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(CRTI News Release)
Ottawa, April 23, 2003 - Solicitor General Wayne Easter today announced the selection of 17 research and technology projects to receive a total of $28.8 million in funding. The announcement was made on behalf of the interdepartmental government initiative created to prepare for and respond to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats.
The CBRN Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI) is a five-year, $170 million fund to address CBRN threats as part of the Government's comprehensive $7.7 billion security package announced in Budget 2001. The first round of funding in September 2002 invested $46 million in 24 projects.
"CRTI has united experts in science and technology and national security with first responders, industry and academia. This initiative provides a truly comprehensive approach to combating CBRN threats and also enhances our ability to respond to all types of emergencies," said Solicitor General Wayne Easter.
Through CRTI, clusters of federal laboratories work together in a coordinated approach to CBRN emergencies. These federal labs partner with private-sector organizations and academic laboratories to increase federal science and technology capability to respond to CBRN threats.
"The current slate of projects further rounds out the investment priorities and results in a balanced research portfolio," said Dr. Cam Boulet, Director of the CRTI Secretariat at Defence R&D Canada. "The projects approved by the CRTI Steering Committee allow us to take the next step in fulfilling CRTI's mandate to strengthen Canada's ability to respond to CBRN threats."
Project priorities were established in consultation with first responders and the scientific community. There are two types of projects: Technology Acceleration, which focuses on technology already in the pipeline to speed its delivery to first responders; and Research and Technology Development, which involve innovative research aimed at closing capability gaps.
Longer-term Consequence Management Issues
Environment Canada, Health Canada, Defence R&D Canada, Science Application International Corp, NBC Team Inc., VLN Advanced Technologies Inc., Hytec, CSCHAH Office of Biosafety and Environment and the United States Environmental Protection Agency will establish procedures for the restoration of facilities and areas after a CBRN attack.
For more information on other CBRN Counter-Terrorism Research and Technology projects, visit CBRN Reasearch & Technology Initiative.
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