Attention News Editors:

Deputy Prime Minister releases progress report on implementation of National Security Policy

    OTTAWA, May 11 /CNW Telbec/ - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness the Honourable Anne McLellan today
tabled in Parliament Securing an Open Society: One Year Later, a progress
report on the implementation of the National Security Policy. Securing an Open
Society: Canada's National Security Policy was released on April 27, 2004 and
set out a strategic framework and action plan designed to address current and
future threats.
    "The Government is committed to enhancing national security and has made
significant progress implementing initiatives identified in the National
Security Policy as well as additional national security measures," said the
Deputy Prime Minister. "Although efforts to improve Canada's national security
system must continue, important steps have been taken and the progress report
provides an important measure of our success."

    Among the key achievements detailed in the progress report:

    -    Creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada and appointment of
         Canada's first Chief Public Health Officer;
    -    Launching of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North
         America by the leaders of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico;
    -    Creation of a Government Operations Centre to provide round the
         clock coordination and support across government in the event of a
         national emergency;
    -    Establishment of an Integrated Threat Assessment Centre to produce
         comprehensive and timely threat assessments;
    -    Establishment of a new high level federal-provincial-territorial
         forum on emergencies;
    -    Creation of the Marine Facility Security Contribution Program to
         enhance port and port facility security;
    -    Continued expansion of NEXUS and FAST to 11 and 19 sites,
         respectively, and the launch of the innovative new NEXUS-Air pilot
         program at Vancouver International Airport;
    -    Establishment of the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security to
         enhance dialogue around national security issues; and,
    -    Development of a proposed model for a National Security Committee of
         Parliamentarians.

    Full details on progress of these and other initiatives are set out in
Securing an Open Society: One Year Later. Electronic copies of the report can
be found at                                                                  
http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/default.asp?Language=E&Page=ministers&Sub=deputypm

For further information: Alex Swann, Director of Communications, Office 
of the Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public 
Safety and Emergency Preparedness, (613) 991-2863