FrontLine Security





Guards suspended over cellblock sex (2 Sept. 2010) Three RCMP officers and three civic employees have been suspended with pay during an investigation into an Aug. 18 sex-act incident at a Kamloops RCMP cellblock. The two civic cell guards and a watch clerk were suspended late last week, according to the City of Kamloops' chief administrative officer. The three RCMP officers were suspended indefinitely with pay by a provincial commanding officer following a duty status review. more>>
RCMP sting implicates Montreal cop (2 Sept. 2010) Montreal police asked the RCMP to help set up a sting operation that netted a top city homicide investigator now charged with fraud. The internal affairs department installed two video cameras inside the homicide squad to keep an eye on investigator Mario Lambert, who has been charged with leaking police computer information to criminals. Lambert is currently suspended without pay. A police informant boasted that he knew a police contact who provided him with license plate numbers. The tip led to a police investigation lasting two years that resulted in Lambert's arrest. more>>
Extremist groups under watch: Toews (2 Sept. 2010) Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said Wednesday that the alleged Ottawa terrorist cell dismantled last week by police was one of some 200 homegrown extremist groups currently under investigation. Mr. Toews added that homegrown terrorism is a �great concern� for the government of Canada, the United States, and European countries, which have opened their borders to immigrants from Muslim countries during the past half century. The minister said he has held discussions with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about how best to deal with homegrown radicalization. more>>
RCMP staff - including senior officer - accused of watching prisoners� sex acts (1 Sept. 2010) One of the Kamloops RCMP detachment�s watch commanders, a corporal with 20 years on the force, was among a group of seven who watched two female inmates have sex in a cell, police said Tuesday. In a news release from Vancouver, RCMP Insp. Tim Shields confirmed what has been reported nationwide: A group of Kamloops officers and civilian staff watched a closed video circuit for about seven minutes as the two women, prisoners in the same cell, engaged in what police said appeared to be consensual sex. News media outlets reported that one of the women is HIV positive. City managers are waiting for an RCMP report on the incident before taking any disciplinary action. more>>
Ottawa terror suspect�s home bugged (1 Sept. 2010) Listening devices or 'bugs' in the home of the fourth man taken into police custody as a result of their work on the alleged Ottawa terror cell were planted by the RCMP at least five months ago. The events recorded in Awso Peshdary's home resulted in the 20-year-old Muslim man being charged with domestic assault. Peshdary was arrested Friday and interrogated for six hours by the RCMP. They didn't charge him but handed him over to the Ottawa Police, who charged him with domestic assault and uttering a threat. more>>
�No evidence� gun registry effective: Toews (1 Sept. 2010) Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says a new RCMP report on the Canadian Firearms Program contains no evidence that the registry is effective. The report, however, says that the program is cost effective, efficient and an important tool for law enforcement and public safety, while also calling the firearms registration component "a critical component." more>>
Spy agency says it�s not listening in on Canadians (31 Aug. 2010) A spokesman for Canada's ultrasecret electronic-spy agency, Communications Security Establishment, told reporters yesterday that the agency is not in the business of prying into Canadians' private communications. However, if CSE does pick up electronic communications such as e-mails or cellphone calls, it's "unintentional." Journalists were asking how security services learned of the Muslim men who were arrested last week in connection with alleged planned bombings in Ottawa. more>>
Friends: Terror suspect wouldn�t �hurt a fly� (31 Aug. 2010) Family and friends of 20-year-old Awso Peshdary, the fourth man linked to an alleged Ottawa terrorist cell, say he is a "kind, hardworking, loving, and religious man" who wouldn�t "hurt a fly." Peshdary hasn�t been charged by the RCMP. He was charged by Ottawa police with two counts of domestic assault dating back to April and August. He got bail on those charges Saturday, but was rearrested on charges of uttering death threats. more>>
Eighth suspect sought in alleged homegrown terror plot (30 Aug. 2010) In a massive police probe into an alleged terror plot to bomb the Parliament buildings, investigators have now identified an eighth conspirator in the homegrown terrorist bomb protest against the government and coalition troops in Afghanistan. more>>
Stranded ship raises Arctic rescue concerns (30 Aug 2010) The rescue of a cruise ship stranded on a rock in Arctic waters over the weekend is raising questions about whether Canada would have the ability to respond quickly enough to a true disaster in its Far North. more>>
RCMP: Amber Alert Program did exactly what designed to do (30 Aug. 2010) There were instantly thousands of extra eyes looking for a 12-year-old boy abducted from Chilliwack yesterday. Mounties feel an Amber Alert issued did exactly what it was supposed to. Just a few hours after Daniel Sturm was taken from his grandparents house in a violent exchange, Corporal Lea-Anne Dunlop with Chilliwack RCMP says he was located thanks to the alert. "We received a 911 call from a female at the mall in Guildford, she was able to provide some information to police of a cab that the young male and his father were seen getting into. Our officers were then able to locate that taxi cab." Dunlop added: "Technology that we have today with people Facebooking and Tweeting instantly on these types of things is a huge assistance to the investigation." more>>
Escapee spotted in Marystown: RCMP (30 Aug. 2010) Police said Monday that a man who escaped from police custody this weekend has been spotted in southern Newfoundland. RCMP said Andrew Kenneth Parsons, 35, was able to escape from the detachment's lockup in Marystown Saturday morning when an employee arrived to put a new mattress in his cell. Sgt. Boyd Merrill said Parsons made a move and "pushed himself through the doorway." Although officers chased him, Parsons was able to escape to a nearby wooded area, Merrill said. The force has launched an internal investigation into the incident. more>>
MPs get RCMP long-gun registry report (30 Aug. 2010) The federal government has given MPs on a parliamentary committee copies of an RCMP evaluation report on the long-gun registry that the Conservatives are trying to eliminate. The report, conducted with the help of outside auditors and completed six months ago, concludes the program is cost effective, efficient and an important tool for law enforcement and public safety. Opposition MPs on the House public safety committee accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government of trying to hide the contents of the report ahead of a critical vote next month on whether a Conservative backbencher's bill to repeal the registry should proceed. more>>
Former CSIS boss had warned about domestic terrorism (30 Aug. 2010) The day after his unexpected resignation was announced last spring, Canada's former spy master warned the government not to underestimate the spectre of domestic terrorism. "It has sometimes been suggested that the phenomenon of terrorism has been exaggerated in Canada in the course of this decade and especially in the post-9/11 period. In fact, a brief survey of our experience in this period might lead to a relatively different conclusion," CSIS director Jim Judd wrote in a "secret" April 15, 2009 memo to then-public safety minister Peter Van Loan. Five months later, RCMP and Ottawa police launched "Project Samossa," the massive probe into a suspected Ottawa-based Islamist terror cell plotting a bombing campaign, culminating in the recent arrests. In a censored copy of the memo, obtained by Ottawa researcher Ken Rubin under the Access to Information Act, Judd summarizes how Canadian citizens and residents had been caught and prosecuted for terrorism in Canada, the United States and other countries. more>>
RCMP Commissioner saves his political hide (18 Aug 2010) There�s no excuse, justification or half-decent rationalization for Mr. Elliott�s actions on Wednesday. Bring on the laughable lie, a wallop of obvious nose-stretching that�s all the more alarming emanating from a national police force which seems to be axing senior staff in anticipation of the government�s wishes. more>>
Elliott under fire over gun program head�s ouster (18 Aug 2010) Charles Momy, the president of one of Canada's largest national police associations, wants the federal government to remove RCMP commissioner William Elliott after the head of the Canadian Firearms Program, Chief Supt. Marty Cheliak, a strong supporter of the long-gun registry, was ordered to attend French-language training after nine months on the job. Cheliak's supporters have suggested that political influence led to his removal. more>>
Tamil migrant ship boarded: military sources (12 August 2010) Canadian officials have boarded a cargo ship believed to be carrying hundreds of Tamil migrants off the B.C. coast. Earlier Thursday afternoon, Public Safety Minister Toews Toews said there are 490 migrants aboard the ship, and the vessel's operator has declared them to be refugees � but Toews said some of the people on the ship are "suspected human smugglers and terrorists." more>>
Distinguished Volunteer Public Benefit Flying Award Civil Air Patrol Capt. Justin Ogden, whose work with cell phone forensics has helped save numerous lives, will receive the 2010 Distinguished Volunteer Public Benefit Flying Award next month at a prestigious awards ceremony in Washington D.C.
