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On Friday, the Canadian government announced a plan to spend $226.4 million during the next two years to improve transportation security. The appropriation includes $141.5 million to improve passenger and cargo screening at airports, and $84.5 million to bolster rail and port security.

The rail industry will receive funds to develop security assessments, best practices and guidelines; enhance information sharing networks; improve incident tracking and trend analysis; research and develop passenger-rail security technologies; and coordinate international and intergovernmental security efforts.

The government also will appropriate funds to establish a passenger rail and urban transit security contribution program, which will provide financial assistance to commuter rail and transit operators in major metropolitan areas to accelerate the implementation of security measures.

In addition, the government will provide funds to urban transit agencies to improve emergency response programs and develop contingency plans, such as by conducting inter-jurisdictional emergency response exercises involving agencies, first responders and law enforcement officers.

“We need to better ensure that Canada does more to prevent terrorism at home,” said Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a prepared statement.