Thank you for being here today.
Before September 11, 2001, Canadians were not so aware of how vulnerable our transportation facilities and our trains, planes and ships are to international terrorist threats.
This is another reality we now have to live with.
We need to face up to it in a practical and proactive way. In the face of international terror, we must neither be alarmed or alarmist, but simply alert. And that is what the new government of Canada has begun to do. After all, protecting the safety and security of Canadians is our top priority especially with respect to transportation. Few countries depend on transportation for trade as much as we do.
That is why we must ensure that our transportation system is protected from those who would attack our population, our economy and our way of life.
In the government’s 2006 budget, we made a very clear commitment by including $1.4 billion over two years to fund a variety of initiatives to keep Canadians safe and secure. Out of this amount we have allocated $254 million to transportation security, in order to follow up on our commitment.
Today, the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Lawrence Cannon, announced three initiatives to enhance security in our marine transportation system.
As many of you probably know, the Marine Security Contribution Program helps ports and port facilities with the
cost of modernizing and enhancing their security systems and programs.
We are committing $115 million over five years to this Program.
The Minister also announced the recipients of the final round of funding, which distributes $42 million to 101 ports and marine facilities.
In the Northwest Territories, up to $356,628 will support nine new projects, both at NTCL terminals.
The terminal here in Hay River will receive up to $245,628 and the company’s terminal in Tuktoyaktuk will receive up to $111,000.
NTCL will use these funds to improve marine security.
The money will pay for security enhancements such as surveillance equipment, dockside and perimeter security, communications equipment and
training.
These projects will help the NTCL facilities comply with the Marine Transportation Security Regulations and meet the security requirements of the
International Ship and Port Facility Code.
Canada is committed to meeting and exceeding these requirements.
Our goal is for Canada’s marine transportation system to be one of the best protected in the world.
The Contribution Program is therefore assisting operators of ports and marine facilities to complete work they have undertaken in response to the requirements of the Code, and to continue to make improvements in the future.
Round four funding
Today Minister Cannon also announced a two-year extension of the Contribution Program and is expanding the scope of the Program to cover Canada’s ferries, which were not originally included.
The original Program, first scheduled to end in November 2007, is therefore extended to November 2009.
Our ferries carry over 38 million passengers a year, and they are often the only way for people to get to work, for example in the Vancouver area and in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Transportation Security Clearance Program
National security is an important priority for this government.
We are taking steps to give ports, marine facilities, and ferry operators the opportunity to make improvements to security.
Today, we are also taking steps to require background checks for port workers as a way to reduce the risk of security threats.
Yesterday, Minister Cannon announced amendments to the Marine Transportation Security Regulations.
Under the Marine Transportation Security Clearance Program, marine workers who perform certain duties or who have access to certain restricted areas will require transportation security clearance.
Under the program, port workers will require a transportation security clearance to gain access to certain restricted areas.
The designated restricted areas include:
• Areas in the marine facility that contain the central controls for security and surveillance equipment;
• areas that contain the central lighting system controls;
• areas that are designated for the loading or unloading of cargo and ships’ stores at cruise ship terminals; and
• land adjacent to vessels interfacing with cruise ship terminals.
In addition, port workers occupying certain positions or responsible for specific duties have been designated as requiring a transportation security clearance.
In order to get their security clearance, applicants will have to report to an enrolment site for an application, which will then be sent to Transport Canada.
At that point, Transport Canada will do:
• a criminal check;
• a check of the relevant files of law enforcement agencies, including intelligence gathered for law enforcement purposes;
• a CSIS indices check and, if necessary, a CSIS security assessment; and
• a check of the applicant’s immigration and citizenship status, if applicable.
The Program, however, also includes a reconsideration process for marine workers.
An applicant who has been refused clearance can apply to the Office of Reconsideration, which will arrange for an independent assessment of the case and make a recommendation.
This office is independent of the office that made the initial evaluation and recommendation.
These changes have not occurred overnight.
They are the result of four years of consultations with stakeholders, including labour groups and the Port Authorities.
I would like to thank all of those involved for their hard work in helping us improve the regulations.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are undertaking these changes because we take the safety and security of our ports and marine facilities and all Canadians very seriously.
Canadians can continue to be confident that their ferries and ports are safe, as is the entire marine transportation system.
They can continue to be confident that the transportation systems we use for international trade and for short sea shipping are safe.
And they can continue to be confident that domestic marine travel, including tourism and public transit, are safe.
I am proud to be part of a government that makes a priority of security, a government committed to stay alert so you are not alarmed.
Thank you.