Outgoing Deputy Police Chief Sue O�Sullivan (3 Aug 2010) O'Sullivan is leaving her post on 13 August, to become the federal ombudsman for the victims of crime. A lot has changed since O'Sullivan started out in 1981. But while conditions for women on the force have improved, she says the Ottawa Police Service can't stop pushing ahead, because there's always work to be done to make sure women � and men, for that matter � feel safe, respected and valued at work. Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/woman+place+police+force/3351759/story.html#ixzz0vbHVLqkn more>>
Few officers trained to recognize drug-impaired drivers (3 Aug 2010) Two years after a controversial law gave police new powers to stop drivers who have been using illicit drugs, most forces still have very few officers trained to do the job. Drug-impaired-driving arrests last year rose to 1,394 from 441 the year before. But these accounted for a sliver of the total 88,630 impaired-driving arrests. Critics say that police forces have been too slow to train officers to become drug-recognition experts. more>>
Failure to check veiled travellers disturbing (3 Aug 2010) A 45-second YouTube video showing two niqab-wearing women boarding an Air Canada flight without showing their faces at Montreal's Trudeau airport is creating a buzz on the Internet and has elicited a strongly worded statement from the Canadian government. Federal Transport Minister John Baird has instructed his department to look into the matter and report back. more>>
Russia wildfires �out of control� (3 Aug 2010) Fears have been growing that there are not enough crews to battle the devastating wildfires sweeping western Russia, as the country's emergency chief said some were out of control. Tens of thousands of troops and volunteers were helping some 10,000 firefighters battle blazes in more than a dozen western Russian provinces, seven of which were under a state of emergency. more>>
Wildfires scorch parched B.C. Interior (1 Aug 2010) Forest fire crews were busy as the long weekend got underway, with dry weather turning forest floors into tinder boxes. On Friday, 64 new fires were sparked, 10 of them by people, the rest by lightning. The most fire-plagued area is the Cariboo region of the B.C. Interior, with 31 active fires. An evacuation order and alert remains in effect for residents within the Williams Lake area, but fire crews have built a guard around a large portion of the blaze. The largest fire in the area is near Pelican Lake, where about 2,500 hectares have burned. Evacuation notices have also been issued in the sparsely populated area. more>>
Pair found guilty in NY airport bomb plot (1 Aug 2010) Two men, including a former parliamentarian from Guyana, were found guilty yesterday of plotting to bomb fuel tanks at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. The duo faces the possibility of life in prison after the jury's verdict in a Brooklyn federal court, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office said. Sentencing was set for Dec. 15. Russell Defreitas, 67, a former airline cargo worker, was accused of hatching plans in 2006 for the attack to avenge what he saw as U.S. oppression of Muslims. His co-defendant, former Guyanese parliament member Abdul Kadir, 58, had engineering skills and contacts with militant groups in Iran and Venezuela. more>>
Rewarding Failure (July 2010) When Tony Hayward said �I�d like my life back� on May 30th, losing his job as boss of BP was probably not what he had in mind. But on July 27th he accepted the inevitable. On his watch, zillions of gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico. When the microphones were on, gaffes gushed from his lips. However, despite his mistakes, Hayward will receive severance pay of a year�s salary (about �1m, or $1.6m) and the right to start drawing from a pension pot conservatively valued at �11m. The Economist explores the debate about how to avoid rewarding bad leadership with �multi-million-dollar golden parachutes� by looking at the severance packages of recently fired executives of major businesses and posing suggestions on how to fix this problem. more>>
Border guards say their lives are at risk without guns (26 July 2010) Border guards across Canada say their lives are at risk because the federal government is refusing to allow them to carry firearms on joint operations with other police forces. Customs officers, expert in searching for drugs and other contraband, want to carry their guns when helping police forces on raids outside ports, airports or regular areas of border guard jurisdiction but their bosses in Ottawa at the Canada Border Services Agency say they must go unarmed. more>>
Mobsters �have the technology� (17 July 2010) Organized crime groups are using the latest wireless and illegal jamming devices. Police forces in Canada are struggling to catch up... more>>
Migrant smugglers �will be prosecuted� (17 July 2010) News that another Thai cargo ship, this time carrying more than 200 illegal Sri Lankan migrants, is headed for Canada is raising concerns within Toronto's tight-knit Tamil community. Canadian authorities are currently monitoring the vessel which is believed to be headed for British Columbia where a similar ship carrying 76 Sri Lankan migrants arrived last fall. After that incident, it was widely rumoured that more ships would try to come to Canada. more>>
What police state? (9 July 2010) Something very bizarre happened while the dust was settling on the G20 destruction. Many who witnessed what happened on the G20 weekend, whether on TV or in person, are not criticizing the extremists. No, most are angry with the police for using what they see as excessive force, suggesting the freedoms and rights of the protestors were being taken away. more>>
Canada to track all ships sailing Arctic waters (23 June 2010) The Canadian government has put the world on notice that, beginning 1 July 2010, ships entering the country's Arctic waters will be subject to new mandatory vessel-tracking rules aimed at preventing terrorist activity and pollution while improving search-and-rescue capabilities in the Far North. The strict new measures have raised concerns from the U.S. government. more>>
Moderate earthquake hits central Canada (23 June 2010) A moderate earthquake of at least 5.0 magnitude hit southern Ontario and western Quebec early Wednesday afternoon, sending people fleeing out of buildings. more>>
Motion for tuition fund for families Senator Bob Runciman is introducing a motion in the Senate calling on the federal government to institute a tuition fund for families of peace officers who lose their lives in the line of duty. The Senator wants a federal fund that is patterned after the Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers� Survivors Scholarship Fund, initiated in Ontario by Runciman when he was Solicitor General of the province.
