Ministère des Finances : 2002




Press releases 2002-2003 BUDGET Measures to enhance personal security Québec City, November 1, 2001 — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for the Economy and Finance Pauline Marois announced a series of concrete measures to enhance personal security and combat terrorism. Introduced in the 2002-2003 Budget Speech presented today, these measures will require the injection of $8 million in the current year and $35 million in 2002-2003. "Today, this basic need for security calls for even greater attention from our government, and we intend to use all the means at our disposal to maintain the safe living environment that Quebecers want", said Ms. Marois. Mitigation measures In order to respond rapidly and effectively to the presence of contaminating agents in a public building or place, the ministère de la Sécurité publique will set up multi-disciplinary response teams specially equipped and trained to ensure security, provide assistance to individuals and, if necessary, decontaminate evacuated premises. These teams will be based in Montréal, Québec City and Hull, and can be deployed elsewhere in Québec as needed. An integrated monitoring centre, in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, will also be set up to ensure rapid response. The health-care system will improve its capability for dealing with biological incidents. The present Budget enhances the emergency plan for infection control, notably through the provision of decontamination resources and the purchase of protective equipment and medication. Additional resources will be allocated to reinforce intelligence and investigation activities targeting terrorism, and to enhance the response capability of our specialized police forces. Ms. Marois also indicated that the ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation would strengthen its animal health warning and information system. The purpose of this measure is to improve surveillance, response time and monitoring in the event of contamination of livestock herds. The security of our main government buildings and Québec houses and delegations abroad will be enhanced. Moreover, new requirements for the issuing of birth certificates have just been established. Ms. Marois closed by stating that Québec, like British Columbia, wishes to be part of a North American security perimeter. "We believe that Québec and Canada must participate in the establishment of a continent-wide security perimeter to guarantee greater safety within our borders. We must also ensure that the free movement of goods and persons between Québec and the United States, our number-one export market, is maintained and even increased". - 30 - Source: Nicole Bastien Press Officer Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for the Economy and Finance Tel.: (418) 643-5270 nicole.bastien@finances.gouv.qc.ca Back to press releases menu