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Name of Horizontal Initiative:

2010 G8/ G20 Summits

Start Date:

April 1, 2009

End Date:

March 31, 2011

Total Departmental Funding Allocation (from start date to end date):

$6.3M (includes both EBP and accommodation costs)

Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): 

Under customary International Law, the Government of Canada has the legal obligation to ensure the security, protection and inviolability of the Internationally Protected Persons (IPPs) participating in international major events taking place in Canada.  This directly leads to a legal obligation to ensure their health protection. Within Health Canada, the IPP Program of the Emergency Health Planning, Preparedness and Response (EHPPR) has this responsibility and it is done through the development and implementation of health plans which include emergency health services and a comprehensive food surveillance program. The work of the IPP Program is implemented in close collaboration and consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and the RCMP.

Under section 4(2)(f) of the Department of Health Act, and the Public Safety and Anti-Terrorism II TB Submission, Health Canada through its Physical Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (HC-PEPR) is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of federal government employees who must meet the challenges of hazards, such as a terrorist attack or disease outbreak and continue to provide essential services.  PEPR provided advice and guidance to federal clients, as well as monitoring and analytical services, risk assessments, information and advisories, control measures and decontamination strategies for chemical, biological, radiological and/or nuclear (CBRN) agents. PEPR supplemented the resources of on-site emergency responders, and worked under their incident command structure.

Existing Public Security and Anti-Terrorism (PSAT) II funding provides for the availability, on a national scale, of a trained Psycho-Social Emergency Response Team (PSERT).  PSAT II funding allows for some training, however, in the event of a situation resulting in a team deployment, either in part or in whole, the costs of these services must be met through incremental resources.  For this reason, funding was sought to allow for a contingent of the PSERT for the G8/G20 events.

Governance Structure(s):

Shortly after the announcement of the 2010 G-8 Summit, DFAIT established the Summits Management Office (SMO) to manage the planning, hosting and reporting on the Summit.  Later on, the work of the SMO expanded to include the G-20 Summit. Health Canada's IPP Program was invited by the SMO to join the Summits Management Committee (SMC) in which all key partners, including the RCMP, PWGSC, and DND, were represented and where all major decisions regarding the planning of both Summits were discussed and made.  Representatives in the SMC were expected to liaise with senior management in their respective home department.

Similarly, PCO organized a series of meetings to ensure G-8 Summit security.  Later on, PCO's work expanded to include the G-20 Summit. Health Canada's PEPR unit was invited by PCO to join these meetings and formed essential linkages with key partners, including the Ontario Fire Marshal and City of Toronto Fire Hazmat, whom PEPR supported in the field and reported up through during the G8 and G20, respectively. 

The services of Health Canada's Psycho Social Emergency Preparedness and Response Team (PSERT) were included in the Security plans for the G8 and G20 events, as coordinated by DFAIT.  Under mandate, Health Canada responds to the psycho social needs of all federal employees, including RCMP and DND when requested.

Department Program Activity	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	2010-11 ($ millions)
		Planned Spending	Actual Spending	Expected Results	Results Achieved
PA 3.3	$6.3M (includes EBP and accommodation costs)	$5.6M	$5.1M (includes EBP and accommodation costs)	Health Canada was expected to meet both the urgent and non-urgent health care needs of the IPPs and requests of partner agencies; dedicate on-site services; assist in the coordination of medical services with other federal partners in an emergency or evacuation situation; resolve as quickly as possible any CBRNE / Hazardous Material incidents which could impact on the summits or surrounding communities and thus result in security concerns; ensure an onsite PSERT presence and that an additional PSERT member was on standby to function as the team wellness coordinator; provide for a  pre-event training for the PSERT in Safety/Function/Action; and involve the members to be deployed in exercise Trillium Guardian HC will provide scientific and technical assets to support the national team in security surveillance and response to CBRN threats during the G8/G20.  HC will conduct radiation surveillance monitoring as part of their activities in support of IPPs.	Health Canada met both the urgent and non-urgent health care needs of the IPPs. This involved treating 164 patients at the on-site clinics.  Also, additional burden to the local and provincial health care systems was avoided by limiting access to only 5 patients for further diagnosis or treatment. During the summits, Health Canada responded with partners to 3 incidents, which facilitated a more timely resolution to these situations. We also carried out training for partners to improve interoperability and response effectiveness. Health Canada also had two PSERT members in both Huntsville and Toronto during the events.  In addition, one member was activated throughout the events to coordinate the wellness of the deployed PSERT members. A one - day training was provided in Safety/Function/Action in May of 2010 for all PSERT members and the same three PSERT members were involved in exercise Trillium Guardian as part of preparations for the G8/G20 events. Health Canada deployed staff that were trained and equipped, placed surge detection equipment, and pre-positioning of scientific and technical resources near events including mobile nuclear labs and emergency vehicles needed for event radiological security surveillance. They also enhanced local consequence management readiness support to federal, provincial and municipal security forces and first responders.

Comments on Variances:

Considering the high risk associated with hosting major international summits such as the G8 /G20, the Health Canada must forecast in the context of a "worst-case" scenario. The original budget estimates included, for example, evacuations of IPPs by air ambulances, which represented massive costs.  As a result of the efficient management of resources, effective collaboration with provincial and federal partners, savings achieved through economies of scale, the sound structuring of on-site services to reduce the number of resources required, and the absence of any major security incident involving IPPs, the IPP Program was able to reduce significantly its costs associated with the Summits. This explains the variance between the original amounts requested in the TB Submissions and the actual costs involved.

PEPR spending for the summits was essentially the same as the budgeted allocations. Spending was very close to the amounts requested; however savings were found by having two PSERT members work from the residence of one member [located proximate to the G20 event].  Moreover, as the G8 transitioned from Huntsville to the G20 in Toronto, members deployed to the Huntsville area transitioned at essentially the same time.  This avoided having an overlap of coverage that had been initially anticipated.

In the Radiation Security Surveillance and RN Emergency Readiness area, some salary was not used due to lower demand on staff (OT) than planned.  Lower operating costs than expected due to last minute changes in a number of different areas including but not limited to, accommodations, equipment movement and deployment,

Contact information:

Anthony Sangster
DG, Emergency Preparedness and Occupational Health Directorate
Regions and Programs Branch
Health Canada
Telephone:  613-957-7669

Beth Pieterson
DG, Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Health Canada
Telephone: 613-954-3859