Introduction
The National Strategy for Critical Infrastructure (the National Strategy)
sets out Canada’s approach to strengthening the resilience of critical
infrastructure. The National Strategy defines critical infrastructure as
the processes, systems, facilities, technologies, networks, assets, and
services essential to the health, safety, security or economic well-being of
Canadians and the effective functioning of government. Canadians rely
on critical infrastructure every day, from the infrastructure supporting
transportation, to the food and water sectors. The National Strategy
identifies three main objectives to strengthen critical infrastructure
resilience: building partnerships, sharing and protecting information,
and practicing an all-hazards risk approach. Since the publication of the
National Strategy in 2010, three supporting action plans (2010-2013; 20142017; and 2018-2020) have been released to outline concrete steps towards
advancing the objectives set out in the strategy.
Between 2018 and 2020, an examination of the National Strategy was also
conducted to determine if there was a need to update Canada’s overall
approach to critical infrastructure resilience. The examination’s findings
led to a recommendation that was given to the Deputy Minister of Public
Safety for the Department to enter a renewal process, that will now take
place over the next three years (2021-2023).
To continue supporting the advancement of the National Strategy
objectives until the release of this renewed national approach to
critical infrastructure resilience, Public Safety Canada (PS) has created
the National Cross Sector Forum 2021-2023 Action Plan for Critical
Infrastructure (the Action Plan). The Action Plan reaffirms the Government
of Canada’s commitments to work closely with critical infrastructure
sector partners, provinces and territories towards a more secure and
resilient Canada. The Action Plan builds upon progress made through
past action plans, identifies new activities based on the changing threat
environment, and will support a collaborative approach to enhance the
security and resilience of Canada’s critical infrastructure. The Action
Plan continues to support the three strategic objectives identified in the
National Strategy for enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure in
Canada:
•
Building partnerships;
•
Sharing and protecting information; and,
•
Implementing an all-hazards risk management approach.
NATIONAL CROSS SECTOR FORUM 2021-2023 ACTION PLAN FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
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