Canada creates new national security program

OTTAWA—Canada has created a new federal program aimed at enhancing its national security and improving its capabilities "to anticipare, prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism, crime, natural disasters, and serious accidents."

The newly established Canadian Safety and Security Program (CSSP) will strengthen the country's national security and emergency preparedness "through the convergence of science and technology with policy, operations and intelligence," according to a news release from the Canadian Department of National Defense.

The Canadian government is investing $43.5 million in the CSSP, which will use the funds to support the development of scientific and technological capabilities in areas such as chemical, biological, radiological-nuclear and explosives threats, border and transportation security, emergency management, surveillance and intelligence, cybersecurity, interoperability and critical infrastructure, according to the release. The national defense department's research and development arm, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), will manage the funds.

The CSSP is the succesor to three former DRDC programs: the Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear and Explosives Research and Technology Initiative; the Public Security Technical Program; and the Canadian Police Research Centre. Integrating efforts under one program will allow investments to be distributed more effectively across different areas, streamline administrative processes, and better align with government priorities, according to the news release.