Performance Context: Risks and Challenges

The very real threat of international terrorism and escalating political tension in the Middle East continued to focus public concern on matters of national security and public safety. The challenge remained to present a measured response to these concerns while ensuring the continued flow of goods and people across our borders.

Our focus in 2002-2003 was largely strategic, as contracts were put in place to secure new equipment and agreements were signed to formalize partnerships and processes in order to minimize risk and isolate threats. We worked toward building a stronger, safer, and smarter border pursuant to commitments laid out in the Smart Border Declaration by rolling out a number of key initiatives. However, cost increases have forced us to tighten our belt in other areas in order to deliver on this aggressive change agenda.

As our business continues to evolve against a backdrop of global unrest and uncertainty, we have taken steps to ensure that the front line is properly trained and equipped and feels secure and safe in carrying out its often weighty responsibilities. Communication and training continued to be a priority to ensure that our front line kept pace with the evolution of our business, where technology and intelligence are playing an ever more prominent role in ensuring a strong, secure border that promotes and facilitates trade and travel. Building a stronger partnership with our employees is key to this, and our future challenge is to ensure that commitments made in the last quarter of 2002-2003 related to health and safety concerns, classification issues, training, and uniforms are realized in the coming fiscal year in spite of the tremendous pressure that these will have on our funding base.

Date modified:

2003-10-29