National Cross Sector Forum Discusses the Importance of Critical Infrastructure

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Public Safety Canada organized a meeting of the National Cross Sector Forum on December 3, 2013 in Ottawa, Ontario. This meeting brought together national leaders from each of the critical infrastructure sectors to review the renewed Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure, discuss progress achieved over the last year, and consider priorities going forward.

In addition to security briefings provided by senior representatives from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service on threats to Canada’s critical infrastructure, the meeting featured updates from Provinces/Territories, Information Sharing and Best Practices, Resilience, and Cyber Security. The Chargé d’Affaires ad-Interim of the USA Embassy in Ottawa delivered  a presentation at lunch on Counter Terrorism. Following the presentation, delegates were invited to participate in a tabletop exercise focused on Counter Terrorism. Updates on the Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure (2014-2017) were presented by Ms. Suki Wong, Director General of Public Safety Canada.

The National Strategy and Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure was announced on May 28, 2010. It is an evergreen document, identifying three principles:

• Build trusted and sustainable partnerships
• Advance the timely sharing and protection of information
• Implement and all-hazards risk management approach

The Action Plan established specific objectives over three years such as: 

• Establish sector networks and a National Cross Sector Forum
• Develop a Critical Infrastructure Information Sharing Framework and build an online Critical Infrastructure Gateway
• Develop and share risk management tools and guidance
  

The Action Plan (2010) is now in its final year requiring renewal (build on what has already been achieved, adapt to reflect lessons learned and experiences, update approach to address evolution of threat environment). The Consultation Process started in December 2012 and the first draft of renewed Action Plan was shared with critical infrastructure sectors for review and input in April 2013. A revised draft was shared for comments with critical infrastructure stakeholders in August 2013, and the final revisions based on feedback received was achieved in November 2013.

The final layout and publication of the document is scheduled in early 2014.

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