ARCHIVED - RPP 2006-2007
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

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SECTION II -- ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

EMERGENCY MANEGEMENT AND NATIONAL SECURITY

The Emergency Management and National Security Branch conducts activities that contribute to Protecting the security of Canada and Canadians.

There are four strategic areas of focus related to Emergency Management and National Security in the coming fiscal year:

• building a stronger emergency management foundation;
• establishing effective emergency management machinery;
• assuring a strong national security framework; and,
• cyber security.

The resources associated with Emergency Management and National Security are:

Financial Resources ($000's):
2006-2007	2007-2008	2008-2009
$ 267,013	$ 94,434	$ 94,894
Human Resources:
2006-2007	2007-2008	2008-2009
575 FTE	547 FTE	547 FTE

This section provides additional information concerning these activities as well as major activities in the ongoing operation of EMNS.

From natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, to human-caused emergencies such as industrial accidents or terrorist attacks, Canadians live in an increasingly dangerous and complex threat environment.  As recently witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in the US, disasters have enormous social and economic costs.  Most emergencies in Canada are managed at the local level.  However, factors such as increased urbanization, critical infrastructure interdependencies, international terrorist groups, severe weather events, and the steady flow of people and trade across borders increase the potential for catastrophes in Canada that transcend geographic and jurisdictional boundaries.  All levels of government have an obligation to their citizens to analyze risks, prevent or mitigate where possible, and continuously improve their ability to work together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the consequences of disasters.

The Department is developing an integrated all-hazards national emergency management system to address the challenges of the current risk environment.  The goal of these activities is to save lives, preserve the environment and protect property and the economy.  The national emergency management system is comprised of four interdependent, risk-based functions, or “pillars”: prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.  The Department is focusing on strategic investments, policies and programs, and legislative/regulatory initiatives to encourage a balanced approach across these four pillars.  Recently-approved increases in developing our core capacity will contribute to stronger, more resilient Canadian communities.

Canada needs a comprehensive emergency management and national security foundation that ensures readiness and a coordinated response to safeguard its social and economic framework and that contributes to risk reduction activities through mitigation and recovery.  Key initiatives towards this objective include: 

• The development of a solid foundation for progress on emergency management, including a comprehensive, robust legal, regulatory and policy framework;

• The establishment of effective emergency management machinery that facilitates a coordinated federal response to national emergencies as well as integration with local, provincial/territorial and international jurisdictions; and

• The assurance of a national security framework that leverages interagency cooperation and improves overall effectiveness in addressing the terrorist and other threats facing Canada and our allies.

A Solid Foundation – To safeguard its social and economic framework, Canada needs a comprehensive emergency management foundation through legal and policy measures that ensure coordinated readiness and response.

• Updated Emergency Management Legislation – Progress in Canada’s system of emergency management, government machinery changes and lessons learned over the last 20 years highlight the importance of updating Canada’s emergency management legislation, particularly the Emergency Preparedness Act (1988).  A new Emergency Management Act was tabled as Bill C-12 on May 8, 2006.  If adopted by Parliament, this Bill will repeal and replace the Emergency Preparedness Act.  This new legislation has been drafted to provide the necessary authorities for the Government of Canada to address not only the challenges of its own preparedness and a coordinated federal response, but also the requirement for collaboration with other jurisdictions and key stakeholders and the protection of sensitive critical infrastructure and emergency management information.  The passage of new emergency management legislation is a priority. 

• National Disaster Mitigation Measures – The prevention and mitigation of disasters such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes and tsunamis could potentially save lives, prevent suffering and protect billions in economic losses.  Public Safety is developing a national approach to disaster mitigation that could consist of Government of Canada hazard risk assessment processes; grants and contributions; knowledge and capacity building; and a cost-shared program with the provinces and territories to leverage investments toward strategic and urgent structural and non-structural disaster risk reduction priorities at the local level.

