Fraser River, North Fraser River and Vancouver, British Columbia; and then expand to other ports. It is expected that security clearances at these major ports and at the marine traffic control and operations centres of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, and St. Catherine’s, Ontario, will be complete by the end of December 2007. Other ports would follow by the end of 2008.

The way forward

These recent announcements are simply two examples out of a larger number of initiatives demonstrating TC’s commitment to strengthen the security of our marine transportation system. More remains to be done. TC will continue working closely with its partners to continually maintain Canada’s competitive edge by ensuring our marine transportation system and our ports are efficient, reliable, secure, safe, competitively priced and environmentally sound.