Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
Encyclopedia
Public Safety Canada formerly known as Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC), legally incorporated as the federal Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, is the department
of the government of Canada
with responsibility for protecting Canadians and helping to maintain a peaceful and safe society.
Legislation for the agency began in February 2001 and the department was created in December 2003 during a reorganization of the federal government, and it became legally established when the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act came into force on April 4, 2005. The agency Emergency Preparedness Canada was created under the auspices of the Defence department before the establishment of the department by the Emergency Preparedness Act of 1988.
The department was created to have a single entity with responsibility for ensuring public safety in Canada and is a direct result of lessons learned from the September 11 attacks on the United States
in 2001. The department is in many ways similar to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
, though it does not cover the protection of maritime sovereignty (this is covered by the Canadian Forces
and Transport Canada
).
Most of the department comprises organizations that were previously placed under the Department of Solicitor General of Canada, however the reorganization of several federal departments and ministries added the Canada Border Services Agency
to the portfolio, after the two streams of the former Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
were split in 2003. In addition, the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness (OCIPEP) from the Department of National Defence
was also brought into the Department.
The first Public Safety minister was Anne McLellan
, who also served as Deputy Prime Minister
. On October 30, 2008, Peter Van Loan
was appointed Minister of Public Safety by Prime Minister
Stephen Harper
.
In addition to the department there are five agencies and three review bodies within the Public Safety portfolio headed by the Minister of Public Safety.
In addition, reporting to the Deputy Minister and Minister of Public Safety is the Inspector General of CSIS, one of two review bodies for the agency.
Senior officials of PS include:
The annual budget of the Department is $
6 billion.
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
of the government of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with responsibility for protecting Canadians and helping to maintain a peaceful and safe society.
Legislation for the agency began in February 2001 and the department was created in December 2003 during a reorganization of the federal government, and it became legally established when the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act came into force on April 4, 2005. The agency Emergency Preparedness Canada was created under the auspices of the Defence department before the establishment of the department by the Emergency Preparedness Act of 1988.
The department was created to have a single entity with responsibility for ensuring public safety in Canada and is a direct result of lessons learned from the September 11 attacks on the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2001. The department is in many ways similar to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
, though it does not cover the protection of maritime sovereignty (this is covered by the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
and Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
).
Most of the department comprises organizations that were previously placed under the Department of Solicitor General of Canada, however the reorganization of several federal departments and ministries added the Canada Border Services Agency
Canada Border Services Agency
The Canada Border Services Agency is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border enforcement, immigration enforcement and customs services....
to the portfolio, after the two streams of the former Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency was a department of the government of Canada and existed from November 1, 1999 until December 12, 2003. It was created from the merging of the Department of National Revenue with Canada Customs....
were split in 2003. In addition, the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness (OCIPEP) from the Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
was also brought into the Department.
The first Public Safety minister was Anne McLellan
Anne McLellan
|-...
, who also served as Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
The Deputy Prime Minister of Canada is an honorary position in the cabinet, conferred at the discretion of the prime minister. There is currently, , no deputy prime minister....
. On October 30, 2008, Peter Van Loan
Peter Van Loan
Peter Van Loan, PC MP is a Canadian politician who is the Member of Parliament for the electoral district of York—Simcoe. He has been the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons since May 18, 2011, a role he previously held from 2007 to 2008.-Biography:Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Van...
was appointed Minister of Public Safety by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
.
In addition to the department there are five agencies and three review bodies within the Public Safety portfolio headed by the Minister of Public Safety.
- Associated agencies
- Canada Border Services AgencyCanada Border Services AgencyThe Canada Border Services Agency is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border enforcement, immigration enforcement and customs services....
- Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceThe Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
- Canadian Security Intelligence ServiceCanadian Security Intelligence ServiceThe Canadian Security Intelligence Service is Canada's national intelligence service. It is responsible for collecting, analyzing, reporting and disseminating intelligence on threats to Canada's national security, and conducting operations, covert and overt, within Canada and abroad.Its...
- Correctional Service Canada
- National Parole Board
- Canada Border Services Agency
- Review bodies
- Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMPCommission for Public Complaints Against the RCMPThe Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP is an independent Canadian government agency responsible for complaints, as well as complaints from members of the RCMP, of improper conduct of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police....
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police External Review Committee
- Office of the Correctional Investigator
- Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP
In addition, reporting to the Deputy Minister and Minister of Public Safety is the Inspector General of CSIS, one of two review bodies for the agency.
Senior officials of PS include:
- Parliamentary Secretary to the Public Safety ministerMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (Canada)The Minister of Public Safety is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's domestic security department, Public Safety Canada...
- Deputy Minister Public SafetyPublic Safety and Emergency Preparedness CanadaPublic Safety Canada , formerly known as Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada , legally incorporated as the federal Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for protecting Canadians and helping to maintain a...
.- Assistant Deputy Minister, Emergency Management and National Security
- Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Emergency Management and National Security
- Assistant Deputy Minister, Policing, Law Enforcement and Interoperability
- Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy
- Assistant Deputy Minister, Community Safety and Partnerships
- Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management
- Inspector General of CSIS
The annual budget of the Department is $
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
6 billion.
See also
- Interagency Volcanic Event Notification PlanInteragency Volcanic Event Notification PlanThe Interagency Volcanic Event Notification Plan is a program in Canada established to outline the notification procedure of some of the main agencies that would be involved in response to a volcanic eruption in Canada, an eruption close to Canada's borders, or significant enough that a volcanic...
- British Columbia Provincial Emergency ProgramProvincial Emergency ProgramThe Provincial Emergency Program is a division of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Emergency Management British Columbia, Canada. PEP works with local governments and other provincial and federal agencies year round, providing coordination and support before, during and after...
- Canadian Air Carrier Protection Program
- List of Canadian Ministers of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
- Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional ServicesMinistry of Community Safety and Correctional ServicesThe Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services is responsible for law enforcement services in the Canadian province of Ontario, including the Ontario Provincial Police, correctional centres, detention centres/jails The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (French:...
(OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) - Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
- City of Toronto Emergency Management Office (OEM)City of Toronto Emergency Management Office (OEM)City of Toronto Emergency Management Office is the emergency co-ordination office for the city of Toronto.OEM was created in 1998 and succeeded a number of other emergency operations teams prior to amalgamation:...
- Minister of Justice (Canada)Minister of Justice (Canada)The Minister of Justice is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for the Department of Justice and is also Attorney General of Canada .This cabinet position is usually reserved for someone with formal legal training...
- Public safetyPublic SafetyPublic safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
- Canadian Cyber Incident Response CentreCanadian Cyber Incident Response CentreThe Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre is a Canadian government program that is responsible for monitoring threats and coordinating the national response to any cyber security incident. Its focus is the protection of national critical infrastructure against cyber incidents. It is housed...
- United States Department of Homeland SecurityUnited States Department of Homeland SecurityThe United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
- Federal Emergency Management AgencyFederal Emergency Management AgencyThe Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA) - United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... - List of emergency management agencies in Canada