NEW PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY LEGISLATION INTRODUCED

Corrections and Public Safety Minister Andrew Thomson today introduced The Miscellaneous Statutes (Security Management) Amendment Act, 2003 that will expand the province's existing powers to respond effectively to any threats to public safety and security, including terrorism.

"This legislation reflects our top priority of keeping Saskatchewan individuals and communities safe by building on existing provincial powers and infrastructure to take into account potential terrorist threats," Thomson said.

The omnibus bills contain amendments to a total of 18 different acts that deal with a range of topics, including safety, health, fraud, dangerous goods and the environment. Two separate bills are being introduced because the amendments include changes to two acts of a bilingual nature.

"The legislation provides for penalties up to a maximum of $50,000 to prevent identity fraud and to protect provincial identity documents from being used to further terrorist objectives," Thomson said.

In most cases, the amendments expand the scope of existing provincial powers and use existing departments, personnel and protocols to deal with any new kind of threat. For example, amendments to The Public Health Act expand the current authority of medical health officers to deal with communicable diseases and biohazards. The amendments would also assist health officials in dealing with situations like the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

The proposed legislation is intended to complement the federal Anti-terrorism Act that was passed in 2001 and the Public Safety Act that is now before Parliament.

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For More Information, Contact:

Bill Derby Corrections and Public Safety Regina Phone: (306)787-5883 Email: bderby@cps.gov.sk.ca