A science and technology project, which will develop tools to improve our ability to monitor maritime activities in the Arctic, to be funded through the Canadian Safety and Security Program (CSSP).
24 July 2015
Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), in partnership with Public Safety Canada, will support an innovative project to develop enhanced tools and knowledge, which will enable Canada to have a greater awareness and understanding of maritime activities in the Canadian Arctic. This project is part of an overall investment of approximately $12 million in 24 projects under the Canadian Safety and Security Program (CSSP).
The National Research Council and MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Systems Ltd. will lead a project that will contribute to increase awareness in the Canadian Arctic, including improvements to Canada’s ability to detect and track small ships, predict routes and destinations, and identify suspicious vessels, oil spills and illegal oil dumps.
Partners: Canadian Armed Forces; Canadian Coast Guard; Environment Canada; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; and Transport Canada.
The specific funding amount for this project will be formalized following the successful completion of negotiations between project proponents and the Government of Canada.
CSSP funding supports projects and activities that respond to Canadian public safety and security priorities, and also addresses capability gaps. These gaps are identified in consultation with science and technology (S&T) experts, and safety and security communities of practice, representing policy, operational and intelligence experts.
Ultimately, the goal of the program’s investments is to ensure that Canadians and their institutions have a greater resilience to global and domestic public safety and security threats. These efforts are guided by a set of long-term outcomes:
- Canada’s economic vibrancy and sovereign integrity is maintained through resilient critical infrastructure and the efficient flow of people, goods, and services across its borders and ports of entry;
- A robust, connected and multi-jurisdictional security/intelligence and national emergency management system is in place to provide an effective full-spectrum preventive, protective, responsive and adaptive capability of people, responders and systems from all hazards; and,
- The public is confident that public security threats are being identified, assessed and addressed in a way that keeps pace with the evolving natures of threats, reflects Canadian values, and maintains the integrity of both the criminal justice and national security systems.
Established in 2012, the CSSP invests in science and technology (S&T) projects that strengthen Canada’s ability to anticipate, prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters, serious accidents, crime and terrorism. This is achieved through the convergence of S&T with policy, operations and intelligence.
The CSSP is led by DRDC’s Centre for Security Science (DRDC CSS), in partnership with Public Safety Canada, and supports academic, first responders, federal, provincial or municipal government-led projects in collaboration with response and emergency management organizations, non-governmental agencies, industry and academia.
DRDC is the national leader in defence and security S&T. As an agency of Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND), DRDC provides DND, the Canadian Armed Forces and other government departments as well as the public safety and security communities with the knowledge and technology advantage needed to defend and protect Canada’s interests at home and abroad.
Public Safety’s mandate is to keep Canadians safe from a range of risks such as natural disasters, crime and terrorism. Public Safety works with all levels of government, first responders, community groups, the private sector, non-government organizations and other nations on national security, border strategies, countering crime, emergency management and other safety and security initiatives.