High-risk offenders to get high-tech ankle bracelets (15 June 2010) Alberta Justice is working on a pilot project to keep a closer eye on the most dangerous people on our streets. More high-risk offenders in Alberta will soon be wearing high-tech ankle bracelets. Currently, Calgary police track the most dangerous people released from prison through a GPS monitoring ankle bracelet, however, they only have two GPS bracelets. The new pilot project could drastically increase that number to 40. more>>
Landslide wipes out Okanagan homes (14 June 2010) A wall of mud and debris came flowing down Testalinden Creek Sunday just south of Oliver Sunday afternoon after a reservoir lake gave way, sending about two-thirds of its contents down the hillside. �We are still under threat at this time,� said Mark Woods, head of emergency operation for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. more>>
PM feels heat to put climate on summit agendas (14 June 2010) International leaders are mounting pressure on the Canadian government to include climate change as a major issue on the agenda at upcoming G8 and G20 economic summits in Huntsville and Toronto. "We are actively consulting our guests to prepare the agenda," Harper said last week in the House of Commons. However, "the G20 isn't expected to replace the United Nations (global-warming) negotiating process." more>>
Tory isotope plans lack foresight: critics (13 June 2010) The global medical isotope shortage, prompted by the shutdown of Canada's main nuclear reactor, has dragged on for more than a year now but, rather than dwelling on the difficulties, some nuclear-medicine experts are concerned about the future, and the direction the federal government is taking Canada on the isotope file. more>>
An Edmonton bylaw has captured the interest of municipalities and people across the country who loathe the persistent rumbles and thunderclap starts of motorcycles on their roads. Edmonton's city council is believed to be the first in North America to pass a bylaw requiring the muffling of motorcycle noise. Riders will be fined $250 if their motorcycles exceed 92 decibels while idling or 96 decibels while engaged. One hundred decibels is roughly equivalent to the sound made by a snowmobile or chainsaw. more>>
Fertilizer bomb threat a mere �gardening incident� (10 June 2010) Wednesday afternoon, police appealed to the public for help in pinpointing a possible terrorist threat: An enigmatic European in his 50s, a man with an accent, limp and missing fingers, who police said had misrepresented himself as he bought nearly a tonne of fertilizer in small 25-kilogram bags from a rural Ontario supplier. By nightfall, the appeal for help had worked. The mystery man himself contacted police, who determined that �nothing nefarious� had taken place, in the words of one detective. Police did not identify the mystery man, but suggested he had been found and that he had wanted the substance only for growing plants. more>>
Nuclear infratucture creates medical risk (7 June 2010) An international body of nuclear medicine physicians slammed the Canadian government for failing to deliver on its promise to ensure a steady supply of medical isotopes by replacing the aging reactor at Chalk River, Ont. more>>
Fertilizer fears fading, RCMP (10 June 2010) Police said yesterday evening they hope to make an announcement about progress in their investigation into the mysterious purchase last month of 1,500 kilograms of fertilizer within a few hours. Police in southern Ontario had called in anti-terrorist units as they continue their week-long hunt for a mystery man who purchased the ammonium nitrate, which was enough to create a bomb strong enough spread devastation over many blocks in an city core. more>>
RCMP�s anti-counterfeiting efforts honoured (9 June 2010) The RCMP has been honoured for its role efforts to combat counterfeiting domestically and abroad. The Global Anti-Counterfeiting Awards are handed out each year by Reconnaissance International and the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group. The awards recognize outstanding achievement by individuals, companies or organizations involved in combating counterfeiting and piracy, either to protect their own brands or products or in the development of an environment which encourages the combating of counterfeits and pirate products. The awards are given in four categories � public bodies, companies or commercial organizations, associations, and media. more>>
Officials put on security show and tell (7 June 2010) The integrated security unit tried to win over Huntsville residents Sunday during a demonstration of what security measures to expect when world leaders arrive in three weeks for the G8 summit, essentially putting the Ontario cottage country town of 19,000 under lockdown. more>>
Ottawa among safest cities in Canada, police report says (28 May 2010) Ottawa is one of the safest cities in Canada, according to a report to be presented Monday at the Police Services Board meeting. more>>
Summit cost raises �good question� on worth (27 May 2010) Canada's anticipated $930-million cost for security for the G8 and G20 summits raises a "good question" about whether gatherings of international leaders are worth the money, says Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. more>>
Facebook caves after privacy backlash (27 May 2010) Privacy was not at the top of Mark Zuckerberg's agenda until a few weeks ago, when mounting pressure from angry users and government regulators forced the founder and chief executive of Facebook to make privacy the top priority for the world's largest social network. more>>
Border guard used passports to hit on women on Facebook A B.C. border guard e-mailed himself the passport details of attractive women who came through his inspection line so he could hit on them later on Facebook, according to an internal government investigation. According to the report, the unnamed guard's behaviour first came to the attention of the Canada Border Services Agency last October when officials received a complaint from a married female traveller. more>>
New national securities regulator unveiled (26 May 2010) Finance Minister Jim Flaherty unveiled long-awaited and highly contentious draft legislation Wednesday to create a national securities regulator, but will wait for a Supreme Court ruling to determine once and for all whether Ottawa has the jurisdiction to implement such an agency. more>>
Flaherty to unveil single securities regulator (26 May 2010) Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is expected to unveil a government plan Wednesday to create a single Canadian securities regulator. more>>
Obama to send troops to U.S.-Mexico border (26 May 2010) The Obama administration plans to announce Tuesday it will send as many as 1,200 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to improve border security, an Arizona congresswoman said. more>>
City to roll out safety measures at area beaches (26 May 2010) After the drowning of a 24-year-old Ottawa man off Petrie Island on Monday, the city will make changes to the beach. more>>
Victims may be left unaware of privacy breaches (26 May 2010) Companies get to decide whether to tell their customers they have lost their personal information or hackers have stolen it, according to legislation the Tory government introduced yesterday. more>>
G8, G20 security cost hits $834 million (25 May 2010) The tab for security for the G8 and G20 summits has swelled to $834 million, according to government estimates released Tuesday. more>>
Identity Mystery: Canada has no idea who this prisoner is (25 May 2010) He sat placidly in his prison-issue jumpsuit, a sombre expression fixed on his face as the harsh detention centre lights reflected off his shiny, dark skin, highlighting an old, four-inch scar down the centre of his forehead. more>>
Canadians told to avoid Jamaican capital (25 May 2010) Federal officials on Monday issued a warning advising Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to downtown Kingston, Jamaica, in light of gang violence plaguing the capital. more>>
Police mum whether body in harbour is reputed Montreal mobster (25 May 2010) Montreal police have been in contact with Toronto police regarding the concrete-encased body that was pulled out of Lake Ontario Sunday, but neither police force will say whether they suspect the body could be that of alleged Montreal Mafia kingpin Paolo Renda, who vanished last week. more>>
(UPDATE) Escalading Tensions Between North and South Korea (25 May 2010) Tensions rise as mounting evidence from a torpedoed South Korean ship points to the North Korean Army. more>>
Intelligence Chief�s resignation underscores structural flaws (22 May 2010) The resignation of Dennis C. Blair as director of national intelligence means the position will soon be turned over to a fourth occupant in little more than five years. Current and former U.S. intelligence officials say the job has come to be viewed as a thankless assignment � lacking in authority, yet held to account for each undetected terrorist plot. Attempts to force often-squabbling agencies to work together have seen only limited success. more>>
Facebook caught sharing secret data with advertisers (21 May 2010) Privacy issues that have been hounding Facebook may be coming to a head. A report in the Wall Street Journal indicates that the Facebook, along with MySpace, Digg, and a handful of other social-networking sites, have been sharing users' personal data with advertisers without users' knowledge or consent. more>>
Audio slideshow: Life in a camp in Haiti Photographer Jake Price travelled to a number of the many camps that house some of those left homeless by the Haitian quake and presents his impressions of those struggling to rebuild their lives. more>>
Bank firebomb suspects from Ottawa (21 May 2010) Police detectives investigating Tuesday�s bold firebombing of a Glebe bank have now identified suspects, all of whom live in Ottawa and are linked to an anti-establishment network. more>>
Police close in on Glebe bank firebomb suspects (20 May 2010) Police detectives investigating the brazen firebombing of a Glebe bank are closing in on suspects who call themselves FFFC-Ottawa and expect to file search warrants in a case that has drawn global headlines, the Citizen has learned. more>>
Border guards seize exotic arsenal (18 May 2010) Canadian Customs agents have charged a 42-year-old California man who they say tried to smuggle more than 100 weapons into the country, including a selection of vicious, cruel and unorthodox arms that would make Batman blush. more>>
Terror law under scrutiny as Khawaja appeal begins (18 May 2010) The divide could not be wider between federal prosecutors and Mohammad Momin Khawaja as the top court in Ontario hears an appeal from the first person charged under the Canada's Anti-terrorism Act. more>>
National. Russian plane to take pictures of Canada (18 May 2010) A Russian aircraft will conduct an aerial observation of Canada this week, to fulfil Canada's obligations under the Open Skies treaty, the military announced Monday. more>>