• Pandemic Influenza Preparedness – To ensure coordination across the federal system to address gaps in pandemic influenza preparedness, a Deputy Minister committee and interdepartmental working groups are working to elaborate a multifaceted approach to pandemic influenza planning.  Public Safety is working in full partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to coordinate this initiative, which involves the whole spectrum of federal departments and agencies, provinces and territories, the private sector and non-governmental organizations.

Emergency Management Activity	Expected Results
Updating of Canada’s emergency management legislation, particularly the Emergency Preparedness Act (1988).	Improved preparedness and response of federal government in times of emergency.
Development of national disaster mitigation measures.	Increased capability to protect lives and prevent economic losses in the event of a disaster.
Development of a cross-sectoral, multi-jurisdictional approach to pandemic influenza planning.	Coordinated national pandemic influenza preparedness strategy.

Effective Emergency Management – It is a public safety priority to establish and maintain effective emergency management machinery to provide the base for coordination of a federal response in an emergency.  PSEPC is advancing the following three initiatives that guide the development, implementation and measurement of this commitment.

• National Emergency Response System – PSEPC is leading the development of a new national emergency response framework, the National Emergency Response System (NERS).  NERS is designed to ensure a more strategic, responsive and harmonized federal and national response to all types of emergencies.  Work continues to develop NERS in partnership with other federal government departments and agencies with public safety roles, key international allies like the US, the provinces and territories, the voluntary sector, and the private sector, especially critical infrastructure owners and operators.

• Government Operations Centre – The National Security Policy recognized the need to connect effectively with provincial and territorial emergency preparedness networks.  It also committed the Government of Canada to address the highest priority gaps in the Government’s capacity to manage emergencies in the area of overall strategic coordination. Public Safety was mandated to build a centralized Government Operations Centre (GOC) to provide stable, round-the-clock coordination and to provide support and leadership in emergencies of national importance.  In strengthening our connectivity with key partners, enhancing our data and information management systems, and through participating in national and international-level exercises, we will continue to ensure the Government Operations Centre has the systems and capacity in place to address all hazards, thereby allowing for a more integrated Government of Canada response to all kinds of events.  Furthermore, the Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces, territories, the private and voluntary sectors, and key international allies toward accomplishing its goal of seamless emergency coordination.

• Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre – As part of the Government Operations Centre, the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) focuses on reducing risks to national critical infrastructure from cyber security threats.  The CCIRC monitors the cyber threat environment on a 24/7 basis and is responsible for coordinating the national response to cyber security incidents. CCIRC will continue to deliver timely warnings of cyber security vulnerabilities and regular analyses of cyber threats to its current partners, forge new relationships with organizations in Canada and abroad, and continue to develop and expand its monitoring and analysis capabilities.  CCIRC is also the international point of contact for cyber incidents. CCIRC will continue to build and strengthen federal, provincial and territorial, private sector and international partnerships to enable real-time exchange of information on threats and vulnerabilities.

Emergency Management Activity	Expected Results
Provide around the clock coordination,   support and leadership during emergencies of national importance.	Improved preparedness and well coordinated response of federal government in times of emergency.
Monitoring of cyber threat environment, and issuing warnings and information on potential, imminent or actual threats, vulnerabilities or incidents affecting Canada’s critical infrastructure.	National critical infrastructure less vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Strong National Security Framework - The terrorist attacks in London, Bali and Madrid are evidence that the threat of terrorist attacks on Western targets persists, and in June of 2006, in the Greater Toronto Area, seventeen individuals were arrested and charged with terrorism-related offences under the Criminal Code.

The Government of Canada has a duty to its citizens to be aware of the risk environment, to take appropriate measures to prevent attacks wherever possible, and to be prepared to respond to the consequences, if needed.  Canada’s approach to national security must be strategic and proactive, while embracing the values of democracy, human rights, respect for the rule of law and pluralism.  Work is ongoing to ensure that the existing framework is adequate to safeguard against threats to national security, and to propose changes where required.

• Listed Entities – The Department will continue to review the Criminal Code list of entities associated with terrorism. The listing of an entity is a public means of identifying a group or individual as being associated with terrorism. The definition of an entity includes a person, group, trust, partnership or fund, or an unincorporated association or organization. It is an offence to knowingly participate in or contribute to, directly or indirectly, any activity of a terrorist group.

