New funding initiatives
April 27, 2004
Ottawa, Ontario
BACKGROUNDER
The Government of Canada has taken a number of steps to ensure that accountability for our broader security system is strengthened, including the creation of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, the new Cabinet Committee on Security, Public Health and Emergencies, the appointment of a National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and the proposal to establish a National Security Committee of Parliamentarians.
Financial accountability is a key element of this commitment, and the immediate and ongoing investment in our security system will be subject to the Treasury Board Secretariat’s oversight. The President of the Treasury Board has recently announced several measures to strengthen comptrollership and improve financial controls, including the creation of the Office of the Comptroller General of Canada.
New funding initiatives contained in the National Security Policy include:
Enhancing Intelligence Capabilities
The collection of intelligence related to the various threats to Canada and to Canadians is a critical aspect of our security system, including in our campaign against terror. The Government of Canada will invest $137 million to support intelligence enhancement as part of the National Security Policy. Allocation of these resources will be determined by the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Securing Critical Government Information Systems
We live in an information age where threats are not just physical. Attacks can be launched from and against the internet and the systems connected to it, forcing us to rethink how to address critical infrastructure and international conflict. The National Security Policy provides for the creation of a national Cyber-security framework in which to address these issues.
The Government of Canada will leverage its most advanced technical expertise to strengthen its capacity to predict and prevent cyber-attacks. To this end, cyber-threat and cyber-vulnerability analysis for its cyber-infrastructure will be substantially improved, and its ability to defend its networks and respond to cyber-incidents will be strengthened. Priorities for these initiatives include:
- expanding threat and vulnerability assessments;
- increasing crisis incident response capability; and,
- working with the US to establish a North American cyber-threat early warning system.
Funding of up to $85 million has been allocated within the Department of National Defence to undertake this initiative.
RCMP Real Time Identification (RTID) Project
The RCMP Real Time Identification (RTID) Project will allow fingerprints to be electronically recorded, transmitted and instantly verified against broader databases. It will also permit the RCMP to avoid future backlogs and modernize criminal record and fingerprint identification processes.
The RTID project is integral to the successful deployment and use of the already acquired LiveScan technology. This LiveScan technology enables fingerprints to be captured and transmitted electronically to the RCMP. The RTID initiative will re-engineer the current fingerprint and criminal records processes and provide an efficient, seamless, paperless process capable of meeting current and future demands in a timely fashion.
The RTID Project is a five-year initiative, with the first year devoted to proposal evaluation and contract award, and the remaining four years for development and implementation. The total cost of the RTID Project is $129.78 million. With an RCMP contribution of $30 million, the funding contribution to the RCMP is $99.78 million.
Passport Security Strategy
In May 2003, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted new passport specifications for a globally interoperable system, to be based on passports embedded with electronic chips containing a biometric of the bearer. The primary biometric selected by ICAO is facial recognition.
Canada will deploy this biometric to enhance the security of the passport application process and to issue a biometrically-enabled smart chip passport in early 2005.
The Department of Foreign Affairs will receive funding of up to $10.3 million to implement the Strategy.
Integrated Threat Assessment Centre
Information on possible threats to Canada must be brought together and assessed in a timely fashion. The Government of Canada will create a new Integrated Threat Assessment Centre (ITAC) to produce comprehensive integrated threat assessments relating to the security of Canada and will be located in CSIS.
Funding of up to $30 million has been allocated for this initiative.
Government Operations Centre
The National Security Policy provides for the development of a national, fully integrated emergency management system to protect Canadians. The system will incorporate a comprehensive mitigation, response, recovery and preparedness support framework. The new Government Operations Centre will connect all departments and key stakeholders to direct the Government's planning for, and respond to emergencies of national significance.
Funding of up to $14.95 million has been allocated to Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada to establish and operate the Government Operations Centre.
Marine Security Plan
The National Security Policy elaborates in detail a six-point plan to enhance marine security. Transport Canada, National Defence, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada and Fisheries and Oceans will receive funding of up to $308 million to implement key elements of this plan, which:
- clarifies and strengthens accountability for marine security ($5 million);
- establishes Marine Security Operations Centres ($165 million);
- increases the on-water presence of the Coast Guard, RCMP and the Canadian Forces Maritime Command ($75 million) and increases the Department of Fisheries and Oceans aerial surveillance activities ($25 million);
- secures fleet communications ($38 million);
- pursues closer cooperation with the United States to enhance our collective marine defence and security; and
- strengthens security at ports and other marine facilities, such as our Seaway Locks.
Cyber-security Task Force
Cyber-Security is an essential component of both Canada’s National Security Policy and the Prime Minister’s commitment to improve national emergency coordination by ensuring measures are in place to deal with the evolving threat environment.
In order to develop a national cyber-security strategy that is representative of government and private sector interests, the Task Force will be highly autonomous and will have representation from both the private and public sector. The Task Force will be supported by a secretariat within Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada.
The Terms of Reference for the Cyber-security Task Force include to:
- describe the nature and scope of the threat to Canada’s cyberspace;
- inventory critical components of the national cyber infrastructure;
- describe the state of readiness of Canada to confront a cyber attack and the state of recovery plans; and
- make recommendations for action plans to deal with gaps and weakness in the national cyber infrastructure.
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada will receive funding of up to $5 million to implement the Cyber-security Task Force and develop a strategy.
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