Firefighters injured in Alberta blast (11 May 2010) The blast could be heard kilometres away, local residents said. Volunteer firefighters, some as close as six metres to the house, fell unconscious. more>>
Explosion sends 6 Alberta firefighters to hospital (11 May 2010) An unexpected explosion Monday night during a fire-training exercise in eastern Alberta sent several volunteer firefighters to hospital. But the local fire chief said Tuesday everyone is lucky that it wasn't much worse. more>>
Police chiefs want to freeze pay of suspended staff (11 May 2010) Ontario police chiefs want the power to withhold pay from officers charged with serious crimes, their association said Monday, as it pushed the province for legislative changes. more>>
A landmark fight over the right to information (10 May 2010) The government says releasing surveillance documents on Tommy Douglas would jeopardize national security. The level of secrecy 'was so completely absurd' that lawyers are now challenging it. Why, some ask, isn't the information commissioner? David Pugliese reports. more>>
Burning Greece in name of unions (6 May 2010) Greece's coddled, bloated and overprotected public service unions are reacting to government efforts to rescue the economy just as you would expect coddled, bloated and overprotected people to react. They're throwing tantrums, screeching about the unfairness of it all and holding their breath until they turn blue. And yesterday they killed two women and a man. more>>
RCMP official defends gun registry (5 May 2010) The RCMP officer in charge of the national gun registry says it is a misconception that only people who do not register guns ever use them for deadly purposes. more>>
Goodbye to good cop/bad cop (6 May 2010) It might make for compelling TV, but the confrontational, in-your-face police method of interrogating suspects has got to end, say the authors of an article in the April edition of the Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice which calls for sweeping reforms. more>>
Security slip let suspect on plane, near takeoff (4 May 2010) The no-fly list failed to keep a terrorist suspect off the plane. Faisal Shahzad boarded a jetliner bound for the United Arab Emirates Monday night before federal authorities pulled him back. Although under surveillance since midafternoon, he had managed to elude investigators and head to the airport. Shahzad, a Pakistani-born U.S. citizen, was charged today with terrorism and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction in Saturday evening's failed Times Square bombing. more>>
Fire department sued for wildfire (28 Apr 2010) The Halifax Regional Municipality and its fire service are facing lawsuits totalling $10 million for damages in connection with last spring's wildfire in Spryfield. The blaze forced 1,200 people to flee their homes, damaging and destroyed 18 homes on April 30, 2009. Insurance companies that filed the suits on behalf of the homeowners allege the city was negligent in how it fought the massive blaze. more>>
Photos from Eyjafjallajokull (19 Apr 2010) As ash from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano continues to affect millions of travelers around the world, the volcano continues to rumble and hurl ash skyward, if at a slightly diminished rate. more>>
Police officers find progress slow but rewarding (19 April 2010) After nine months in Afghanistan, police officers from Ottawa say they have a new appreciation for the concept of teamwork. Coakeley says police are not trusted in Kandahar, and that �to serve and protect� has a much different meaning. �I could write a doctoral thesis on what it�s like over there,� he said. �But you would have to put boots to the ground to understand. Afghanistan is a seriously broken country.� more>>
Security Forces Prepare for G20 Downtown Toronto got a taste of security preparation for the upcoming G20 summit Tuesday morning as two military helicopters completed a test flight around the Metro Toronto Convention Centre before landing in front of the CN Tower. Canadian Forces Sgt. Maj. Sylvain Gallant said the flight was to test the capability of the landing area between the CN Tower and the convention centre. more>>
Iceland�s volcanic eruption continues with less force (20 April 2010) The volcanic activity in the glacier Eyjafjallajokull in South Iceland is continuing, but with somewhat less force than before, according to a statement from the Icelandic government website on Tuesday evening. The Katla volcano, another active volcano in Iceland, is so far registering no new movement. more>>
Emergency Services to First Nation Communities (16 Apr 2010) The Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that marks another step forward in providing emergency response and recovery services in First Nation communities in Nova Scotia. more>>
RCMP gun has troubled history in Ottawa (April 2010) 24 years ago, over a four-month period, RCMP officers accidentally fired their Heckler & Koch MP5 weapons outside the residences of the prime minister, governor general and U.S. ambassador. One officer shot himself in the thigh. The German-made guns were eventually phased out of service after RCMP officers were issued 9mm service pistols in 1996. The force is now planning to bring the MP5s out of storage to arm its protective policing units guarding Parliament Hill and embassies and consulates nationwide with a modified, single-shot "rifle" version of the legendary submachine-gun. more>>
BC police petition for new outlook on mental stress (April 2010) A petition from the British Columbia Police Association is pushing to amend the province's Workers' Compensation Act to include coverage and treatment for cumulative mental stress in police officers. more>>
Volcano erupts in south Iceland (21 March 2010) The volcano near Eyjafjallajoekull glacier began to erupt just after midnight, sending lava a hundred metres high. Icelandic airspace has been closed, flights diverted and roads closed. The eruption was about 120km (75 miles) east of the capital, Reykjavik. Watch aerial video: more>>
CAP Aircrews Wrap Successful Flooding Response (March 2010) Civil Air Patrol aircraft and personnel from seven Midwest states have returned home after providing nearly 360 hours of flight time supporting disaster relief efforts in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. more>>
Mexico drug cartels extend reach in U.S. (March 2010) The availability of illegal drugs is increasing in the United States - fueled largely by expanding activity from Mexican drug cartels - and abuse of controlled prescription drugs is getting worse, according to the just released National Drug Threat Assessment 2010 report. more>>
Nuclear terror risk to Britain from al-Qaeda Britain faces an increased threat of a nuclear attack by al-Qaeda terrorists following a rise in the trafficking of radiological material, a government report has warned. It is feared that terrorists could transport an improvised nuclear device up the Thames and detonate it in the heart of London. Bristol, Liverpool Newcastle, Glasgow and Belfast are also thought to be vulnerable. more>>
Major avalanche near Revelstoke Approximately 200 snowmobilers gathered for an annual competition today at Boulder Mountain near Revelstoke, British Columbia. At about 3pm, an avalanche was triggered during the Big Iron Shootout. Three people have been reported dead, about 10 have been recovered with injuries. No additional survivors are expected to be found, and numbers of missing are as yet undetermined. Avalanche search teams, helicopters, and canine search teams are on site. more>>
Canada announces Federal Emergency Response Plan �The Federal Emergency Response Plan will help ensure the Government of Canada�s response to an emergency is seamless, and that key decisions can be made quickly when disasters strike,� said Minister Toews. �Canadians can be assured that we have the right plan and the right decision-making structures in place in the event of an emergency.� more>>
Top Guatemalan officers arrested (March 2010) Guatemala's national police chief and the country's top anti-narcotics official have been arrested in connection with the drug trade, Attorney General Amilcar Velasquez announced. more>>
Crafting the U.S. no-fly list The no-fly list is only as good as the intelligence and the experts who analyze it. If a lead is not shared, or if an analyst is unable to connect one piece of information to another, a terrorist could slip onto an airplane. Intelligence, counterterrorism and U.S. government officials provided The Associated Press a behind-the-scenes look at how the no-fly list is created. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security issues. more>>
OPP officer killed after pulling over vehicle (March 2010) An Ontario Provincial Police officer was shot and killed when pulling over a vehicle in rural southwestern Ontario, witnesses said this set off a close-range gunfight between the suspect and other officers. more>>
Police choppers too close for comfort In December 2009, a WestJet flight from Toronto was on its final descent into the Calgary International Airport � just 400 metres above ground � when the cockpit's alarm that warns of a collision went off, ordering the plane to climb, according to another report to Transport Canada. The commercial aircraft was forced to take corrective action. "It demonstrates us that [the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System] works and we were able to take that corrective action," a spokesman told CBC News.
Ottawa firm helps crack global hacker ring An Ottawa company helped shut down a ring of computer hackers whose malicious software spread just about everywhere on Earth, stealing credit card numbers and other valuable data.
Investigation into capsizing of Tall Ship off Brazilian coast The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will conduct an investigation into the capsizing of the "floating classroom" tall ship which went down off the coast of Brazil last month.
Hundreds feared dead in Ugandan mudslide (2 March 2010) The overnight landslide buried homes in three villages in the mountainous district of Bududa, where torrential rain has been falling for several weeks and shows no sign of stopping.
Massive earthquake hits Chile (27 Feb 2010) An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile in the early hours today, killing more than 120 and initiating tsunami warnings across the pacific.
Interrogation memos Washington Post � Lessons from the Justice Department's report on the interrogation memos.
Amir Attaran vs CSIS CSIS and University of Ottawa professor argue the intricacies of working within the criminal law system to prosecute terrorists. Read both sides:
What have we learned from H1N1? As the H1N1 virus began to circle the globe, it caused a striking and unusual pattern of severe illness and deaths in younger people, with many caused by viral pneumonia, an especially aggressive form of pneumonia. Humanity braced for germ warfare. Then swine flu fizzled. A potential third wave could arrive this year, but the post-mortem is already underway.
