Debates of March 9, 2005 (day 52)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report on an initiative being undertaken by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. MACA and “G” division of the RCMP have been exploring options to more fully integrate each organization’s emergency management functions and enhance the effective overall response to emergencies.

Plans have been made for the operation of a common, integrated emergency operations centre, located in the “G” division headquarters to respond to security threats or natural disasters.

These discussions started after the Government of Canada’s new national security policy was approved in April 2004. This policy is a national framework and action plan to ensure the Government of Canada is prepared for and can respond to current and future threats.

Although national security focuses on threats that have the potential to undermine the security of the state, it is also closely linked to personal security. The SARS outbreak showed how threats to individuals can impact all of society, so national security must be considered in this broader context.

Any natural disaster can affect the normal functioning of society. Whether the threat is a security issue, a fuel spill, flood, forest fire or power outage, a coordinated response by all parties to deal with the consequences of the threat will be required.

MACA is the government’s lead department on emergency measures and the RCMP is the primary enforcement agency in the Northwest Territories with national security responsibilities. At the same time, both agencies are involved in emergency planning and response at the territorial level and with individual communities.

For this reason, bringing together each organization’s senior emergency management function will lead to a more effective overall response to the consequences of a security threat or to security issues related to an emergency response operation.

I am also pleased that the federal Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada has committed to establishing a presence in the North with a regional position in Yellowknife. This position will serve the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut as part of the national integrated system.

Co-location with provincial/territorial emergency operation centres is one of the key measures identified for the federal government in the national security policy. Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada has announced its intention to establish this regional office serving NWT, Yukon and Nunavut in the new MACA/RCMP integrated Emergency Operations Centre.

Plans are underway to set up this integrated office. I am pleased that the RCMP and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada have taken such a cooperative stance in working with the department to advance our common agenda, which is to enhance emergency preparedness arrangements in the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause