The National Strategy for Critical Infrastructure (the National Strategy) sets out Canada’s approach to strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure. The National Strategy defines critical infrastructure as the processes, systems, facilities, technologies, networks, assets, and services essential to the health, safety, security or economic well-being of Canadians and the effective functioning of government. Canadians rely on critical infrastructure every day, from the infrastructure supporting transportation, to the food and water sectors. The National Strategy identifies three main objectives to strengthen critical infrastructure resilience: building partnerships, sharing and protecting information, and practicing an all-hazards risk approach. Since the publication of the National Strategy in 2010, three supporting action plans (2010-2013; 2014-2017; and 2018-2020) have been released to outline concrete steps towards advancing the objectives set out in the strategy.

Between 2018 and 2020, an examination of the National Strategy was also conducted to determine if there was a need to update Canada’s overall approach to critical infrastructure resilience. The examination’s findings led to a recommendation that was given to the Deputy Minister of Public Safety for the Department to enter a renewal process, that will now take place over the next three years (2021-2023).

To continue supporting the advancement of the National Strategy objectives until the release of this renewed national approach to critical infrastructure resilience, Public Safety Canada (PS) has created the National Cross Sector Forum 2021-2023 Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure (the Action Plan). The Action Plan reaffirms the Government of Canada’s commitments to work closely with critical infrastructure sector partners, provinces and territories towards a more secure and resilient Canada. The Action Plan builds upon progress made through past action plans, identifies new activities based on the changing threat environment, and will support a collaborative approach to enhance the security and resilience of Canada’s critical infrastructure. The Action Plan continues to support the three strategic objectives identified in the National Strategy for enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure in Canada:

• Building partnerships;
• Sharing and protecting information;
• Implementing an all-hazards risk management approach.