H1N1: then and now At the onset of flu season, Ottawans braced to meet the H1N1 pandemic head-on. Late last summer, Bruce Deachman asked the city's front-line workers how they were planning to meet the challenge in the face of growing uncertainties. This week, as world health experts debated the status of the pandemic, the Ottawa Citizen went back to those individuals to see how they fared.
The Utility of Assassination The apparent Israeli assassination of a Hamas operative in the UAE turned into a bizarre event replete with numerous fraudulent passports, alleged Israeli operatives caught on videotape and international outrage (more over the use of fraudulent passports than over the operative's death). If we are to believe the media, it took nearly 20 people and an international incident to kill him.
Australia to face-scan visitors from �terror-risk� countries Australia plans to fingerprint and face-scan visitors from about 10 high-risk countries in a bid to combat extremism, which is now a "permanent" threat, says Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Australia is also concerned about the rising threat from home-grown militancy. more>>
Canada�s mission in Haiti shifts to stabilization The military is starting to withdraw, emergency evacuations of Canadians have ended, and Ottawa will wrap up efforts to find missing citizens. Canada's relief mission in Haiti is shifting to medium-term efforts to stabilize the earthquake-damaged nation.
Emergency Planning Coordinator Required Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology is searching for a coordinator responsible for the development and implementation of policies and procedures to support the College's Emergency Response Plan.
Haiti earthquake: Update Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada indicated that 1,921 Canadians have been located; 55 Canadians are unaccounted for; 4,328 have been evacuated on 46 flights; and 31 have been confirmed dead. Click here for
Emergency plans can accommodate thousands in disaster (12 Feb 2010) Provincial and municipal governments have joined forces to provide emergency shelter for thousands of people in the event of an evacuation due to a natural or human-caused disaster during the Olympics. Cots, blankets and comfort kits containing basic toiletry items are ready for deployment to temporary group-lodging sites. The Red Cross and Salvation Army would also be involved in lending assistance following evacuations of buildings. more>>
Olympic luger dead after high-speed track crash (12 Feb 2010) Officials have launched a probe into a shocking track crash Friday that killed a Georgian luger during a training run, only hours before the Games� opening ceremonies. more>>
Enhanced police presence for the Olympics in Vancouver (12 Feb 2010) Vancouver police will deploy a significant number of extra police officers on February 12, as the 2010 Olympics officially begin. This will remain for the duration of the Olympics, especially in the downtown core. Normal policing duties are not expected to be compromised. The Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit, which includes the RCMP, Canadian Forces and seconded police from across Canada, has primary jurisdiction for security at 30 Olympic competition and non-competition venues. more>>
Photos of 9/11 New photos of the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York on September 11, 2001 have been published following a Freedom of Information request by ABC News. Click to view: more>>
Rescued man survived 27 days in rubble (Feb 2010) Doctors treating an emaciated 28-year-old Haitian man on Tuesday said they believe he survived 27 days buried in rubble after the Jan. 12 earthquake. more>>
Digital Dark Side of the Winter Olympics Beyond the physical security challenge at the Olympics is the growing issue of cyber-security. Author David Gewirtz examines these variables. To view interactive digital version, select issue #2, 2009 under the ARCHIVES menu. To view pdf, click here: more>>
U.S. Cybersecurity Enhancement Act Congress will vote to strengthen cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors. H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, would require U.S. government and security agencies to develop a strategic cybersecurity plan to address potential threats and implement concrete research and development (R&D) goals. Additionally, a Rep. Sanchez-sponsored amendment would strengthen public-private partnerships in cybersecurity to ensure all parties are aware of emerging threats and have a voice in improving new technologies. more>>
Blue TIDE Protects Union Station Metro Transit Police staged their largest anti-terrorism sweep ever during Tuesday morning's rush hour, as about 50 officers � some toting M-4 rifles and others guiding bomb-sniffing dogs � took up position in Union Station in a new initiative aimed at discouraging attacks. In coming months, they plan to hold similar drills for the effort, dubbed Blue TIDE (Terrorism Identification and Deterrence Effort). Watch Video. more>>
Redefining Homeland Security�s mission (Feb 2010) In a strategic document intended to drive long-term budget decisions, the Obama administration's first Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, defined homeland security to include hazards beyond terrorism. more>>
New Course: Safely Disabling Hybrid Electric Vehicles Hybrid cars have raised very big concerns among first responders. It is important to understand the dangers of these unique vehicles (quite different to those normally associated with the family car). For instance, with 30 models and no ignition key, will you know how to disable the drive train if necessary? more>>
Where are Canada�s Health Emergency Response Teams? The concept of Health Emergency Response Teams was unveiled by the Canadian government in 2002. There is still no national network of elite emergency medical teams to help overwhelmed local authorities cope with natural disasters and other major calamities. HERTs around the country were to be "ready to be deployed assist provincial territorial or other local authorities in providing emergency medical care during a major disaster," the federal government stated. more>>
Wind farms threaten air-traffic control Wind farms are sprouting up around the world, but aviation specialists are raising concerns that the giant turbines are creating blackout zones for air-traffic control radars. NATS, the organization that provides air-traffic control services to Britain and the eastern part of the North Atlantic, has turned to engineers at Raytheon Canada in Waterloo, Ontario, to come up with a fix. more>>
iPhone saves a life in Haiti Dan Woolley, an aid worker in Haiti, felt blood streaming from his head and leg. Then he remembered � he had an app for that. more>>
Canada�s DART produces clean drinking water for Haitians CTV reports that Canada�s Disaster Assistance Response Team started producing drinking water on January 26. The team was forced to filter salt water from the Caribbean Sea because river waters are too polluted. This has resulted in a process that takes twice as long. About 5,000 litres of drinking water were sent to Jacmel; however, distribution has been a challenge. The teams are also working to bring a Canadian field hospital into operation by mid week, which is expected to have surgical capabilities. The Haitian government has appealed for 200,000 tents. The global agency supplying tents, the International Organization for Migration, said on January 26 that it had 10,000 tents stored in Haiti and at least 30,000 are on the way. more>>
Help UNICEF Relief Efforts Your donation will be doubled � Every dollar donated by individual Canadians to UNICEF Canada for relief efforts in Haiti will be matched by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). more>>
DART Treats Injured in Haiti Master Corporal Mike Racine, a medical technician from the Disaster Assistance Relief Team (DART) treats a Haitian man who was injured in the earthquake that hit Haiti. Image by Cpl Julie B�lisle, Canadian Forces. Operation HESTIA is the Canadian Forces participation in humanitarian operations conducted in response to the catastrophic earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on 12 January 2010. The Government of Canada is committed to helping the people of Haiti. Op HESTIA is part of a whole-of-government effort that also involves Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency. more>>
OCHA Sit Rep (25 JAN) � 200,000 family sized tents are requested to support the one million people displaced by the earthquake. Only a fraction of the required tents are in country or in the pipeline, according to IOM. � Tens of millions of ready-to-eat meals are required to meet the needs of 2 million people for 15 days. � Haiti�s Ministry of Health is revising its emergency response strategy and will gradually shift focus from emergency surgical cases to primary health care. Thousands of amputees will require physical therapy. � Some 500 Haitian patients are being treated in nine hospitals in the Dominican Republic. The influx of patients requiring emergency care in these hospitals is declining. � The distribution of assistance continues in Port-au-Prince and other affected areas such as Jacmel, Carrefour, Leogane and Petit Goave. Tents, food, health (post-operative care and epidemiological surveillance), sanitation and hygiene are the priorities for assistance. � The Flash Appeal is 48% funded. A donor conference for Haiti will take place at the end of March in New York. more>>
Canada Announces Federal Cabinet Shuffle Details Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced details of his cabinet shuffle today. Treasury Board President Vic Toews, Manitoba's most senior cabinet minister, will take over the public safety portfolio. Key challenges for Toews will be accountability issues at two key agencies: the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency. Peter Van Loan will move from Public Safety to International Trade. As the new president of the Treasury Board, Stockwell Day will focus on controlling the massive $56-billion deficit.
