Latest news with #PublicSafetyCanada
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Mayor Gondek wants 'clear line of sight' on province's role in repaying Calgary for G7
Social Sharing Costs associated with the G7 won't become publicly available until after the leaders' summit, happening in Kananaskis from June 15 to 17, but Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek has concerns around those funds in the meantime. Under the current arrangement with G7 organizers, expenses incurred by the city are set to be reimbursed by the federal Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, also known as Public Safety Canada. According to Gondek, what should be a straightforward process has been complicated by provincial legislation barring municipalities from making any deals directly with the Government of Canada. "What typically happens when you host an event like this that is federally funded is the municipality that's hosting would be made whole, or get reimbursed, by the federal government for any expenses that we incur," said Gondek. "But we have a small problem in that legislation that was passed by the provincial government prohibits us from dealing directly with the federal government." During a G7 presentation to council on Tuesday, the city's chief operating officer Stuart Dalgleish confirmed that the funds will need to flow through the provincial government, and that a deal between the city and the province is in the works. "We've had a conversation with them as early as [Monday] about the importance of this agreement," said Dalgleish, adding the city is monitoring the situation "on a daily basis" as it works to get a deal with the province finalized. The Government of Alberta did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication. During that presentation, Calgary Police Service lead strategic planner Sheldon Scott said that to his knowledge, the city was directly reimbursed by the federal government when the G8 summit was held in Kananaskis in 2002. Gondek said there "shouldn't be anything preventing us from getting this money," but she is "seeking some confidence that the provincial government has the funds from the federal government and they will be giving them to us." The mayor says she's wary of the reimbursement process potentially being slowed down by the province. "It may be the case that the federal government has offered to put the money forward to pay us back, but it's being held up somewhere in the province," she said. "Administratively, that means we are carrying costs that are not ours, and I don't want any of that to be the situation." "I just want to have a clear line of sight on whether the provincial government is directly liaising with the feds on our behalf, or how this is working, because if we put out cash that we then don't get back, this doesn't work," Gondek said. She added that this situation "will be one of the big tests of that legislation," referring to the province's ban on municipal-federal agreements in Alberta. 'An all-government approach' According to Gondek, "if we don't get that funding quickly, or we don't get it at all, what it means is that your municipal government has paid out money to host an event that is not our event. It is a federal event." The G7 leaders' summit is being led by Global Affairs Canada and the Prime Minister's Office, with the Government of Alberta and City of Calgary among a number of key partners and stakeholders involved. Troy McLeod, the city's G7 corporate director, emphasized that the summit is a collaborative effort involving all levels of government. "The federal government is covering all of our operational costs associated with the summit," he said. "The provincial government is also involved with a number of agencies supporting the event, so it's an all-government approach." Reimbursement for expenses incurred by the city will be covered through the Major International Event Security Cost Framework, a federal program. Eligible expenses will be those that fall under a Calgary Police Service budget approved by Public Safety Canada and endorsed by the RCMP, the summit's lead law enforcement agency. Calgary police will be in charge of local aspects of the G7, including demonstration and protest management in the city, securing the Calgary International Airport and handling events taking place in the city. CPS will also be supporting other law enforcement agencies with motorcades, traffic control, overall site security and more. Their goal is "prioritizing the safety and security of Calgarians" while "minimizing disruptions to daily life throughout the G7 summit.'' McLeod said the city is working with local agencies like Tourism Calgary and the Calgary Downtown Association to show international delegates and journalists the best side of Calgary, including through infrastructure repairs and maintenance in popular areas. "Normally, we do a lot of this right before Stampede," he said. "We're turning the calendar forward and we're doing these repairs early on so the delegates can see our best when they come to the city of Calgary."
