Raison d'être, Mandate and Role, and Operating Context

2026 to 2027 Raison d'être

The Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (i.e. Public Safety Canada; PS) plays a key role in discharging the Government's fundamental responsibility for the safety and security of its citizens.

Legislation governing the Department sets out three essential roles:

Mandate and role

The Department's mandate is to keep Canada safe from a range of safety and security threats. Public Safety Canada exercises its mandate through policy development, program administration, and multilateral coordination. PS provides leadership, strategic priority direction, including to the five Portfolio agencies and three review bodies, and oversees a complex array of partnerships and systems needed to develop and maintain policies, legislation, and programs in support of a safe and resilient Canada.

Operating Context

Public Safety Canada operates in a rapidly changing safety and security environment shaped by global instability, misinformation, declining trust in democratic institutions, hate-motivated violence, threats to critical infrastructure and economic security, and increasingly severe emergencies. In this complex context, the Department provides national, portfolio, and international leadership in three core areas: National Security, Community Safety, and Emergency Management. Demand for PS leadership continues to grow, underscoring the importance of our mandate and the need to use resources effectively to respond to emergencies and security challenges at the speed and scale Canadians expect.

National Security

Recent geopolitical developments and shifts have renewed focus on Canada's sovereignty, decision-making autonomy, and protection of national interests. Canadians expect strong government action to assert sovereignty. Under its legislative mandate, Public Safety Canada plays a critical role in reinforcing resilience against external influence while upholding Canada's values and legal obligations. This includes securing governance over northern lands and waters, preserving policy autonomy, and maintaining a strong presence across the country.

Foreign interference also remains a major concern, threatening democratic institutions and critical infrastructure. Cyber-enabled espionage and theft of research, trade secrets, and intellectual property pose significant national security and economic risks. Canada's cybersecurity and critical infrastructure strategies must keep pace with these evolving threats. Public Safety Canada is responding by introducing new policies, strengthening safeguards, and enhancing collaboration nationally and internationally. The Department leads efforts to protect critical infrastructure, counter terrorism and violent extremism, and support research institutions in improving security. Engagements with federal, provincial, territorial, and international partners are key to protecting Canada's economic and innovative assets and ensure the security of public institutions.

Community Safety

Public Safety Canada provides federal leadership in crime prevention and law enforcement. As the Department works to advance transparency, independent oversight, and accountability, it must also focus on ensuring policing models are fit for contemporary challenges. Through grants and contributions programs, PS also supports partner agencies and community organizations to deliver effective, inclusive safety initiatives.

Rising geopolitical tensions also affect social cohesion and trust in public institutions, as seen in increasing hate crimes and declining confidence among vulnerable communities. Community safety requires collaboration. Effective policy and programs depend on strong partnerships among federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous governments. These relationships enable tailored programs for diverse communities, including Indigenous and vulnerable populations. Given shared jurisdiction over public safety, the Department continues to nurture partnerships to address increasingly sophisticated crimes such as human trafficking and organized crime.

Community safety starts at our borders. Managing the world's longest international border requires close cooperation with the United States. Public Safety Canada leads strategic and operational dialogue to enhance economic competitiveness and facilitate legitimate travel and trade. These discussions also address cross-border crime, smuggling, trafficking, and migration challenges through law enforcement cooperation and information sharing.

Emergency Management

Intensifying geopolitical tensions are increasing the likelihood of man-made crises, including supply-chain disruptions, infrastructure failures, and conflict-driven emergencies. At the same time, the growing frequency and severity of natural disaster, such as wildfires, floods, and extreme weather events, continue to heighten the demand for robust and coordinated emergency management. Recent wildfire seasons, increasingly severe floods, and the growing frequency of "once-in-a-lifetime" weather events across Canada have shown the need for strong emergency response capacity. While provinces and territories lead emergency responses, the federal government provides critical support and coordination. Public Safety Canada continues to refine and implement whole-of-nation disaster resilience strategies and emergency frameworks, fostering strong federal-provincial-territorial relationships and supporting local governments in managing crises.

Internal Services

Across all areas of its mandate, Public Safety Canada remains committed to proactive leadership and leveraging partnerships in pursuit of a safe and resilient Canada. Despite operating in a rapidly evolving and increasingly complex risk environment, the Department remains firmly committed to strengthening its mandate and modernizing how we serve Canadians. Even as we navigate workforce adjustments, resource constraints, and the realities of aging infrastructure and legacy technologies, we are embracing this moment as an opportunity to rethink, rebuild, and improve.

These internal pressures, combined with growing external demands, underscore the urgency of our transformation and the need to align closely with the Clerk's call for greater simplicity, accountability, and focus across the public service. By streamlining how we work, strengthening stewardship, and directing our efforts toward what matters most, we are advancing the cultural and operational shift needed to become a more responsive, technologically enabled, and future-ready organization.

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