NEW FUNDING PROGRAM FOR CANADIAN MARINE FACILITY SECURITY

UNCLAS HALIFAX 000134 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT ATRN PINS MARR ASEC KCIP CA SUBJECT: NEW FUNDING PROGRAM FOR CANADIAN MARINE FACILITY SECURITY REF: 03 HALIFAX 0349 ¶1. In a May 7 press conference at Pier 21 in Halifax, Canada attended by Consul, Canadian Transport Minister Tony Valeri announced a three-year, $115 million federal program to assist Canadian ports and ports facilities upgrade their security. This program will enable Canada to not only comply with new International Maritime Organization security requirements which take effect July 1, but will also bring Canada into compliance with stricter North American requirements. According to Valeri, the security funding - using the general 10:1 yardstick - favorably compares with that which the USG is devoting to the same purposes and matches the U.S. program to assist ports and port facilities. The funding will be distributed under a 75 percent government/25 percent recipient cost-share formula, for a total of $150 million in enhancements on such things as surveillance, fencing and other perimeter controls, command, control and communications structures, and infrastructure protection by guards or police. ¶2. While this Marine Facility Security Contribution Program funding is in addition to the $308 million already announced as earmarked for marine security, both are part of the five-year $690 million new national security policy announced April 27. Fisheries and Ocean Minister Geoff Regan and Defense Minister David Pratt then provided further details on how the marine security funds will be spent on the Coast Guard and Navy. Major projects are creation of joint marine security operations centers in Halifax (Trinity) and Esquimalt, B.C. (Athena), secure communications capability for Coast Guard vessels, increased on-water days for both the Navy and Coast Guard, and increased aerial surveillance time. ¶3. More details on Marine Facility Contribution Program can be found at Transport Canada's website www.tc.gc.ca HILL