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A senior Canadian official says the country is ready to take on a “massive” challenge, in an effort to prevent similar problems in the future, and to work with developing nations to strengthen global maritime security.
Gulf Oil Minister Tlokweng Tshisekedi, who is in Washington, D.C., where the International Maritime Organization is meeting with shipping industry and security experts, on April 29. (SARAH PONTON/The Canadian Press)
SARAH PONTON
A senior Canadian official says the country is ready to take on a “massive” challenge, in an effort to prevent similar problems in the future, and to work with developing nations to strengthen global maritime security.
At the World Humanitarian Summit in March, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Canada is working on a plan to boost the defence of the West African seaports and the safety of the energy arteries that provide the raw materials for food, medicine and energy.
“Canada and our allies have the ability and the will to take on that challenge,” said Tlokweng Tshisekedi, who is in Washington, D.C., where the International Maritime Organization is meeting with shipping industry and security experts, on April 29.
“You can’t do it alone,” he added.
The prime minister said he met with senior ministers of oil and gas to discuss the challenges of the Gulf of Mexico after the BP oil spill this summer.
Canada and the United States are both looking to take on a “massive challenge” of providing safe and secure energy for the world, to ensure that the Gulf and its energy arteries are adequately guarded, Harper said.
“We are working together now to prevent a similar disaster in the future,” he said at a news conference following the summit with U.S. President Barack Obama.
The Canadian and U.S. militaries are already working to improve security on both sides of the Atlantic, Harper said.
“We are getting this done together,” he said, “and I’m very proud to be here and for Canada to be a part of this effort.”
“We will not allow another BP for our country,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Harper, whose government last fall put forward $300 million for coastal protection, said Canada is also helping to improve security to help protect the