• Modernization of Investigative Techniques Initiative – The modernization of legislation is required to ensure that law enforcement and national security agencies maintain their ability to lawfully detect, prevent and investigate terrorism and organized crime in the face of new and emerging technologies.

National Security Activity	Expected Results
Review of the Criminal Code list of terrorist entities.	Limit participation in, and funding of, terrorist groups by residents of Canada.
Modernization of the legislative framework to maintain law enforcement and national security agencies’ ability to lawfully investigate criminal and terrorist acts perpetrated through the illicit use of new technologies.	The ongoing effectiveness of investigations and intelligence gathering efforts of law enforcement and national security agencies.
Coordination and collaboration with agencies and departments on issues concerning national security and the intelligence community.	Ensure the legal foundation for counter-terrorism and national security efforts continues to be appropriate and effective.
Support the Parliamentary review of the Anti-Terrorism Act.	Ensure the existing framework for coordinated action is adequate to safeguard against threats to national security, and propose changes where required.
Participate in governmental inquiries and commissions (i.e. Air India, O’Connor) concerning national security matters.	Represent departmental position on issues involving statutory responsibilities of the Minister and PSEPC agencies in order to effectively contribute to the mandate of these reviews.

Cyber security – The development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to protecting Canada’s critical infrastructure, or CI is a priority.  CI sectors include everything from banking and financial services, the generation and distribution of energy, communications and information technology infrastructure, transportation, government and services, to infrastructure that maintains the safety of our food and water.

These critical sectors are heavily dependent on automated systems and interconnected networks.  Moreover, the interconnectedness of, and our dependence on, information and communications technology infrastructure is of critical importance to emergency management programs and activities.  As Canada’s communications and information technology networks are vulnerable to deliberate cyber attacks and unintentional disruptions, cyber security must be an integral component of maintaining the integrity of Canada’s critical infrastructure. 

The Department will establish a Cyber Security Task Force (CSTF) to make recommendations on a cyber security strategy for Canada.  The action plan that is expected as part of this strategy, will result in activities that contribute to Protecting the Security of Canada and Canadians.  The Secretariat to support the Task Force was established in the Spring of 2006.

For 2006-2007 fiscal year, the priorities of the CSTF will be oriented toward laying the governance and knowledge groundwork for achieving its long-term outcomes.

CSTF Activity	Expected Results
Selection of Task Force including the Chair and establishment of a Secretariat to support the Task Force.	A Task Force with cross-sectoral reach and representation, composed of members of both the private and public sectors.
Initiation and completion of two major studies to determine key information regarding Canadian critical infrastructure, as it pertains to cyber security.	Increase in knowledge throughout the CI sectors of the cyber security risks they face.
Combined, these studies will provide insight into the management and control of cyber security risks, identify CI interdependencies across sectors, and recommend mitigative measures and identify their costs.	Increase in awareness throughout the CI sector of the mitigation strategies that can be adopted to address cyber security risks.

POLICING, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTEROPERABILTY

An integrated and enhanced approach to public safety requires not only the timely provision of appropriate policy advice, but also the sharing of information among all those with a mandate to ensure safe communities.  Accordingly, the Department has combined its policy capacity on law enforcement and border strategy issues with its efforts to integrate critical public safety information across relevant jurisdictions and among key public agencies.  This approach enables the Minister to exercise national leadership on key issues in law enforcement and facilitates information sharing to promote public safety objectives.
The Policing, Law Enforcement and Interoperability Branch (PLEIB) supports activities that contribute to all three of the Strategic Priorities identified in section 1. 

The following section organizes the details of these activities by:

• Law Enforcement and Border Strategies;
• Policing Policy; and,
• Public Safety Interoperability.

This section provides additional information concerning these activities as well as major activities in the ongoing operation of PLEIB. 

