Canada anti-terror plans 'flawed'

Canada has spent billions of dollars on extra security

A report has warned of serious flaws in Canadian security measures introduced since the 9/11 attacks on the US.

Auditor-general Sheila Fraser said agencies were not liaising effectively, and there were weaknesses at airports and border crossings.

She found border control officers did not have information about the many passports stolen in Canada each year.

The report will cause concern in the US where officials are sceptical about Canada's efforts to tackle terrorism.

"These are basic things that should be working more effectively than they are now," Ms Fraser told a news conference.

"I would hope that this report will lead to corrective action."

'Disarray'

After the 9/11 attacks, Canada allocated $7.7bn over five years to bolster the fight against global terrorism, prevent extremists from taking haven in Canada and ensure their prosecution.

In the recent federal budget, the government earmarked $605m more for security at ports, better threat assessment, intelligence initiatives and fingerprint analysis.

But Ms Fraser found that departments and agencies were still unable to share some security information and not all of their systems communicated with each other.

Information about the 25,000 Canadian passports lost or stolen each year is not available to front-line officers, even though these passports could be used by terrorists or other criminals, the report said.

Watch lists used to screen visa applicants, refugee claimants and travellers seeking to enter Canada are "in disarray" because of inaccuracies and shoddy updating, the report found.

Prime Minister Paul Martin, who took over in December, defended the government's security efforts.

He told the House of Commons that one of his first acts was to consolidate national security issues under the new post of minister of public security.