CBC
07-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
National emergency alert system to be tested on Wednesday in much of Canada
Canada's National Public Alerting System (NPAS) is running tests on television, radio and compatible wireless devices across most of the country on Wednesday. The tests will happen in eight provinces and both territories. Alberta and Quebec do not have tests scheduled for this month. The system, called Alert Ready, delivers alerts about critical events such as tornadoes, flooding and fires, as well as Amber alerts. The sound will simulate the tone of an emergency alert, but no action is required for members of the public. It is possible for a phone not to register the alert — due to device compatibility, lack of a connection to an LTE or 5G network, cell tower coverage or device software and settings. A list of compatible wireless devices can be found here. The NPAS is a collaborative initiative between federal, provincial and territorial governments, although the decision on participating is up to each province. The tests in May occur during Emergency Preparedness Week, with Public Safety Canada providing an emergency preparedness guide on their website for Canadians. Here are the local testing times for May 7: British Columbia: 1:55 p.m. PT. Manitoba: 1:55 p.m. CT. New Brunswick: 10:55 a.m. AT. Newfoundland and Labrador: 10:45 a.m. NT. Northwest Territories: 9:55 a.m. MT. Nova Scotia: 1:55 p.m. AT. Nunavut: 2:00 p.m. ET. Ontario: 12:55 p.m. ET. Prince Edward Island: 12:55 p.m. AT. Saskatchewan: 1:55 p.m. CT. Yukon: 1:55 p.m. YT.
National Observer
30-04-2025
- Health
- National Observer
Quebec First Nation trials new anti-bullying technique
A small Mohawk community near Montreal is taking steps to address youth violence by implementing an internationally recognized anti-bullying program, supported by federal funding. The program will roll out over the next few years in Kanesatake with a goal of giving youth the tools to reclaim their identity and social responsibility. Bullying in Indigenous communities is a serious issue, especially in schools. Almost a third of First Nations youth across the country have experienced traditional bullying or cyberbullying. But it's just one of many challenges facing local youth in Kanesatake. Jeremy Teiawenniserate Tomlinson, executive director of the Kanesatake Health Center, said in addition to physical violence, emotional and psychological violence is prevalent in schools. The community is also dealing with gun violence, gang activity, organized crime and an increase in cannabis-related concerns. For over 20 years, Kanesatake has been without its own police force, relying on provincial authorities that often don't understand or respect the community's needs, said Tomlinson, who accrued 17 years of operational policing experience with First Nations prior to assuming his current role. The local police force was disbanded in 2004 and Quebec provincial police have been patrolling the area since 2005. Recently Kanesatake has been dealing with illegal dumping and residents say it's a symptom of a larger lawlessness in the community. Bullying in Indigenous communities is a serious issue: almost a third of First Nation youths across the country have experienced traditional or cyberbullying — and it's not just physical, but emotional and psychological as well. Tomlinson believes addressing bullying and violence starts with restoring cultural practices that had long been a part of Kanesatake society, but were lost over generations as a result of colonization and intergenerational trauma. "Policing is a tool in ensuring safety, but it's not the be-all, end-all," said Tomlinson. "Within the constructs of Indigenous culture, policing was not something that existed for us before. It was rather those strong values and social systems in place that ensured the safety of everybody." The Kanesatake Health Center, a community health clinic that Tomlinson is now leading, is adapting the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program for reducing bullying in schools. The program was developed in the 1980s by Norwegian psychologist Dan Olweus to address bullying in schools through systemic change. School-wide efforts include staff training, clear anti-bullying rules and monitoring areas where bullying is most likely to happen. It has been used in the United States, Norway and Germany and has reduced bullying by 30 to 50 per cent in some areas. Public Safety Canada is providing about $800,000 to the center for the program to help create safer communities and reduce youth violence. A key part of the program is the involvement of local leaders, elders and parents in shaping how bullying prevention will be taught. Once local leaders and stakeholders are trained in the framework, the program will gradually roll out over the next four years in schools and youth programs. The center will adapt the model to Indigenous cultural values, community health, healing and cultural revitalization. Instead of 'punishing bad behavior' the program will focus on rebuilding relationships within the community, based on Indigenous teachings. "We're trying to rekindle in our people, in our children, to help them regain their sense of identity and agency so they can become leaders in their healing and journey to reclaiming their Indigenous identity," Tomlinson said.