The resources associated with Policing, Law Enforcement and Interoperability are:

Financial Resources ($000's):
2006-2007	2007-2008	2008-2009
$ 38,717	$ 31,636	$ 21,909
Human Resources:
2006-2007	2007-2008	2008-2009
148 FTE	145 FTE	134 FTE

Law Enforcement and Border Strategies – The Law Enforcement and Border Strategies Directorate is responsible for providing leadership and strategic policy advice with respect to border security and national law enforcement issues/initiatives.

Major initiatives include:

• National Agenda to Combat Organized Crime – The National Agenda (an Federal/Provincial/Territorial initiative) recognizes that the fight against organized crime is a national priority that requires governments, the law enforcement community and other partners to work together.  The National Agenda identifies four main components to be addressed: national and regional coordination; legislative and regulatory tools; research and evaluation; and, communications and public education.  The National Coordinating Committee is the governance body that supports the National Agenda and assists with the development and implementation of anti-organized crime policies, legislation, and initiatives.

• Cross-Border Crime Forum (CBCF) – This forum addresses the law enforcement and national security elements of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP).  The CBCF brings together senior officials from Canada and the United States to develop joint solutions to common cross-border crime issues, such as: human smuggling, organized crime, mass-marketing fraud, cyber crime and terrorism.

• DNA Initiatives – The Department coordinates policy development and advice on a range of very active issues respecting the use of DNA in the criminal justice system – including the National DNA Data Bank, cost-sharing agreements with the provinces/ territories, and Federal-Provincial-Territorial efforts to examine the establishment of a national DNA-based Missing Persons Index.

Law Enforcement & Border Strategies Activity	Expected Results
Portfolio policy development and coordination on border policy issues including the SPP, marine security, customs, immigration and trade.	Coordinated, strategic approach for key government initiatives to promote and ensure border security. Effective policy and program analysis in partnership with the Portfolio and other partners to enhance border enforcement operations at and between ports of entry.
Coordination of policy development, planning and governance support for the National DNA Data Bank and broader DNA policy issues.	Strategic approach to policy development on the National DNA Data Bank; demonstrated leadership for FPT efforts examining the establishment of a Missing Persons Index. Implementation and governance for FPT Biology Casework Analysis Agreements, and review of the Agreements to support their renegotiation.
Policy development/ coordination and information sharing with key government, police and prosecutorial stakeholders involved in the fight against serious and organized crime.	Enhancement and/or creation of key strategies to combat serious and organized crime – including coordination of, and policy support for, the National Coordinating Committee to Combat Organized Crime.

Law Enforcement and Border Strategies Directorate contributes to the following Strategic Priorities:

• Fighting serious and organized crime; and,
• Enhancing community safety and security.

Policing Policy – The Policing Policy Directorate is responsible for providing strategic independent advice on a variety of policy and management issues of relevance to the RCMP and supporting the Minister in his responsibility and accountability for the RCMP.

Major initiatives include:

• Strategy to Combat Gun Violence – The Department is coordinating a comprehensive, national strategy to combat gun violence.  This strategy entails enhancing the intelligence and investigative capacity of Canada’s law enforcement agencies and working with all partners, domestic and international, to share firearm intelligence and to evaluate and research the effectiveness of enforcement and prevention measures aimed at combating firearm crime.
• RCMP Capacity – The Department is working closely with the RCMP to enhance federal policing capacity to adequately carry out increasingly complex and more costly policing functions and fulfill national policing obligations.  International Police Peacekeeping capacity is another initiative to ensure the RCMP has the capacity to support Canadian foreign policies in failed and fragile states.  To complement the capacity building, the Department is reviewing proposals to refurbish and expand the capacity of the RCMP Training Academy (“Depot”).

Policing Policy Activity	Expected Results
Support for the Investments to Combat the Criminal Use of Firearms (ICCUF) Initiative, which focuses on improving the national collection, analysis and sharing of firearms-related intelligence.	Enhanced criminal intelligence capacity of the RCMP and CBSA for improved criminal investigations, and strategic national assessments of the illegal movement of firearms.
Restoring the effectiveness of RCMP Federal Policing by addressing resource shortfalls and expanding and refurbishing the RCMP Training Academy, to meet increasing demands for RCMP officers.	Resolve current resource and capacity gaps, enable the RCMP to keep pace with federal statute requirements and allow better targeting of emerging priorities, such as technologically sophisticated crimes and new crime organizations.
Implementation of effective Canadian Police Arrangement (CPA) Management Framework, in collaboration with Foreign Affairs and CIDA, to guide and support RCMP involvement in international police peacekeeping missions.	Effective management of Canada’s police peacekeeping efforts.

