Environmental Scan — June 2004

Demographics Society Economy Politics and Governance Science and Technology Environment Public Safety and Security Human Trafficking Legislative Overview Acronyms

Foreward

The 2004 version of the RCMP Environmental Scan reviews the macro-level trends - both international and domestic - shaping our environment.

As in the past, we have focused on seven key dimensions - demographics, society, economy, politics and governance, science and technology, environment and public safety and security - highlighting new trends and updating previously reported issues.

We have drawn from a wide range of sources - print media; international organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Health Organization, United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund; think tanks in Canada and abroad; law enforcement agencies around the world; conferences; government publications and websites; media documentaries; and our own business lines and Divisions.

This year’s Scan has benefited significantly from the contributions of our partners in the newly formed Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness portfolio, and includes an expanded Public Safety and Security section, reflecting the shifting context for modern law enforcement and security agencies.

While we try not to report the “news”, we do recognize and give some attention to the events of magnitude that increasingly reshape both the global governance structure and security environment.

Certainly, the events of the past year - particularly the rapidly shifting security environment - have affected the contents of the scan.

The Scan also includes a Feature Focus - a more in-depth review - on Human Trafficking as an emergent issue.

The format is intended to promote easy reading. The layout is in the form of information bullets, supporting graphics, quotes (white boxes), statistics/quick facts (yellow boxes) and implications of trends (blue boxes).

Most important, the document is intended to promote discussion and better understanding about how the world around us is changing our future course.

Giuliano Zaccardelli
Commissioner

To obtain an electronic copy (PDF) of the complete report, please send a request by e-mail to the Strategic Policy and Planning Branch of the RCMP at