Department of Homeland Security and Public Safety Canada: Partners in Securing North America

1. Department of Homeland Security and Public Safety Canada: Partners in Securing North America Transportation Border Working Group Winnipeg, Manitoba October 28, 2009 Washington – British Columbia Peace Arch Crossway

2. Pre-eminent Partners • High level of Integration between Canada and the U.S. • Economic: Integrated supply chains; more than 100 million annual border crossings • Security: Partners in defending North America as part of NORAD; NATO partners and operate together in various parts of the world (Afghanistan) • Political: Membership in many multilateral fora such as the UN, G8, Organization of American States and the “Five Eyes” intelligence community • We share common interests and face similar risks and threats to our national security • Prime Minister Harper stated in February that a threat to the U.S. is a threat to Canada • President Obama replied that the U.S. has no doubt about Canada's commitment to security in the United States and Canada • President Obama also said that we can balance our security concerns with an open border that continues to encourage extraordinary trade • Our trading relationship is vital to our mutual prosperity

3. New Beginnings… Both the Department of Homeland Security and Public Safety Canada were created after the events of September 11, 2001 • DHS was created to bring the security agencies under one roof to improve information-sharing and effectiveness in responding to terrorism • The creation of DHS constituted the biggest government reorganization in American history • Includes enforcement and services function (Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Services, among others) • In 2003, Public Safety Canada was formed • PS brought together the former Solicitor General and emergency management functions from DND (Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness) and border services • Portfolio also RCMP, CSIS, Corrections Canada and the Parole Board

4. Comparing DHS, DOJ, and PS Portfolio Mandates

5. A History of Co-operation in Emergency Response • Supporting each other when needed: • Hurricane Katrina: CF Operation UNISON – 1,000 forces members embedded in US counterparts to help with relief/search functions • C-17s with medical team for Hurricane Gustav (New Orleans 2008) • U.S. CBRNE and other support if asked for the 2010 Olympics • Undertaking joint exercises • Various “table top” and simulation exercises • Collaboration in the Arctic • Collaboration in S&T research • Cooperation in Counterterrorism • Collaboration in the Americas • keeping each other informed, • drawing on respective strengths to build capacity (Haiti, Mexico)

6. Strong Relationships Start at the Top • President Obama visited Prime Minister Harper in Ottawa in February 2009 immediately following his inauguration • commitment from both leaders to work cooperatively on border and security issues • Prime Minister visited Obama in Washington in September • Subsequently, senior ministers met their counterparts, including Secretary Napolitano and Minister Van Loan who met in March 2009 in Washington and again in May in Detroit/Ottawa • They agreed to meet at least twice a year and pursue a practical agenda • Both also attended the North American Leaders’ Summit and the recent September 2009 meeting between the Prime Minister and President in Washington

7. Next Step in the Relationship • Minister Van Loan and Secretary Napolitano are scheduled to meet again in late 2009 • Deputies have also met • Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute travelled to Ottawa in April, 2009 • Deputy Minister Bill Baker went to Washington in October, 2009 with his CIC and CBSA counterparts • Deputy-level meeting provided early opportunity for new DMs to develop working relationship with Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute, review progress on specific initiatives and confirm agenda for ministerial meeting

8. Today’s Agenda In May, Minister Van Loan and Secretary Napolitano issued a Statement on the Canada-U.S. Border that established specific objectives: • Develop joint threat and risk assessments to form a common understanding of the threats and risks we face; • Advance initiatives that manage risk while facilitating the movement of legitimate goods and people; and enhance ability to assist one another in times of emergency; • Endeavour to share information relevant to preventing people or goods that threaten our mutual security from entering either nation or crossing our shared border. Where laws inhibit or prohibit sharing, strive to prevent entry of dangerous people or goods to either country or across the shared border; • Expand integrated law enforcement operations along shared border and waterways; • Seek to leverage resources where possible by exploring models for joint or shared border facilities, equipment, and technology, as well as for cross-designation of personnel as appropriate. • Discrete deliverables are being pursued under each of the objectives. Some have already been announced; others are in progress

9. Joint Threat and Risk Assessment Ministers tasked officials to complete a Joint Threat & Risk Assessment focused on the border • While both Canada and U.S. manage risk, the objective is to develop a common understanding of that risk to inform common/ cooperative approaches at the border • Public Safety Canada and the Department of Homeland Security are identifying gaps from previous assessments that could inform the development of future assessments

10. Advancing Initiatives that Manage Risk Ministers tasked officials to examine existing trusted shipper programs to identify opportunities for improvement • Both Canada and the U.S. have trusted shipper programs. “Trusted shippers” are deemed low-risk and are to receive benefits in exchange for meeting program requirements. We want to make these programs as effective as possible • Work is underway by CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to harmonize theU.S. Customs-Trade Partners Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Canada’s Partners in Protection (PIP) programs

11. Information Sharing Ministers committed to examining the possibility of sharing additional information between Canada and the U.S. • Canada and the U.S. have a variety of information sharing agreements • We are currently looking at what information we share, and seeking improvements to improve security, within the parameters of our respective legal frameworks

12. Integrated Law Enforcement at the Border At their May meeting, Ministers announced the signing of the Shiprider agreement and tasked officials to examine the possibility of pursuing other cooperative law enforcement initiatives • Canada and the U.S. already have Integrated Border Enforcement Teams at the land border • The Shiprider agreement allows for integrated maritime enforcement in shared waterways • The Agreement was just tabled in Parliament; implementing legislation to follow • Consideration being given to next steps in integrated law enforcement

13. Leverage Resources Ministers tasked officials to examine whether there are opportunities to leverage resources, including joint facilities • Exploration of possible ideas include: • Joint border facilities, shared use of equipment, esp. at small ports of entry; • The possibility of cross-designating officials

14. Department of Homeland Security and Public Safety Canada: Partners in Securing North America Waterton Lakes, Alberta / Glacier, Montana Border-straddling Pational Park