Policing Policy contributes to the following Strategic Priorities:

• Fighting serious and organized crime; and
• Enhancing community safety and security.

Public Safety Interoperability – Interoperability is an environment where people, procedures, policies and systems work in a collaborative fashion to share information that is both required and appropriate.  This ensures that government organizations can and do share critical information with the right people at the right time, strengthening the ability of these organizations to address threats to the safety and security of Canadians.  The absence of interoperability was clearly evident in the wake of events such as the Toronto SARS outbreak.

The Department is developing a framework for interoperability, including a long-term vision and strategic design to enable a fully coordinated approach to public safety and security that ensures effective information sharing while respecting the privacy of Canadians and the principle of accountability.  This work builds on the accomplishments of the Integrated Justice Information initiative, which advanced the delivery of the Canada Public Safety Information Network to improve information sharing among criminal justice and law enforcement agencies in support of public safety and security.

Interoperability Activity	Expected Results
Developing a strategic framework for public safety interoperability, including: Development of a national strategy for interoperable radio communications (amongst first responders) in Canada and with the U.S. Development of an electronic communications system capable of transmitting classified information amongst public safety and security federal partners.	An interoperable information sharing environment across government addressing issues in the following domains: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement; Border; National Security and Intelligence; and, Public Health and First Responders This environment will yield an increased ability to fight crime and threats to national security and public health and safety.
Creating a centre of excellence for biometrics across the public safety sector.	Coordination on biometrics standards, best practices, and domestic/international policy integration.
Completing a feasibility study on the implementation of an automated air passenger assessment system.	Provision of recommendations for the implementation of an efficient and effective air passenger assessment system to assess threats to aviation transportation and national security.

Interoperability contributes to the following Strategic Priorities:

• Fighting serious and organized crime; and,
• Protecting the security of Canada and Canadians.
  

COMMUNITY SAFETY AND PARTNERSHIPS

Historically, the Department sought to integrate various areas of community safety: crime prevention, based on community projects to address local factors of crime and victimization; corrections research and policy to ensure safe reintegration of offenders in the community; and, Aboriginal policing in First Nations communities.  This approach has endeavoured to support sustainable partnerships between government and communities for greater public safety, tailored to the reality and needs of each community.  Improvements are planned to further enhance public safety in Canadian communities.

The Community Safety and Partnerships Branch (CSPB) supports activities contributing to the “Fighting serious and organized crime,” and “Enhancing community safety and security,” strategic priorities.  Improvements are planned to further enhance public safety in Canadian communities.

The following section organizes the details of these activities by:

• Effective Corrections;
• First Nations Policing Policy; and,
• The National Crime Prevention Centre. 

This section provides additional information concerning these priorities as well as major activities in the ongoing operation of CSPB. 

The resources associated with Community Safety and Partnership are:

Financial Resources ($000's):
2006-2007	2007-2008		2008-2009
$ 192,375	$ 197,774		$ 169,361
Human Resources:
2006-2007	2007-2008		2008-2009
276 FTE	276 FTE		191 FTE

Operational Priorities:

• Ongoing provision of evidence-based, research-supported correctional policies
• Strong partnerships with provinces and First Nations for police services in First Nations communities
• Provision of tools, knowledge and support to communities to address the root causes of crime at the local level

Effective Corrections – Aims to improve public safety by enhancing strategies to support the safe custody and reintegration of offenders who are eligible for return to the community.

