OTTAWA, March 31, 2017 /CNW/ - Members of diverse Canadian communities gathered in Ottawa on March 25 and 26, as the Government of Canada renewed its Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security (CCRS). The CCRS brings together cultural leaders who have extensive experience in social and cultural matters, to engage in long-term dialogue on national security-related topics.
The CCRS will meet regularly to discuss matters related to national security and public safety as they impact Canada's diverse and pluralistic society. This will enable members to share their views on how policies and programs affect their communities. The CCRS will also provide members with the information they need to provide strategic advice to the Ministers of Public Safety and Justice on approaches to keep Canadians safe and secure.
Participants at the Roundtable included:
- Dr. Amarnath Amarasingam, Markham, ON
- Chazzan Daniel Benlolo of Ottawa, ON
- Dr. Gira Bhatt of Surrey, BC
- Mr. Kamran Bhatti of Hamilton, ON
- Ms. Lina Chaker of Windsor, ON
- Ms. Savelia Curniski of Saskatoon, SK
- Ms. Ubah Farah of Toronto, ON
- Ms. Bridget Foster of Fredericton, NB
- Mr. Soon Kim of Vancouver, BC
- Ms. Georgina Nagano of Whitehorse, YK
- Mr. Mohamed Soulami of Sherbrooke, QC
- Dr. Régine Uwibereyeho King of Winnipeg, MB
- Ms. Marjorie Villefranche of Montreal, QC
Quotes
"The CCRS is a mechanism to ensure our national security policies and programs are informed by and reinforce Canada's tremendous diversity. It helps communities become more resilient, and ensures that our programs and policies will be effective in keeping Canadians safe while safeguarding our rights and freedoms and the open, inclusive, generous character of our country."
– Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
"Ensuring the safety and security of Canadians and protecting their rights and freedoms are foundational priorities of our Government. Fora like the CCRS are crucial to informing this work as they foster the sharing of a diversity of views about the impacts of national security matters on communities across the country."
– Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
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For more information, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.
SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
Scott Bardsley, Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, 613-998-5681; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657
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