Canadian Forces Medical Teams Arrive in Haiti Capt John Cockburn (right), a General Duty Medical Officer from Canadian Forces Health Services Centre Ottawa, examines a young baby in the medical facility set up at the Canadian Embassy in Port au Prince, Haiti.
Photo gallery: Disaster strikes in Port-au-Prince A powerful earthquake reduces much of the Haitian capital to rubble. Maclean's magazine posts its photo gallery. more>>
Photo gallery: Haiti sorts through the chaos Maclean's magazine posts its photo gallery. more>>
Botswana responds with $$ to earthquake ravaged Haiti The government of Botswana has donated P1 million to the Republic of Haiti, as humanitarian aid following the devastating earthquake that took place in Haiti. US President Barrack Obama issued a relief fund of US $100 million for the stricken Caribbean country. more>>
More US troops, UN peacekeepers expected for Haiti Thousands of U.S. Marines are expected to help relief organizations get supplies to Haitian earthquake survivors who questioned foreigners, soldiers and God about aid yet to arrive. The troop increase and an expected request to the U.N. for more peacekeepers were coming a day after sporadic violence and looting in Port-au-Prince underscored how an uptick in water and food deliveries still fell far short of overwhelming demand. "We don't need military aid. What we need is food and shelter," one young man yelled at U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during his visit to the city Sunday. more>>
Aid workers in Haiti face logistical nightmare The U.N. says rescue workers and relief goods are pouring into Haiti from around the world, but aid workers are running into huge problems reaching people trapped under buildings or feeding hungry survivors. more>>
Hizb ut-Tahrir obsessed with radicalising students (15 Jan 2010) This group is so committed to finding new recruits at universities that, during my time as a member (2001-05), a specific �universities team� was created, which co-ordinated and directed the activity of party activists across Britain. more>>
CF Operation HESTIA sends aid to Haiti Canadian Forces personnel load up HMCS Athabaskan with supplies prior to leaving for the country of Haiti that was devastated by an earthquake. The 200-member Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) is deployed as part of Operation HESTIA, the Canadian Forces contribution to earthquake relief efforts in the Port-au-Prince region, where a 7.0 magnitude quake that struck Haiti on January 12th, 2010 did the most damage. more>>
Possible Explosives at Pearson A CBC News investigation has revealed that on Aug. 7, 2009, Transport Minister John Baird issued a secret ministerial security order involving Pakistan International Airlines, which operates at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. A source with RCMP national security said the Mounties didn't believe the threat constituted a national security threat, and they took no further action on it. Why Transport Canada would undertake an immediate, top-secret ministerial order, while the national police force appeared to be unfazed, is unclear. more>>
Major catastrophe as earthquake smashes Haiti (12 Jan 2010) Haiti's ambassador to the US says a "catastrophe of major proportions" is unfolding in his country this morning after a major 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit near the capital Port-Au-Prince. more>>
Airport search leaves 85-year-old �terrified� (Jan 2010) Ottawa International Airport � An elderly woman was pulled out of the security lineup for the Air Canada flight and told to remove her boots and unzip her pants so a female inspector could poke her abdomen. more>>
Remote sensor predicts and assesses coastal storm damage (Jan 2010) Aircraft and satellite technology are some examples of remote sensing techniques that can track hurricanes at frequent intervals using thermal infrared, visible, and radar sensors. more>>
Remote sensor predicts and assesses coastal storm damage (Jan 2010) Aircraft and satellite technology are some examples of remote sensing techniques that can track hurricanes at frequent intervals using thermal infrared, visible, and radar sensors. more>>
Glitches in national emergency exercise in Alaska (Jan 2010) Radio and television broadcasters participated in a live statewide test of the nation's Emergency Alert System, which employed a never-used code that would be applied in a national crisis. Cable providers also were supposed to receive the message, but at least one major company said the procedure bypassed them. more>>
First P25 radio network in Canada (Jan 2010) EADS Defence & Security has announced it has been selected by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Ontario to roll out the first P25 radio network in Canada, an unprecedented system that will be ready in time to provide secure wireless communication during the 2010 G8 Summit in late June. Following the summit, the system will be rolled out across the province. This is a major leap forward in innovation and will open the door for interoperability across the continent. more>>
Police pay heavy toll to serve and protect (Jan 2010) Stress, alcoholism, and suicide are the real price of this difficult job, but statistics and studies only reveal part of the picture. more>>
Airport scanner exemption controversy (Jan 2010) Security experts are understandably wary of an exemption that would mean air travellers under age 18 aren't subject to the same security screening as other passengers. more>>
�Naked� scans at airports (Jan 2010) The Canadian government says air travellers heading to U.S. destinations will not only face virtual strip searches in major airports across the country, they may also soon be subject to behavioural profiling in an effort to bolster security. more>>
Latest addition to Vancouver Harbour.... (Jan 2010) Winter Olympics rings have been illuminated
Bombing bid renews debate on airport scans (Dec 2010) The attempted bombing of a U.S. airliner on Christmas day has renewed debate over the use of full-body scanners to enhance security screening at airports. more>>
Latest addition to Vancouver Harbour. (Jan 2010) Winter Olympics rings have been illuminated in Vancouver.
Obama Appoints a Cybersecurity Coordinator (Dec 2009) President Barack Obama has named Howard A. Schmidt as the United States national cyber security coordinator. A renowned computer security executive, Mr. Schmidt had previously served under the Bush administration. more>>
Raytheon Eliminates Interference for Air Traffic Control System Raytheon Network Centric Systems will conduct software modeling and field trials of technology that minimizes the effects of wind turbines on radar signals in the UK. more>>
Train derails in Taber, Alberta 17 freight cars came off the tracks in downtown Taber. The hopper cars carrying potash fertilizer, came to rest side by side near a gas station and fast-food outlet at about 2a.m. No one was injured in the accident. CP Rail is investigating. more>>
Ottawa hires new Fire Chief (Dec 2009) Ottawa's new Fire Chief, 53-year-old John deHooge, was introduced at City Hall. DeHooge, assumes his new position on Jan. 11, said he�s already met with senior fire staff and Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters Association representatives to take a look at some of the many issues he�ll have to deal with. more>>
John De Hooge �best person for the job� (Dec 2009) After speaking to 318 potential candidates and working through a �short list� of 16, the city has chosen a new fire chief to replace Rick Larabie, who retired at the end of May. more>>
RCMP Taser use against girl ruled �unreasonable� (Dec 2009) The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP said Friday an RCMP officer had no grounds to deploy the conducted energy weapon against a 15-year-old girl in 2007. more>>
Preparing for the Flu (Grades K-12) (Dec 2009) This Toolkit provides basic information and resources to help school administrators implement recommendations from CDC�s Guidance for State and Local Public Health Officials and School Administrators for School (K-12) Responses to Influenza during the 2009-2010 School Year. more>>
Job Posting: Mgr, Emergency Planning, Halton (Dec 2009) Emergency Management Analyst Position Open. This position supports the Region's Emergency Management Program through research, analysis, and the development and execution of plans, policies, procedures and training. The position supports Halton Region, Local Municipalities, Halton Regional Police Service, community partners, business sector and residents in emergency management, business continuity and personal emergency preparedness. more>>
Job Posting: Emergency Preparedness Specialist, Ottawa (Dec 2009) Federal government seeks experienced Emergency Preparedness Specialists with Business (non IT) expertise. more>>
Job Posting: Manager, Emergency Planning, Langley BC (Dec 2009) Kwantlen Polytechnic University is currently accepting applications for the position of Manager, Emergency Planning. Competition Close: January 31, 2010 more>>
RCMP Commissioner elected to INTERPOL On November 13, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced that RCMP Commissioner William J.S. Elliott was elected to the Executive Committee of the international police organization INTERPOL. Elected during the 78th Annual General Assembly of INTERPOL held in October, Commissioner Elliott will serve for three years. Through the RCMP, Canada was the first country to implement INTERPOL�s I-24/7 Global Police Communications System in 2003, a global network that enables police of all member countries to exchange vital policing information. In June 2009, the RCMP launched a new computer interface linking the entire Canadian police community to INTERPOL�s databases. The interface provides Canadian police officers access to databases that contain approximately 175,000 internationally wanted persons and known criminals in INTERPOL records, as well as almost 18 million lost or stolen travel documents.
