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Canada’s Enhanced Health Security Measures
October 18, 2001
The Government of Canada announced today the investment of $11.59 million for
initiatives to strengthen Health Canada’s ability to respond to any public
health security crises that may arise, and enhance the health security of
Canadians.
These measures are an important part of the Government’s $280 million
Anti-Terrorism Plan – a plan that brings to $1.8 billion the amount the
Government of Canada has invested in policing, security and intelligence since
Budget 2000.
The measures announced today include:
- A $ 5.62 million investment to increase the existing stock of
pharmaceuticals in the National Emergency Stockpile System. This will
mean that Canada will have more antibiotics to treat people exposed to
biological agents such as anthrax, and more chemical antidotes for those
who have been exposed to chemicals or gases.
- A $2.24 million investment to purchase sensors and
detection equipment for key locations across Canada and establish a
database of information which will provide improved responses to
radio-nuclear terrorist incidents.
- A $2.12 million investment to enhance a Canada-wide network
of laboratories and better equip them with the necessary materials
to quickly diagnose biological agents.
- A $1.61 million investment to provide emergency response
training for front-line emergency response staff in order that they
might better recognize, diagnose and treat suspicious illnesses
resulting from a terrorist incident.
All these initiatives are components of the Government of Canada’s
Anti-Terrorism Plan – a plan designed to balance the need for increased
security after the events of September 11 with safeguarding Canadian values. The
plan has four objectives:
- to stop terrorists from getting into Canada and protect
Canadians from terrorist acts;
- to bring forward tools to identify, prosecute, convict and punish
terrorists;
- to prevent the Canada-US border from being held hostage by
terrorists and impacting on the Canadian economy; and
- to work with the international community to bring terrorists to
justice and address the root causes of such hatred.
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