Corrections Activity	Expected Results
Support research, evaluation and policy development that strengthen effective corrections and promote successful reintegration of offenders who are eligible for return to the community.	More successful reintegration of offenders and protection of society against chronic offenders. Canadians gain confidence in a more effective corrections and justice system that is responsive to the needs of victims and the general public.
Develop, implement, review and evaluate measures targeting high-risk offenders.	Focused and firm responses to serious and violent offences. Better control and treatment of sex offenders will lead to improvements in community safety.
Address over-representation of Aboriginal Canadians in the criminal justice system through the development of culturally relevant healing models of justice and corrections in Aboriginal communities.	Increased community capacity to work with victims, offenders and families through dissemination of knowledge gained through pilot projects in Aboriginal communities. Coordinated federal support for community healing through the Assistant Deputy Minister Steering Committee on Community Stability and Wellness and other venues. Publication of research and technical reports on issues relating to Aboriginal people and corrections and criminal justice.

Effective corrections contributes to the following Strategic Priorities:

• Fighting serious and organized crime; and,
• Enhancing community safety and security.

First Nations Policing Policy – Facilitates the negotiation and implementation of tripartite agreements with provinces and First Nations for First Nations policing services.  The First Nations policing services are culturally appropriate and responsive to the particular needs of First Nations and Inuit communities and are cost shared 52% by Canada and 48% by the Province/Territory.

First Nations Policing Policy Activity	Expected Results
Enhance public stability in First Nations communities by negotiating culturally appropriate First Nations policing agreements.	Increased access to culturally appropriate police services for First Nations communities.
Review and consideration of specific policing options for the territories with partners.	Develop models for policing and public safety in the Territories.
Develop with partners, a vision to achieve sustainability for First Nations Policing Policy.	Modernized First Nations Policing Policy that responds to current demographic, environmental, and political realities with respect to First Nations policing, and community needs.
Conduct research and policy reviews of Aboriginal public safety options and service delivery alternatives.	Development of policy decisions and public safety interventions based on community needs, improved accountability, and balanced funding arrangements.
Incorporate indicators of community stability and well-being into overall performance measurement strategy.	Improved performance indicators reflecting broader community context, resulting in informed policy decisions and resource allocations driven by risk and need.
Strengthen professional capacity of Aboriginal policing service providers.	Improved management capacity and enhanced service delivery of professional, effective and culturally appropriate policing.

First Nations Policing Policy contributes to the following Strategic Priority:

• Enhancing community safety and security.

The National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) – Develops, funds and evaluates strategies and programs targeted to enhance community safety by focusing on crime reduction strategies designed to achieve measurable results.

The National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) is responsible for implementing the National Crime Prevention Strategy.
As part of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, the NCPC works to increase community action to prevent crime, develop and share knowledge of effective crime reduction strategies and coordinate multi-level support for crime reduction.

NCPS Activity	Expected Results
Carefully evaluating the success of projects in reducing crime in particular communities.	Improved evaluation of current practices.  Evidence-based policy and program development.
Supporting provincial and municipal efforts to address gang-related problems.	Increase in protective factors against gang activity. Development and implementation of integrated anti-gang measures and strategies. Better understanding of the youth-gang phenomenon and strategies to respond to it.
Directing a portion of crime prevention funds to children and youth at high risk of coming into conflict with the law, in areas of high youth crime.	Targeted funding and tailored programming to the specific needs of children and youth at risk. Situations created where children and youth are provided supportive and accessible alternatives to crime. Potential reduction in local crime rates in the medium to longer term.
Directing a portion of crime prevention funds to fighting the problem of drug-related crime.	Assistance to communities most affected by drug-related crime. Strengthened measures to assist individuals afflicted by drug addiction.
Facilitating the engagement of all players in the development of comprehensive and integrated approaches to crime reduction, with a particular emphasis on communities with high crime rates.	More comprehensive and thorough assessment of local crime problems leading to more effective interventions. Sustainable crime reduction initiatives.
Supporting initiatives that strengthen and increase the capacity of communities to fight and reduce local crime and victimization.	Greater community ownership of public safety issues. Enhanced community capacity to combat crime. Reductions in local crime rates in the medium to long term.

Effective crime prevention contributes to the following Strategic Priorities:

• Enhancing community safety and security.

 

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