The Honourable Roy Cullen
Parliamentary Secretary
To The
Minister Of Public Safety And Emergency Preparedness
At the
Government of Canada's Triple Play
Emergency Communications Seminar
February 4, 2005
Ottawa, ON
Check Against Delivery
Thank you, Daniel [Lavoie], and good morning everybody.
Let me begin by saying that on behalf of the Government of Canada, it is a pleasure to welcome everyone here today - our guests from provincial and territorial governments across Canada, and especially, our visitors from the United States and the United Kingdom. I trust you are finding the hospitality warmer than the weather.
I'm not going to take up a lot of your time this morning, but I do want to take a few minutes to talk about the importance of the work you do, and why I - and I believe I can speak for the Minister as well - why I find it so encouraging that you have taken time away from your day-to-day responsibilities to attend this seminar.
As you all know, we live in an age of information. Information has become a commodity - and the value of this commodity is never higher than it is during an emergency.
In an emergency, our instinct is to respond, to do something, to have all the answers - and we base our actions on the information we have available at the time. However, when we don't yet have all the facts, there is the danger that we may be acting on faulty information, speculation, or rumours.
These days, the Internet and 24-hour news channels have bestowed the world with an appetite, some might say an expectation, for instant information. The media know this, and of course, they have their own job to do. We know from experience that if hard facts are not available, the vacuum will be filled in one way or another.
Thus, the first responsibility of government in an emergency is to communicate quickly, responsibly and with confidence to the public, our stakeholders and allies. It is our duty to convey to our citizens that the government's response is well considered and effective.
That's why we turn to you. People like me rely on the skills of people like you to take information and make it clear and concise for Canadians. Our messages must provide them with useful information when they need it. Because, after the emergency is over, you can bet that Canadians will ask themselves: Was the government's response effective? It is on these grounds that we will be judged. In other words did we serve the country well in this moment of crisis?
In these times, it is important that we present only the facts, as we know them, and when we know them.
We must also be aware that while effective communication in an emergency is essential. It is also increasingly difficult.
Today, the threats to public safety and security are far more global, far more unpredictable and far more difficult to detect than anything we have experienced in the past. Indeed, many of you here have faced that challenge first hand with SARS, floods, forest fires and power outages. You know that responses may be required from a variety of agencies representing a range of jurisdictions across national and even international borders.
In this new environment, governments are adopting an integrated approach to public safety, security and emergency preparedness and response.
Here in Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, or PSEPC, is an example of the Government of Canada's commitment to ensuring effective coordination. PSEPC is the product of the integration of a number of formerly separate safety and security functions of government - intelligence, policing, immigration enforcement, corrections, border security and integrity, infrastructure protection, and emergency management, among others.
We recognize that collaboration among different departments and agencies, different governments and with our partners in the private sector could be a challenge. It takes work to find ways to make it happen, but it is happening.
For example, Canada's National Security Policy called for the creation of the Government Operations Centre. Now in place, this Centre coordinates the overall Government of Canada response to an emergency. In any given situation, the expertise and resources of one or more departments may be needed. The role of the Government of Canada is to ensure that departments such as Health, Transport, National Defence and others do not work in isolation and that their efforts are properly coordinated - and that includes communications.
We have also developed a new Government of Canada framework that will enhance our capacity to coordinate communications during an emergency of national importance or any other threat to our national security.
Within this framework, PSEPC leads a committee of senior communications officials representing more than a dozen departments and agencies across the Government of Canada with public safety and security-related responsibilities. Through this committee - which we call the Public Safety Communications Cluster - communicators discuss common issues and challenges, refine processes, and share expertise.
With Triple Play, we are taking this approach beyond our borders. A couple of months from now, the U.K., the U.S. and Canada will test their capacities to respond to a crisis of both national and international dimensions.
This joint operation will be one of the biggest counter-terrorism exercises in the world. And we regard Triple Play - Canada's portion of the exercise - as a vital part of enhancing emergency preparedness. This exercise will help us conduct a realistic evaluation of our contingency plans and strategies.
Together, the U.S., U.K. and Canada have agreed on three broad goals for this exercise. One of these is to practice the coordination of strategic public communications at an international level.
I know that a number of people here today intend to actively participate at Triple Play in April. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask those participating in Triple Play to stand - please, don't be shy.
[Once some have stood] This is a remarkable commitment on your part, and I want to assure you that your dedication to learning and to better serving the people of Canada and its allies is recognized. [Applause]
It is my hope that the many others here today, those who are not directly involved in this year's exercise, will take the knowledge learned at this seminar to become more involved in the coming years. I am sure that there will be many opportunities in the future to take part in such issues of national and international significance.
In that regard, I would like to conclude by reiterating that the contributions of the communications community cannot be underestimated in the management of a crisis.
As I said earlier, I am encouraged by the interest this seminar has generated in the communications community - by participating, you are showing a willingness to learn, to look at better ways of doing your job, and ultimately, in better serving Canadians.
I am also encouraged because we need people like you: professionals who understand that whether you are a firefighter or a communicator, when it comes to emergency management, the preparations never stop. There is always another scenario to consider, another best practice to be shared, another experience from which to learn - we can never be ready enough.
This seminar is part of assuring readiness, and your attendance reflects your determination to be ready in an emergency situation.
I thank you all for coming.