DputPrime Minister and Minister Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Announces Measures to Improve Border Security
OTTAWA,
Ontario, July 15 /CNW Telbec/ - Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister
of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Anne McLellan,
announced today at the 15th Annual Summit of the Pacific NorthWest
Economic Region in Seattle a series of measures to improve the management
of border operations. As part of the 2005 Federal Budget, the Canada
Border Services Agency (CBSA) will hire an additional 270 border officers
over five years, will implement all the recommendations of the Job Hazard
Analysis reports, as well as make further investments in its corporate
infrastructure.
"Enhancing
the CBSA's capacity to manage the access of people and goods to and from
Canada is a further demonstration of the Government of Canada's commitment
to ensuring the safety, security and economic prosperity of all
Canadians," said Deputy Prime Minister McLellan. "It is also
critical to our commitment to secure the Canada-U.S. border while ensuring
the efficient flow of legitimate trade and traffic."
Additional
funding of $433 million to the CBSA over five years will
support
the Government of Canada's priorities of national security and a strong
economy. This funding will enable the CBSA to:
- Better respond to operational and security
demands and border
congestion
at key border locations across the country by hiring 195 new border
officers over five years. A portion of the new funds will also ensure
permanent funding for service delivery at Pearson International Airport
and for programs such as the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program that
expedites border clearance for pre-approved, low-risk truck drivers,
carriers and importers (FAST was previously funded on a year-to-year
basis);
- Implement all the recommendations of the Job
Hazard Analysis reports,
contributing
to the health and safety of CBSA's front line employees
and
the public. To address employee health and safety concerns and to
ensure
a continued safe work environment for its employees, an
additional
85 employees will be hired over five years, 75 of whom will
be
border officers. The CBSA will also invest funds for training; tools
and
equipment, including radio equipment to support employees who work
alone;
facility design modifications; and the management of health and
safety
programs; and
- Improve overall service delivery to the public
through appropriate
investments
in corporate infrastructure. To better support business and
front
line operations, funds will enable the CBSA to make critical
corporate
infrastructure investments, including the development and
maintenance
of information technology systems, enhancing financial,
human
resources and administrative management systems.
"These investments will help to provide the
best possible integrated
border
services. They are essential to the CBSA's ability to meet ongoing
service
innovation and improvement commitments," continued Deputy Prime
Minister
McLellan.
Lastly,
the Budget provides an additional amount of $134 million over
five
years to allow the CBSA to implement two other security initiatives. The
CBSA
will partner with the U.S. in the implementation of the Container
Security
Initiative. CBSA officers will be deployed to overseas seaports to
enhance
security measures as well as harmonize commercial processes and
automated
risk assessment systems in order to better protect North America.
The
CBSA will also be able to play a key role in a Government of Canada
initiative
aimed at enhancing marine security. This initiative will further
protect
Canada and the U.S. from the entry of illicit radioactive sources,
irregular
migration and security threats at Canada's marine ports and
gateways.
More
information on the Canada Border Services Agency can be found at
More
information on Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada can
be
found at www.psepc.gc.ca .
