Editor’s Corner article | FrontLine Magazine

Does the word “cooperation” surface in your work as often as it does in FrontLine articles? How about teamwork, interoperability, integration, or sharing? Of course they do, that is, if your organization is effectively adapting (and there’s another word) to the world in which we live today. Our top leaders are becoming very comfortable with these words. In the past, these terms were considered dangerous and risky in relation to leadership, however, to combat the myriad of threats we are faced with in this complex world, our leaders have come to embrace and utilize those sharing and strengthening values by which we can band together in a common quest for peace, safety and security.

The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC), has a mandate to bring a great many groups together to prepare for the inevitable natural and man-made disasters that are waiting around the corner. In an exclusive interview, she gives FrontLine readers insight into her view that achieving full cooperation with the gathering, analysis and application of intelligence is one of her most critical priorities.

Australia’s military is preparing for the challenges of 2020 by creating an integrated force from various Government agencies. In addition, as Special Operations Commander Major-General Michael Hindmarsh reports, there is both a need and a duty for our leaders to provide the best training and equipment to prepare soldiers for the non-conventional threat presented by global terrorism.

Security is becoming an international obsession due to the seemingly never-ending string of disasters, both natural and man-made. Retired Major-General Clive Addy, in a special Guest Editorial, explains how teamwork has become synonymous with successful security planning.

Teamwork, cooperation, partnering. Jacques J.M. Shore, a Partner with Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, examines these concepts from a legal perspective of responsibility and obligation.

Speaking of responsibility, explosives expert, Phil O’Garr is understandably concerned by the lack of proper and standardized controls, screening, and licensing for those selling, transporting and purchasing high explosives.

We look at police work from many perspectives in this issue. RCMP Inspector Paul Richards visits the hills of Afghanistan to examine the threat posed by the drug trade in that country. Capt Mark Giles, of the CF National Investigation Service, explains the role, resources and jurisdiction of the CF Military Police. And FrontLine’s Western Correspondent, Fran Yanor, in her research into Police Task Forces, spent some time with KARE investigators so she can bring us up to date on how they are applying lessons of cooperation from past cases to increase success factors for current investigations.

Security concerns those protecting our coastal approaches. Joe Varner reminds us that we need to prepare to mitigate a possible attack on our Ports. And Karen Shewbridge of DRDC, updates us on the most recent international exercises and sensor technologies being tested by the Canadian Forces.

Many have considered that UAVs will be of great value, from a security point of view. Ken Pole returns to our pages to present an update on how this is being handled by the CF.

Mark Duncan, Chief Operating Officer at the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, tells us what CATSA is doing to increase security from that perspective.

And the last word goes to Richard Cohen, who has become very involved with national security issues for the Conference Board of Canada. Richard discusses the growing business opportunities for National Security and Public Safety Technology.