Attention News Editors:

Government of Canada Announces CBRN Strategy

    OTTAWA, March 31 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
announced today the release of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and
Nuclear (CBRN) Strategy of the Government of Canada.
    The aim of the Government of Canada's CBRN Strategy is to protect Canada
and Canadians by taking all possible measures to prevent, mitigate and respond
effectively to a CBRN terrorist incident. The Strategy is a comprehensive,
high-level framework that provides direction for current activities and future
plans, policies and funding initiatives.
    "The Government of Canada's CBRN Strategy will serve to define a Canadian
approach to CBRN threats and foster international cooperation and
partnerships," said Minister McLellan. "Canada's CBRN Strategy sets out our
goals and objectives to guide the way ahead. It builds on what the Government
of Canada has already done to ensure the safety and security of Canadians."
    In developing the CBRN Strategy for the Government of Canada, Public
Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC) consulted with other federal
departments and agencies, provinces and territories, and the first responder
community. Additional involvement and feedback from stakeholders will be
sought as PSEPC continues to lead the implementation of the Strategy.

    The Strategy includes four strategic objectives:
    -    Prevention and Mitigation - The Strategy recognizes that taking
         preventative/mitigative actions in advance to address CBRN threats
         will help to prevent and reduce the effects of a CBRN terrorist
         attack.
    -    Preparedness - Assuring that Canada and Canadians are adequately
         prepared to deal with effects of CBRN incidents is a continuing
         priority of all levels of government.
    -    Response - Strengthening Canada's capabilities to respond to CBRN
         incidents.
    -    Recovery - The Government of Canada and its partners will continue
         to develop national recovery mechanisms for major emergencies,
         including those with CBRN elements.

    The Government of Canada's CBRN Strategy supports Canada's National
Security Policy (NSP) which was announced in April 2004. The NSP sets the
direction for a national framework and action plan to ensure that the
Government of Canada is prepared for and can respond to emerging or occurring
threats to national public safety and security.

    For more information, please see the attached backgrounder or visit the
    website www.psepc.gc.ca .


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                                Backgrounder
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                  CBRN STRATEGY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

    The threat of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN)
terrorism persists. Regardless of scale, any CBRN attack would have
unprecedented response and recovery implications for Canada and Canadians.

    Potential CBRN weapons encompass a range of agents:

    -    Chemical (such as sarin or "mustard gas" disseminated with
         explosives or aerosols)
    -    Biological (such as smallpox, anthrax and plague)
    -    Radiological/Nuclear (such as a "dirty-bomb" that uses conventional
         explosives to scatter radioactive material)

    Federal government responsibilities for emergency preparedness are set
out in the Emergency Preparedness Act (1988) and the Federal Policy for
Emergencies (updated 1995). As with other types of emergencies, responsibility
for CBRN incident response is shared by federal, provincial/territorial and
municipal governments. To ensure that complex CBRN threats are properly
addressed, it is essential that all levels of government continue to work
together.
    The Government of Canada has taken significant action to date to address
CBRN threats. Budget 2001 allocated over $250M to enhance Canada's CBRN
readiness and response capacity through development and delivery of programs
and initiatives that address science and technology research and development,
CBRN training and equipment for first responders along with other significant
federal initiatives.
    Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada has led the development
of the Government of Canada's CBRN Strategy to effectively coordinate ongoing
CBRN initiatives and to provide a strategic framework for future efforts and
investments. This Strategy outlines the goals and principles that define the
Canadian approach to addressing the CBRN threat. Developed in consultation
with stakeholders at federal and provincial/territorial levels and with input
from first responder communities and key international partners, this CBRN
Strategy articulates the Canadian approach across four strategic objectives:
prevention and mitigation; preparedness; response and recovery.
    The Government of Canada is committed to continued cooperation with all
key stakeholders at federal/provincial/territorial levels and with first
responder communities and other key industry and international partners, to
address the CBRN terrorist threat and advance the implementation of the CBRN
Strategy of the Government of Canada.

    More information on the CBRN Strategy of the Government of Canada is
    available on the PSEPC Web site at www.psepc-sppcc.gc.ca

    Cette fiche d'information est aussi disponible en français.

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; Media Relations: Public 
Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, 613-991-0657