NCJ Number
204777
Date Published
2002
Length
53 pages
Annotation
This guide presents an overview of Canada’s counter-terrorism program.
Abstract
The Government of Canada, in cooperation with the provinces and territories, implemented a broad counter-terrorism program to ensure the public safety. Canada’s Counter-Terrorism Arrangements outline a coordinated policy and operational terrorist incidence response involving government, law enforcement, and other public safety organizations. The five chapters in this guide offer policy direction and describe lines of communication to guide responders and senior government officials in the most effective means of resolving terrorist incidents. Following the glossary and a listing of the general counter-terrorism acronyms, chapter 1 presents the main elements of counter-terrorism incidence management, including Canada’s counter-terrorism policies, notification requirements, and guidelines pertaining to different types of terrorist incidents. The lead agents and broad responsibilities are identified for incidents involving foreign interests and aircraft hijackings. Canada’s response to demands and concessions by terrorists is also presented in chapter 1. Chapter 2 outlines Canada’s public communications policies pertaining to terrorist events. Guidelines on releasing operational versus strategic information are presented, as are principles pertaining to public communications. Chapter 3 offers a description of the roles and responsibilities of the Federal, provincial, and territorial governments that share a counter-terrorism mandate. This chapter also establishes the lead Minister for various types of terrorist events, such as those occurring within Canada and those occurring outside of Canada involving Canadian citizens or interests. Chapter 4 presents international conventions and protocols relevant to Canada’s response to terrorist incidents. Included in this chapter are the counter-terrorism conventions governing civil aviation, maritime navigation and fixed platforms, internationally protected persons, hostage-taking, nuclear materials, chemical materials, biological materials, and plastic explosives. Conventions for the suppression of terrorist bombings and terrorist financing are presented, as are relevant bilateral agreements and international communiqués and declarations. Finally, chapter 5 presents an overview of pertinent pieces of legislation applicable in the event of a terrorist incident. Included are sections of the Security Offences Act, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, the Canadian Forces Armed Assistance Directions, and the Criminal Code of Canada, among others.