Facts About Canada

Public Safety Canada

Public Safety Canada (formally the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) is the federal department that provides national leadership on public safety, emergency management, community safety, critical infrastructure, cyber security policy, and national security coordination. The department works with a portfolio of agencies and with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous partners, and industry to keep people in Canada safe.

At a glance — Public Safety Canada
Type Federal department (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness)
Minister responsible Minister of Public Safety (Canada)
Portfolio agencies Royal Canadian Mounted Police • Canada Border Services Agency • Canadian Security Intelligence Service • Correctional Service of Canada • Parole Board of Canada
Core roles Emergency management & disaster recovery • National security policy coordination • Community safety & crime prevention • Critical infrastructure & cyber policy • Public alerting leadership
Official site canada.ca/public-safety

Mandate and legislation

Public Safety Canada leads and coordinates federal efforts to prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from threats and hazards—natural, accidental, and human-caused. Key authorities include the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act, the Emergency Management Act, and cross-government frameworks such as the Emergency Management Framework for Canada. The department supports the effective use of the Emergencies Act through advice and coordination when required.

Portfolio and partners

Public Safety Canada provides policy direction and coordination across the public safety portfolio, which includes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), and the Parole Board of Canada (PBC). It also works closely with central agencies, Global Affairs Canada, Transport Canada (e.g., aviation and marine security), Health Canada/Public Health Agency of Canada for health emergencies, provinces and territories, municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, critical-infrastructure operators, and international partners.

Emergency management

Government Operations Centre (GOC)

A 24/7 all-hazards coordination centre that provides national situational awareness and federal response coordination during emergencies (e.g., wildfires, floods, severe weather, public health events).

Disaster recovery & financial assistance

Public Safety Canada administers federal disaster support mechanisms such as the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) to help provinces and territories recover from large-scale disasters.

Preparedness, mitigation, and exercises

Programs support risk assessments, mitigation planning, flood/fire risk reduction, interoperable communications, search-and-rescue policy coordination, and national exercises that strengthen readiness across jurisdictions.

National public alerting

Public Safety Canada leads policies and coordination for the National Public Alerting System (wireless, TV, and radio), known publicly as Alert Ready—working with provinces/territories, broadcasters, wireless carriers, and technical partners. Regular tests help ensure readiness for urgent and potentially life-saving alerts.

National security and counter-terrorism

The department provides whole-of-government coordination on national security policy, information-sharing frameworks, and oversight initiatives across intelligence and law-enforcement partners. It advances counter-terrorism strategies and supports community-based prevention of radicalization to violence through the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence.

Policing, border, and corrections policy

Public Safety Canada develops policy and funding frameworks for police services (including the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program), firearms and organized-crime initiatives, border-related security policy in collaboration with CBSA, and corrections and conditional-release policy with CSC and the PBC.

Critical infrastructure and cyber security

The department leads the national approach to protecting Canada’s critical infrastructure across interconnected sectors (e.g., energy, finance, ICT, transportation, health, food). It coordinates the National Cyber Security Strategy and cyber-resilience policy for essential services, works with industry on risk management and incident coordination, and collaborates with operational cyber partners such as the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.

Community safety and crime prevention

Public Safety Canada funds evidence-based prevention through the National Crime Prevention Strategy and other programs that address risk factors for youth and communities, support victims, and enhance local capacity. Initiatives target issues such as guns and gangs, human trafficking, online child exploitation, and hate-motivated crime.

International cooperation

The department represents Canada in public safety, security, law-enforcement, and emergency-management forums with allies and international organizations, and manages bilateral arrangements on border and security matters (e.g., cross-border emergency management, information sharing consistent with Canadian law and privacy protections).

Governance and accountability

Public Safety Canada sets portfolio-wide priorities through departmental plans and reports results publicly. It supports ministerial accountability to Parliament, coordinates intergovernmental committees, and engages stakeholders through consultations, advisories, and technical working groups.

See also

External links (official)

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