ARCHIVED - Harper Government announces action plan for cyber security

OTTAWA, April 18, 2013 — The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, today announced the release of the Action Plan 2010-2015 for Canada's Cyber Security Strategy. This action plan demonstrates the accomplishments to date under Canada's Cyber Security Strategy and describes the Harper Government's ongoing efforts to make cyberspace more secure for all Canadians.

“Our government is committed to defending Canada's cyber infrastructure and protecting and advancing our national security and economic interests,” said Minister Toews. “In an evolving threat environment, we have in recent years made significant progress, and we will continue to work to strengthen our capacity to protect Canadians from cyber threats.”

Canada's Cyber Security Strategy aims to secure Government of Canada systems, enhance partnerships with industry and other governments to protect vital systems, and help Canadians keep their personal information safe and secure.

This Action Plan released today outlines progress made so far across all three of the Strategy's pillars: securing government systems, partnering to secure vital cyber systems outside the federal government, and helping Canadians to be secure online. For example, the Government of Canada:

• created Shared Services Canada to streamline and secure the management of federal information technology infrastructure, in 2011;
• launched GetCyberSafe – the national public awareness campaign on cyber security – to give Canadians the information they need to keep themselves and their families safe online, in 2011;
• announced $155 million in additional funding to reinforce the already secure, stable and resilient digital infrastructure, which includes investments to enhance the capacity of the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) at Public Safety Canada, in 2012; and
• signed the Cybersecurity Action Plan Between Public Safety Canada and the Department of Homeland Security to enhance the strong partnership and cooperation on cyber security matters between both countries, in 2012.

The Action Plan also highlights ongoing work in areas such as:

• continuing to improve Government capacity to detect, defend against, respond to and recover from cyber threats and incidents;
• working with partners in the provinces and territories, in the private sector, and internationally, in order to improve collective cyber security;
• supporting cyber security research and development; and
• continuing activities to promote public awareness of cyber security.

Going forward, the Action Plan will be reviewed and updated periodically in collaboration with partners within and outside the federal government in order to ensure continued progress.

For more information on the Get Cyber Safe campaign, please visit GetCyberSafe.gc.ca.

Follow Public Safety Canada (@Safety_Canada) and Get Cyber Safe (@getcybersafe) on Twitter.

Information:
Julie Carmichael
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2924

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657

Date modified:

2015-11-26