EvanL
04-06-2004, 09:24 PM
CTV.ca News Staff
Although the Department of National Defence says it's not acting on a specific threat, security around its headquarters in Ottawa has suddenly been boosted.
The DND has barred access to a roadway that runs underneath part of its headquarters with concrete barricades and metal barriers. It's the first time the road has been closed since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The department has also increased security at the entrance of all DND buildings around the capital and security checks on those wishing to enter the buildings have been tightened.
A military spokesperson told CTV's Ottawa affiliate CJOH News that while there has not been a specific threat, military security is always being reviewed and revised.
"Given the world situation, given threats or incidents then we make a decision. And we felt at this time it was wise to increase somewhat our security measures," said Col. Jean-Pierre Cyr.
"Right now, I certainly cannot tell you for how long it will be but it will be safe to assume that it will be up for a little while."
Last week, Auditor General Sheila Fraser released her report examining how Canada has spent close to $8 billion on national security since the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the U.S.
Among the problems she highlighted were thousands of airport employees with "possible criminal associations" who have access to restricted areas; thousands of missing passports; and a general lack of direction in security spending.
"The government as a whole failed to adequately assess intelligence lessons learned from critical incidents such as Sept. 11 and systematically follow up on needed improvements," Fraser wrote in her report.
Fraser's report came within days of the discovery of a chilling posting on an al Qaeda website. In a missive allegedly published by senior al Qaeda figure, Saif al-Adel, Canada is ranked fifth on a list of potential terror targets.
The minister in charge of security, Anne McLellan, downplayed the threat, saying al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden named Canada in statements last year.
David Harris, a former chief of strategic planning with Canada's security agency, CSIS, says "anybody who says Canada's not a potential target in the year 2004 is living in a fool's paradise."
"We know that of all the countries that Osama bin Laden himself has threatened, only Jordan and Canada have yet to be struck. And we know that good deal of plotting is going on in the direction of Jordan. So why should Canada be immune?" he told CJOH.
Although the Department of National Defence says it's not acting on a specific threat, security around its headquarters in Ottawa has suddenly been boosted.
The DND has barred access to a roadway that runs underneath part of its headquarters with concrete barricades and metal barriers. It's the first time the road has been closed since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The department has also increased security at the entrance of all DND buildings around the capital and security checks on those wishing to enter the buildings have been tightened.
A military spokesperson told CTV's Ottawa affiliate CJOH News that while there has not been a specific threat, military security is always being reviewed and revised.
"Given the world situation, given threats or incidents then we make a decision. And we felt at this time it was wise to increase somewhat our security measures," said Col. Jean-Pierre Cyr.
"Right now, I certainly cannot tell you for how long it will be but it will be safe to assume that it will be up for a little while."
Last week, Auditor General Sheila Fraser released her report examining how Canada has spent close to $8 billion on national security since the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the U.S.
Among the problems she highlighted were thousands of airport employees with "possible criminal associations" who have access to restricted areas; thousands of missing passports; and a general lack of direction in security spending.
"The government as a whole failed to adequately assess intelligence lessons learned from critical incidents such as Sept. 11 and systematically follow up on needed improvements," Fraser wrote in her report.
Fraser's report came within days of the discovery of a chilling posting on an al Qaeda website. In a missive allegedly published by senior al Qaeda figure, Saif al-Adel, Canada is ranked fifth on a list of potential terror targets.
The minister in charge of security, Anne McLellan, downplayed the threat, saying al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden named Canada in statements last year.
David Harris, a former chief of strategic planning with Canada's security agency, CSIS, says "anybody who says Canada's not a potential target in the year 2004 is living in a fool's paradise."
"We know that of all the countries that Osama bin Laden himself has threatened, only Jordan and Canada have yet to be struck. And we know that good deal of plotting is going on in the direction of Jordan. So why should Canada be immune?" he told CJOH.