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Security: essential to our quality of life
In order
to fulfill Quebecers’ need for security, the government is
implementing various measures designed to enhance Security measure
(police, firefighters, etc.). These measures amount to $8.2 million
in 2001-2002 and $35 million in 2002-2003.
The government is taking action in the following areas:
Intelligence and investigation
Additional
resources will be granted in order to reinforce intelligence activities
devoted to combating terrorism and enhancing response capabilities
of our specialized police forces throughout the territory.
These measures include:
- establishing a control centre for the coordination of front-line activities,
- stepping up emergency-response support services,
- providing training sessions for front-line emergency workers,
- ensuring the security of Québec delegations and other offices located abroad.
Additional appropriations of $5 million will be allocated in 2001-2002, and $27 million in 2002-2003.
Identity control
In matters of identity control, measures will be taken to make practices in issuing and using Québec acts of civil status more secure.
Additional funds of $1.2 million will be injected into the 2001-2002 budget of the ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l’Immigration, and $3 million in 2002-2003.
Civil protection and fire prevention
The
threat posed by chemical and biological contaminating agents has
considerably increased the workload of civil protection authorities.
Thus, when a threat of this type is reported in a public building or place, it is imperative to mobilize a response team composed of firefighters, police officers, ambulance attendants and other emergency workers, specially equipped and trained to:
- act efficiently,
- ensure security,
- provide assistance, and
- perform decontamination, if needed, within the perimeters or buildings evacuated.
The aim of this measure is to set up three multi-disciplinary response teams based in Montréal, Québec City and Hull, which can be mobilized and deployed throughout Québec to provide basic yet adequate protection with regard to potential risks.
Moreover, an integrated monitoring centre will be set up to ensure rapid response and the mobilization of rescue, assistance and communication missions. This centre will have a monitoring, readiness and communication capability and be equipped to provide information consolidation and harmonization services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
To fund these measures, additional appropriations of $1 million will be added to the 2001-2002 budget of the ministère de la Sécurité publique, and $2.4 million in 2002-2003.
Biofood monitoring
The
biofood sector also merits particular attention. Rapid response
and accurate diagnoses are priority number one. In 1992, Québec
set up an animal health warning and information system (RAIZO).
This system detects and monitors the onset of diseases or symptoms
that could affect human or animal health.
This system will be consolidated to improve surveillance and speed up response and monitoring. This will result in an improved capability for identifying the substances involved thanks to:
- the upgrading of existing equipment,
- the addition of more sophisticated facilities,
- including two laboratories that meet operational requirements, one of which comprises a necropsy room.
An additional $0.5 million will be injected into the budget of the ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation for fiscal year 2001-2002. For subsequent years, the department’s budget will be increased by $1.3 million annually.
Actions relating to decontamination
The key issue in the health sector is our response capability when dealing with people who may be infected by chemical or biological agents.
Currently, to respond to a biological incident, the health sector can:
- activate the Québec emergency plan for infection control, which targets extreme surveillance diseases,
- call on a network of sentinel physicians available throughout Québec 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
- rely on a laboratory analysis capability for the substances involved.
Additional measures will be taken with regard to:
- the development of current laboratory capacity,
- the capability to decontaminate victims of chemical or biological infection,
- the purchase of protective equipment and related supplies for ambulance attendants,
- the pre-positioning of medication and antidote reserves in strategic locations,
- screening for infectious diseases,
- improved capability for the identification of the substances involved.
Additional appropriations of $0.2 million will be injected into the 2001-2002 budget of the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, and $0.6 million in 2002-2003.
Security of government buildings
The ministère de la Sécurité publique will assess the security risks to buildings that house ministerial suites and major service centres in which several government departments and agencies are grouped.
Over and above the costs assumed by the Société immobilière du Québec, additional appropriations of $0.3 million will be injected into the 2001-2002 budget of the ministère de la Sécurité publique, and $0.7 million in 2002-2003.
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