Question Period Note: Protecting Critical Cyber Systems

Cyber Security – Critical Cyber System Initiative and Budget 2019 Funding.

• The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the cyber systems that underpin our critical infrastructure.

• A whole-of-government effort is underway with a view to developing a framework that will enhance cyber security in the finance, telecommunications, energy and transport sectors in Canada.

• To this end, Budget 2019 provided $144.9 million to support the protection of critical cyber systems in these sectors.

If pressed on the impact of the framework on private sector:

• The National Cyber Security Strategy included a commitment to support and partner with the private sector to strengthen cyber resilience in Canada.

• This funding will help the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security to deliver on its mandate to provide advice and guidance to critical infrastructure owners and operators on how to better prevent and address cyber-attacks.

With the 2018 Budget, the Government of Canada implemented a plan for security and prosperity in the digital age to protect against cyberattacks. The Government proposed significant investments of $507.7 million over five years, and $108.8 million per year thereafter, to fund the new National Cyber Security Strategy (Strategy).

Budget 2019 builds on this investment, and provides $144.9 million over five years, dedicated to protecting Canada’s critical cyber systems that underpin the vital services and systems that Canadians rely upon, specifically in the priority sectors of finance, telecommunications, energy, and transport. This investment includes $22.9 million from existing resources of the Communications Security Establishment, as well as $36.4 million that were earmarked in Budget 2015 to “to support the operators of Canada’s vital cyber systems in addressing cyber security threats,[ REDACTED].

[REDACTED]

None