Fire Safety Tips for the Holiday Season With various holiday seasons quickly approaching comes a need to take safety precautions around the home. Whether it is ensuring the Christmas tree is properly watered, to hanging fire-safe ornaments, being cautious with menorahs, and not overloading electrical outlets, there are a number of steps you can take to avoid a holiday disaster. more>>
European Leaders Push for UAVs in Civil Airspace Studies have long pointed to border patrol, forestry, fishing, search and rescue, etc. as appropriate and profitable uses for unmanned aircraft. Yet, opening the European Union�s airspace to civil UAVs is so difficult that even the most optimistic predictions only anticipate limited use in perhaps 2013 or 2016. more>>
The Controversial H1N1 Vaccine Decision (Nov 2009) Dr. Mike Evans, Associate Professor, Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto, and Staff Physician at St. Michael�s Hospital, offers balanced advice on the H1N1 vaccine decision. more>>
Cell Phone Forensics Assists Search and Rescue (4 Nov 2009) Recent case shows how a cell phone can be used to locate missing people, even if is not being used but is still powered up. more>>
How to boost your chances against H1N1 It's almost impossible to avoid contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions, however, proliferation is more of a problem. Learn how to reduce proliferation. more>>
BOOK: Last Chance Rescue You may be worried about a "Story of Rescue and Romance in the Rocky Mountains." However, this well-crafted plot tells the tale of a young man who is dissatisfied with life and decides to make a clean break and head to a mountain town where he runs into a friend in high school. She is a paramedic and very involved with the local search and rescue team. And so it begins. more>>
First responders to participate in Exercise GOLD (November 2009) Olympic Security � Vancouver � First responders will participate in an exercise on Nov 5th to practice their response to an emergency situation. The exercise will involve a range of participants, including mock casualties. This Vancouver exercise is a component of Exercise Gold, which is the third and final element of the 2010 Olympic Integrated Exercise Program. The program is designed to ensure that municipal, regional, provincial and federal organizations are prepared to respond in a coordinated manner to any emergency that may occur during the 2010 Winter Games. more>>
$500 fine for usine handheld devices while driving (Sept 2009) Ontario's Bill 118, an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act is NOW IN EFFECT and bans drivers from using handheld devices with display screens while operating a vehicle on the road. more>>
Global Competitiveness Report Released (Sept 2009) Switzerland has scored first place in a report issued by the World Economic Forum. The alpine nation has switched places with the United States, which held first place since the WEF introduced the survey in its current form in 2004. Link to the full report on FrontLine's REPORTS section (economic). more>>
SIA Urges Funding of Port Security Grant Program (Sept 2009) Fully funding the US Port Security Grant Program is an important part of securing against terrorist attack.
$250,000 DHS Grant for Emergency Preparedness Training (Sept 2009) Through the grant, the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM) will deliver intensive training in in safety and security protocols for emergency preparedness, crises communication, and introduction to a free risk self assessment and benchmarking tool that promote readiness for a broad range of hazard scenarios. more>>
New Report Added: (Aug 2009) Initiatives on Banking and Government by Colin Robertson. Select REPORTS menu (above): Economic. more>>
Worldwide Sharing Identifies and Combats Immigration Fraud (21 August 2009) Government of Canada to prevent immigration fraud through international cooperation more>>
Response to Anti Fire Sprinkler campaign (3 August 2009) The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), delivered the following letter to Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford, in response to campaigning against adoption of the recently passed International Residential Code (IRC) in the United States. more>>
We have an Arctic strategy - let�s get to it (29 July 2009) By Rob Huebert: The release of the Conservatives' long-awaited Northern Strategy this week was a good news/bad news event. For a link to the report, check our FrontLine REPORTS menu (Arctic) more>>
Canada�s Arctic Sovereignty Agenda (27 July 2009) The federal government unveiled a sweeping report on its Arctic policy Sunday, aimed at asserting Canada's claim to offshore resource rights while addressing development in the most remote regions of the country. For a link to the report, check our FrontLine REPORTS menu (Arctic). more>>
The Rights of Arctic Peoples (16 July 2009) Article in the Economist suggests that more political powers for the indigenous people of the Arctic could soon be matched by more economic clout. more>>
National Level (Anti-Terror) Exercise 2009 (July 2009) Scheduled for July 27-31, the NLE 09 will be the first major exercise conducted by the United States government that will focus exclusively on terrorism prevention and protection. more>>
Russia approves US$500M loan to Iceland (15 July 2009) The economic crisis is about to significantly alter the political adherence of Iceland. Less than a month after an official Icelandic delegation visited Moscow asking for assistance, Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Pankin announced that the Russian government has granted Iceland a 500 million USD loan. more>>
Residents Fed Up with Public Safety Minister (June 2009) The implementation date to arm all border guards in Canada is 2016. Postponing arming the Cornwall location would allow business to return to usual and provide time for talks with Native leaders who are looking for a peaceful solution - why is Van Loan drawing an unnecessary line in the sand? more>>
Aerospace Safety Drives Fly-by-Wireless Advancement (June 18, 2009) An international forum promoting the advancement of a broad range of wireless technologies for the global aerospace industry, launches four new projects for the sustainment of such technologies for aerospace applications. more>>
Search & Rescue Volunteers Protest (June 16, 2009) The provinces must provide full liability insurance and complete WCB coverage for all SEARCH and Rescue volunteers across Canada. Golden and District SAR has withdrawn its services and others are supporting this drastic measure. more>>
Akwesasne vs Border Guards (June 17, 2009) Chief Howard �Iothore� Thompson of Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs responds to the current situation concerning arming of border guards on the Akwesasne Reserve. more>>
Pandemic Alert raised to Level 6 (June 11, 2009) Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, explains the reasoning behind raising the Pandemic Alert to Level 6. As of this date, WHO continues to recommend no restrictions on travel and no border closures. more>>
Akwesasne leaders want meeting with Van Loan (June 5, 2009) Moving the Customs facility off Akwesasne Territory is seen as a positive option. Mohawk leaders urge the Government of Canada to engage in meaningful dialogue with them to discuss peaceful resolutions to the community�s issues. more>>
Cyber Security Expert to Speak at WCDM (May 2009) Former Director of the Department of Homeland Security�s National Cyber Security Division, Amit Yoran, will offer insights on how to manage risk in today�s new world of cyber crime at the upcoming World Conference on Disaster Management in Toronto, June 21-24. more>>
Pandemic Alert raised to level 5 (April 2009) The World Health Organization (WHO) raised its global pandemic alert to level five � its second highest level, meaning a pandemic is imminent and countries must finalize preparations to deal with the outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus. A phase five alert means that human-to-human spread of the virus is confirmed in at least two countries. more>>
Mismanaged Search Failed 70 year old Woman (April 2009) Price County Sheriff Accused of Mismanaging the Search for 70-year-old Woman. A neighbor and a deputy reported hearing the woman's cries. Offers of assistance from at least two outside agencies were turned down by Sheriff Krenzke. more>>
How to reduce the spread of an influenza virus (April 29/09) The CCEP recommends exercising safe health practices similar to those applied during the regular flu season. Such practices are proven to reduce the potential spread of the influenza virus and many other infectious diseases. They include: more>>
Vials of swine flu virus explode on train (April 29/09) A lab technician from a Geneva hospital had been transporting vials of H1N1 virus from a veterinary institute in Zurich when the package exploded from a build up of dry ice gasses. more>>
POSITION: Emergency Mgmt Specialist - Health Relat (April 29/09) The Specialized Professional Services Unit, within the Occupational Health & Safety Branch, Ontario Ministry Of Labour, is seeking an experienced individual to join our dynamic emergency management team to coordinate, implement and maintain its emergency management program. more>>
