The Solicitor General of Canada or his or her designate is the lead spokesperson for terrorist incidents. The police on-site spokesperson is the lead spokesperson on operational issues. On-site media relations are the responsibility of the police Public Information Team. Strategic or policy related communications are the responsibility of the National Policy Centre acting on the advice of the Public Communications Committee. Strategic and tactical communications are interdependent and must be coordinated.
Public communications is crucial to effective counter-terrorism management.
The last observation I would like to make today is strictly personal. It applies to any of you who, like myself, may at some future date may be called upon to act as a spokesperson in a terrorist incident. I would suggest that the public communications component of the National Counter-Terrorism Plan is also designed so that no future spokesperson ever has to take advantage of that particular opportunity. Thank you for your time and attention this morning.