Harper Government Engages Canadians Through Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jun 10, 2013) - Today, the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, and Robert Goguen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice, released the following statement at the conclusion of the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security:

"Our government is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our streets and communities," said Minister Toews. "Recent terror-related events remind us that, in addition to the important work of law enforcement and intelligence officials, we need the cooperation of communities across Canada to remain alert to any threats."

"We value the role the Roundtable plays in advising our government on the impact of national security matters on Canada's diverse communities," said Mr. Goguen, who attended the meeting on behalf of Minster Toews and the Minister of Justice, Rob Nicholson. "I am also happy to welcome new members to the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security, who will no doubt be a tremendous asset and will enrich this ongoing and important dialogue that gives a voice to our communities - Canada's greatest source of resilience."

The Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security (CCRS) provides a forum for members from a number of Canada's cultural communities to meet with officials from Canadian government departments and agencies in order to discuss policy and program issues related to national security. The CCRS also helps build understanding between Government and communities, and to identify any issues of shared concern. Together, the CCRS and the Government are building valuable relationships founded on trust and respect.

New members of the CCRS are Dr. Maurice Chalom from Montréal, Québec; Mr. Vahan Kololian from Toronto, Ontario; and Ms. Gbonga Loro from Edmonton, Alberta.

For more information about the Cross-Cultural Roundtable or to view biographies of new members, go to http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/ns/ccrs/index-eng.aspx.

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