DoD seeking device to examine cell phone images (April 2009) The Defense Research and Engineering Technology Office in the US DoD is seeking a device that examines cell phone images to determine their origins. They are seeking a contractor to create a small, rugged prototype device that interrogates cell phones with cameras to determine if stored images were captured by the phone's integrated camera or were received into memory from some other source, such as a website. more>>
Canadian Government takes action against junk emai (April 2009) The Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP) is pleased at action taken to address junk email. With more than 97 percent of all email considered to be spam, it will also be welcome news for Canadian Internet users. more>>
Inside the FDA (April 2009) Author Fran Hawthorne takes a thorough look at how the U.S. Food & Drug Administration really works. more>>
Swine Influenza Alert Phase Raised (April 2009) Based on advice from WHO Director-General, the Emergency Committee has raised the level of influenza pandemic alert from the current phase 3 to phase 4. more>>
Best Practices Identified by EMS Chiefs of Canada (April 2009) A recent outbreak of the flu in Mexico has been linked to cases of flu in Canada and the United States by the World Health Organization. The EMS Chiefs of Canada are leading a process to identify and disseminate key strategies for EMS organizations to implement to protect paramedics and manage the care of the sick. more>>
U.S. Aviation Subcommittee Hearing (April 2009) To better understand and evaluate the complex and often interrelated factors that contribute to safe operations, the House aviation subcommittee is interested in the oversight of helicopter EMS operations. more>>
Judge to Head Helo Crash Inquiry (April 2009) The agency that regulates Newfoundland's offshore energy industry has appointed a retired judge to lead an inquiry into a recent helicopter crash that claimed the lives of 17 people. more>>
Cyclone MH-92 helicopters must meet specs (April 2009) Defence Minister Peter MacKay says Ottawa will not accept a helicopter contracted for the military unless it meets specifications set out by the Defence Department. more>>
MacEwan College seeking Emergency Planning Officer (April 2009) The Risk Management department is seeking an Emergency Planning Officer for coordinating, facilitating and assisting in the planning, organizing, control and implementation of emergency management and emergency operations for MacEwan College. more>>
Attorneys File Suit on Behalf of Alleged Pirates (April 2009) In the latest dispute over the European Union's anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia, lawyers representing two suspects being detained in Kenya have filed suits against the German government. They want Berlin to foot the bill for the suspects' defense and ensure they are given a fair trial. more>>
Volcano Erupts in Galapagos Islands (April 2009) The uninhabited Fernandina Island is the most volcanically active island in the Galapagos archipelago. La Cumbre had previously erupted in May 2005. more>>
U.S. Navy Rescues Captain Phillips (April 2009) The U.S. Navy shot three Somali pirates and rescued cargo ship captain Richard Phillips from a lifeboat off the coast of Somalia where he was being held captive, ending a five-day standoff. more>>
River Watch 2009: New Brunswick (April 2009) New Brunswick's near-record flooding in New Brunswick reminded us of how important it is to be prepared for such an event. The province has instituted a special "River Watch" initiative. more>>
Flooding: more evacuations in Manitoba (April 2009) The evacuation of dozens of residents continues as heavy floodwaters threaten two communities north of Winnipeg, sometimes leaving people stuck on rooftops and stranding rescuers themselves. more>>
HazMat Suicide Threatens Innocent Lives (March 2009) A suicide technique that mixes household chemicals to produce a deadly hydrogen sulfide gas is seeping into the United States. Emergency workers are alarmed at the potential for innocent causalities. more>>
Ottawa may halt grants to �anti-semetic� groups (MAR 2009) As part of a "zero tolerance approach towards anti-Semitism," the federal government is reviewing all public service grants to remove state support from groups that advocate hatred or express support for terrorism. more>>
Counterterrorism Funding (March 2009) It has been 11 years since a U.S. Embassy has been reduced to a smoking hole in the ground, and the public�s perception of the threat appears to be changing once again. more>>
Drug Cartel's New Weapons Pushes Mexico Police (March 2009) Narcotics traffickers are acquiring firepower more appropriate to an army - including grenade launchers and antitank rockets - and police are feeling outgunned. more>>
Border Protection Awards Ceremony (March 2009) Hundreds of U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees gathered to honor and recognize the hard work, dedication and achievements of CBP personnel during 2008. more>>
New Chair for Canada/US Inter-Parliamentary Group (March 2009) Federal MP Gord Brown was elected the House of Commons Chair on the Canada/United States Inter-Parliamentary Group. more>>
Canadian Aerospace Policy Recommendations (February 2009) The Canadian Society for Senior Engineers (CSSE) offers the following contributions to the formulation of a new Canadian Aerospace Policy. more>>
Safety Investigation Report - Coast Guard (February 2009) While in transit back to the pier after a training exercise, the CCG Auxiliary Fishing Vessel Sea Urchin rolled over. Three persons were thrown into the water and recovered by the CCG Fast Rescue Craft. The CCGA vessel owner later died. more>>
Authorities ignore SOS until too late (February 2009) A Montreal man has been rescued but his spouse is dead after their ski trip turned into a 10-day battle to survive in the snowy backcountry near B.C.'s Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. more>>
Canadian Coast Guard Saves Spanish Crew (February 2009) The captain of a Spanish fishing vessel said Monday he and his crew were in mortal peril when a Canadian Coast Guard ship pulled them from the frigid North Atlantic. more>>
Arctic Underprepared for Maritime Accidents (February 2009) Existing infrastructure for responding to maritime accidents in the Arctic is limited and more needs to be done to enhance emergency response capacity as Arctic sea ice declines and ship traffic in the region increases. more>>
Special unit to patrol Can/U.S. border (February 2009) A special border-patrol unit consisting of RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency agents will soon take shape in Quebec under a pilot project which could herald a new nationwide efforts to beef up border security. more>>
Port of Los Angeles prepares to cancel security xr (February 2009) Nearly seven months after taking delivery of a mobile X-ray system, the Port of LA is on the verge of cancelling the controversial contract. more>>
Canada's influence over Arctic wanes (January 2009) Growing worldwide interest in exploring the Arctic will lessen Canada's influence over what happens there, says a northern historian and sovereignty expert. more>>
The Battle for the Arctic - Documentary (January 2009) It has begun. Canada, Denmark, Norway and Russia are among the countries competing for a piece of the Arctic. Watch entire video on-line. more>>
USS New York will soon be defending freedom (December 2008) The future USS New York LPD-21 under construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems� shipyard in Avondale, LA, will be the fifth amphibious transport dock of the San Antonio class more>>
Woman found alive under 2 feet of snow (December 2008) The Hamilton Police Volunteer Search and Rescue Canine team was called out by the Hamilton Police Service to assist in the search for a missing woman in rural Hamilton. After two days of searching, one of the teams found her ALIVE! Volunteer SAR Canine Handler Ray Lau and his dog "ACE" located the woman buried alive in 2 feet of snow, after being there for 3 days. The story has been featured around the world in all the major newspapers in Canada, USA, Africa, New Zealand, Switzerland to name a few and was rated the top story all day on Dec. 25 for CNN news. Click on "Search and Rescue Heroes- Ray Lau and Ace" in the URL link, where a page has been dedicated to the team and this incredible story. more>>
Homeland Defense Symposium (October 2008) FrontLine magazines will again be attending the Homeland Defense Symposium in Colorado Springs. Video of the 2008 event can be seen at this link: more>>
CSA Unveils New Emergency Management Standards (October 2008) More than 40 percent of Canadians say the company where they work does not have an emergency plan in place according to a recent study. Canadian Standards Association (CSA), a leading developer of standards and codes, officially announced a new emergency management and business continuity programs standard, CSA Z1600, which is designed for private and public organizations of all sizes to use if disaster strikes. This new standard is based on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1600 Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs standard. more>>