Oil Sands

Yes, you read that correctly. More than 200 participants at the second annual counter-terrorism seminar hosted recently by the Solicitor General and Public Security ministry heard that like flossing, counter-terrorism measures are something that must be ongoing and happen every day.

Conference participants included law enforcement personnel, military personnel, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) members, private industry security members and government staff responsible for protecting Alberta’s critical infrastructure.

It’s the everyday prevention tactics that help keep Albertans safe, said conference organizer Peter Lemieux, with the Alberta Security and Strategic Intelligence Support Team (ASSIST).

Captain Horace Frank, Commanding Officer of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Emergency Services Division, told the audience how the LAPD has seen a great deal of success by mobilizing the community to act as the eyes and ears of their neighbourhoods.

CSIS Deputy Director, Prairie Region, Bill Jones told the conference audience that Canada is not immune to homegrown terrorist activity. He said the single biggest factor that determines if someone will get involved in terrorist activity is his/her connections to known terrorists. If a person’s friends or relatives are involved, there is a high likelihood they may get involved as well.

Attendees also heard how private industry plans its anti-terrorism measures. Ross Johnson, Senior Manager of Security and Contingency Planning for Capital Power (which has 31 power plants in Canada and the US) told the audience the three things terrorists need are motive, rationalization and opportunity. What private industry must do is try to remove the opportunity. Introducing random anti-terrorism measures helps get rid of the routine, predictability, gaps and weaknesses that terrorists are looking for.

Albertans can rest assured that ASSIST takes these issues seriously and has a highly skilled and dedicated team in charge of a proactive counter-terrorism crisis management plan. Anyone who learns of suspicious activity can report it the RCMP National Security tip line at 1-800-420-5805.

    - Eilish Lemieux
      Communications, Solicitor General and Public Security