On Thursday, MP Cheryl Gallant convened a National Security and Emergency Preparedness Roundtable with mayors, fire chiefs, and Chief Administrative Officers from across Renfrew County. The focus was on preparing local municipalities for potential security threats in an increasingly dangerous world.
Attendees received a briefing from Joseph Varner, former Director of Policy to the Minister of National Defence and a former Adjunct Scholar at West Point’s Modern War Institute. “The threat level is the highest it’s been since the Cold War,” Varner stated, emphasizing the growing risks.
Municipal officials discussed their community preparedness efforts and explored ways to collaborate. They also urged the federal government to provide more public information on evolving security threats. MP Gallant highlighted the increasing cyberattacks from state-sponsored actors, particularly from China, which have targeted municipalities.
“Should a major conflict arise with Russia or China, knocking out power and communications will be a strategic priority for our enemies,” Gallant warned. She stressed the importance of low-cost, easily implemented preparedness measures, especially for smaller municipalities. Gallant encouraged Ottawa Valley residents to share their ideas on local emergency preparedness with their mayors and councils.
(Written by: Emma Butler)