Minister Day announces Canada's participation in international counterterrorism exercise

OTTAWA, October 15, 2007 — The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, announced today that Canada, along with the governments of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, will participate in a counterterrorism exercise named "TOPOFF 4".  The exercise will take place October 15-19, 2007, with the United States engaged in a full-scale exercise, and Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom participating on a functional basis.

"Exercises provide unique training opportunities to strengthen our ability to deal with deliberate acts of terrorism and natural disasters," said Minister Day. "Canada's participation in this exercise is an example of our government's ongoing commitment to protect Canadians and to work with our international partners to prepare for, and respond to, terrorism," concluded Minister Day.

Public Safety Canada is leading Canada's participation in the exercise, in keeping with the department's responsibilities that include public safety, emergency management and national security. The lessons learned from these types of exercises are used to strengthen Canada's ability to deal with real emergencies.

Canada participated in two previous TOPOFF exercises, in 2003 and 2005.  In the 2005 exercise, Public Safety Canada coordinated Canada's domestic response to a mock terrorist attack on Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Information:

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657

Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2863