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| Canada to Spend Millions on Security |
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THU, OCT 11, 2001
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Canadian Foreign Minister John Manley announced Wednesday that the country will spend 250 million Canadian dollars (about 160 million U.S. dollars) on extra security and anti-terrorism measures in the next six months.
Manley made the statement after chairing a meeting of the security committee of the cabinet. He refused to give any details, just saying that the money will go for border security, document security and other measures which will be announced by the ministers.
The new measures are expected to range from giving more money to the police to enhancing screening technology at airports and border points.
They could also include enhancing security features for passports and ID cards for immigrants, which are currently easily forged.
Moreover, the 10-member security committee has approved ongoing funding to add 300 staffers in various agencies. It has also completed preparations necessary to get a new anti-terrorism bill before the House of Commons on Monday, said Manley.
The legislation would make it a crime to participate in terrorist organizations, provide a definition of terrorism and give police new surveillance tools. It would also create a new offense by making it illegal to raise funds on behalf of terrorists.
While acknowledging that Canada's significant contribution to the U.S.-led military campaign against terrorism -- one-third of its naval fleet and over 2,000 personnel -- has made the country a target of retaliatory attacks, Manley said "we can't live in a cave or hide under our beds while we wonder if something might happen."
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