ARCHIVED - Canada and the U.S. Announce Cybersecurity Action Plan

OTTAWA, October 26, 2012 — Today, Canada and the United States announced the Cybersecurity Action Plan Between Public Safety Canada and the Department of Homeland Security, a key commitment under the Beyond the Border Action Plan for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness. The announcement comes during Cyber Security Awareness Month, which both countries recognize every October to remind individuals about how to protect themselves and their families from online threats.

"Canada and the U.S. have a mutual interest in partnering to protect our shared infrastructure," said the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety. "We are committed to working together to protect vital cyber systems, to respond to and recover from any cyber disruptions, and to make cyberspace safer for all our citizens."

"The Cybersecurity Action Plan reinforces the robust relationship between DHS and Public Safety Canada," said United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano.  "We look forward to continuing our work together to increase the resiliency of our networks, enhance public-private partnerships, and build a culture of shared responsibility."

The Cybersecurity Action Plan enhances the already strong partnership and cooperation on cyber security matters between both countries, in order to ultimately better protect shared critical digital infrastructure and increase capacity to respond jointly and effectively to cyber incidents. 

The specific goals of the plan include enhancing collaboration on cyber incident management between each country's cyber security operations centres, improving information sharing and engagement with the private sector, and continuing the ongoing collaboration between Canada and the U.S. on the promotion of cyber security awareness to the public.

The release of this joint Action Plan follows the September 27 announcement by Minister Toews of a new partnership between Public Safety Canada and STOP.THINK.CONNECT.™, a coalition of private sector companies, non-profit and government organizations, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, committed to informing the public about how to stay safer online. This partnership complements the Government of Canada's Get Cyber Safe public awareness campaign, facilitating the alignment of both public awareness campaigns and providing citizens with consistent, reliable and important advice and tools to help increase personal online security.

Both of these announcements underscore the importance of collaborative efforts and the commitment from the Governments of Canada and the U.S. to shared approaches on cyber security and critical infrastructure protection.

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

For more information on the Cybersecurity Action Plan, please visit www.publicsafety.gc.ca.

For more information on the Beyond the Border Action Plan, please visit www.borderactionplan.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:

2015-11-20