CBC
19-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
CBSA complaints commission still not up and running
A new independent commission tasked with monitoring, for the very first time, the activities of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has still not been established, almost four months after the adoption of legislation. The law establishing the new Public Complaints and Review Commission for CBSA and the RCMP was adopted on Oct. 31, 2024, after years of lobbying by numerous groups and human rights experts. The new law builds on the existing RCMP watchdog who is given the additional responsibility of handling public complaints about the CBSA. However, the existing RCMP commission has been without a chairperson since the departure of Michelaine Lahaie on Jan. 1. When her term ended, the government did not reappoint her nor replace her. Public Safety Canada would not say when a new chairperson will be appointed. Public Safety Canada acknowledged that the new commission for both CBSA and RCMP is not up and running but said it is currently working on implementing it "in a timely manner," but without providing a precise timetable. "It was already important and urgent. But now it's much more urgent with the increase in surveillance at the border," says Tim McSorley, national co-ordinator for the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group. Worry about migrants In the meantime, the federal government has quickly invested $1.3 billion to intercept, for instance, migrants trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border — an operation aimed at appeasing U.S. President Donald Trump. "Black Hawk helicopters, mobile surveillance towers, mobilization of personnel, but not a whisper about the creation of this oversight mechanism to ensure that these increased powers of enforcement come with increased responsibility and accountability", says Gauri Sreenivasan, co-executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees. Sreenivasan and McSorley both fear that migrants, in particular, will pay the price. McSorley said he was particularly saddened by recent photos of migrants taken by thermal imaging systems deployed at the border. The government can't just invest in surveillance technology, he says. It must also protect peoples' rights to seek asylum. In the past, the border agency has been singled out for its treatment of some of the most vulnerable people in society, recalls Sreenivasan. She cites for example migrants "who have been held in detention in atrocious conditions, deaths in detention, children separated from their family." "We're very concerned with the deafening silence regarding the creation of the new commission," said Sreenivasan. Public Safety Minister David McGuinty, who has been making multiple announcements on border security, declined CBC/Radio-Canada's request for an interview. CBSA is the only major law enforcement agency with no external oversight mechanism. Complaints from travellers, migrants or other members of the public are presently dealt with internally. In addition to handling public complaints, the new commission will be able to conduct investigations into systemic problems within the CBSA and the RCMP.
CBC
14-02-2025
- CBC
U.S. advocate, law enforcement near border happy about increased security focus on fentanyl
Law enforcement in Minot, N.D., about 85 kilometres south of the U.S.-Canada border, say they're happy that Canada is ramping up security measures to limit the flow of drugs between the two countries. Officers in Minot interviewed last week said that it's hard to pinpoint exactly where the drugs are coming from, but that more security measures can only decrease the drug supply. Last year, four out of seven overdose deaths in the town of about 47,000 people were fentanyl-related. "It would be naive of us to think that some of it doesn't come from Canada," Capt. Justin Sundheim of the Minot Police Department said. "We also know that some does come from Mexico as well. You don't know quite where it comes from, you just know it ends up here." Canada's promise to increase security at the border helped earn a pause until at least March 4 for the 25 per cent tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to put on all Canadian exports to the U.S. However, Trump recently announced 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum set to take effect on March 12, which would stack on top of any other tariffs that come into effect. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's promised $1.3-billion border security plan includes 24/7 border surveillance, a Canada-U.S. joint strike force and the addition of helicopters, drones and a canine team. Canada is also investing $200 million to allow Public Safety Canada and the Communication Security Establishment to gather information on organized crime to share with the U.S. Figures from U.S. Customs and Border Protection show 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl were seized at the U.S.'s northern border last year, compared to 9,570 kilograms at the southwest border. Kevin Purdue, program director of the Minot Area Recovery Community Organization, said any efforts to tamp down the drug supply are a good thing. "It can't hurt, every little bit helps," said Purdie, whose group works with people struggling with substance abuse disorders. "I know wholeheartedly that addicts are very resourceful people when it comes to getting stuff, smuggling stuff." Purdue said that in recent years, fentanyl has been found in the form of pills and candy in the community, and that it's becoming more common to hear of people using the opioid. "It's an epidemic," Purdue said. "I know people that can find fentanyl easier than they could find a bag of weed." Minot Police say there were 236 dosages of opiates, depressants and narcotics seized in the town in 2024.
