Following the recent terrorist attack in London, COMPAS asked business leaders to reflect on terrorism in Canada and the security measures that corporations are taking to protect themselves and their employees in the event of a crisis.

Few Canadian companies have a plan or have discussed having a plan as a protection in the event of a terrorist attack. Indeed the proportion contemplating security measures in the event of a crisis may even be lower than four years ago.
The COMPAS/Financial Post panel of business leaders remains convinced that the probability of an attack in Canada is still comparatively low, decidedly lower than for the U.K. or U.S. Furthermore, the estimated probability of a terrorist attack in the United States is higher than at any other point since we began to measure it after 9/11.

The Canada-U.S. border situation seems to be ameliorating, and Canadian CEOs and business leaders assign Ottawa a bare passing grade for its handling of the issue. On the other hand, the panel continues to assign a failing grade to the Federal Government’s performance in the war against terrorism. Panellists believe Canada should adopt U.S. border practices and procedures.

To the extent that respondents agree that Canada may face an Islamist terrorist threat, weak border controls and security nevertheless are seen as the greatest source of vulnerability. Canada’s support for the U.S. and Britain in foreign affairs is not considered a factor by the overwhelming majority.

These are the key findings from the current web-survey of CEOs and other business leaders conducted by COMPAS on behalf of the National Post under sponsorship of BDO Dunwoody and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

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