Canada restructures customs, homeland security agencies

Canada restructures customs, homeland security agencies    Canada’s new prime minister, Paul Martin announced a series of reforms of cabinet appointments to restructure the government, including the creation of a new super department responsible for all aspects of domestic security.
   The Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, modeled after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will consolidate agencies from several departments with a hand in responding to natural disasters and protecting against security threats. Under the reorganization, the Customs component of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency will be moved to the department, where it will become part of the new Canada Border Services Agency, which will also include the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the intelligence, interdiction and enforcement sections of the agency responsible for citizenship and immigration processing. The new agency’s mission is to balance the need for border security with legitimate trade and travel.
   The new Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is headed by Alain Jolicoeur, previously deputy minister of Indian affairs and northern development. His top deputy, or executive vice president, is Denis Lefebvre, assistant commissioner of the Customs branch.
   Anne McLellan was named Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and will oversee the CBSA.
   The Canada Customs and Revenue agency will retain its taxation functions and eventually be renamed the Canada Revenue Agency.