National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians presents its 2021 Annual Report to the Prime Minister
May 18, 2022

Ottawa, May 18, 2022 — The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) today provided its 2021 Annual Report to the Prime Minister. A declassified version of this report must be tabled in Parliament within 30 sitting days.

The Annual Report presents a summary of the Special Report on the Government of Canada’s Framework and Activities to Defend its Systems and Networks from Cyber Attack, a special review completed by the Committee in 2021. The Annual Report also contains information on the Committee’s work over the past year.

The Chair of NSICOP, the Honourable David McGuinty, stated, “Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee continued its important work on behalf of all Canadians. Notably, the Special Report on the government’s cyber defences was an important milestone in ensuring the accountability of Canada’s security and intelligence community, including for the first time the government’s response to the Committee’s recommendations.”

The Committee continues to focus on two reviews – the national security and intelligence activities of Global Affairs Canada, which will be concluded in 2022, and the federal policing activities of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, for which relevant briefings and appearances will be held in the spring and fall of 2022.

Mr. McGuinty extends his sincere appreciation to his NSICOP colleagues and to the Secretariat for their dedication to this work and their flexibility in these challenging times.

Background:

NSICOP was established under the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act on June 22, 2017. It may review:

  • the legislative, regulatory, policy, administrative and financial framework for national security and intelligence;
  • any activity carried out by a department that relates to national security or intelligence, unless the activity is an ongoing operation and the appropriate Minister determines that the review would be injurious to national security; and,
  • any matter relating to national security or intelligence that a minister of the Crown refers to the Committee.

NSICOP members hold the highest level of security clearance, are bound by the Security of Information Act and meet in private.

Pursuant to the NSICOP Act, the Prime Minister will now consider whether there is any information in the report, the disclosure of which would be injurious to national security, national defence or international relations, or which includes solicitor-client information. A declassified version of the Report must be tabled in Parliament within 30 sitting days.

Members of the 2021 NSICOP:

  • The Hon. David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., Chair
  • Leona Alleslev, M.P.
  • Stéphane Bergeron, M.P.
  • Don Davies, M.P.
  • The Hon. Dennis Dawson, Senator
  • Ted Falk, M.P. (resigned June 15, 2021)
  • Peter Fragiskatos, M.P.
  • Iqra Khalid, M.P.
  • The Hon. Frances Lankin, P.C., C.M., Senator
  • Rob Morrison, M.P.
  • Glen Motz, M.O.M., M.P. (resigned June 15, 2021)
  • Jennifer O’Connell, M.P. (resigned March 19, 2021)
  • Brenda Shanahan, M.P.
  • The Hon. Vernon White, Senator

Contact:

Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians
media@nsicop-cpsnr.gc.ca
Website: https://www.nsicop-cpsnr.ca/index-en.html
Twitter: @NSICOPCanada