National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ Special Report on the National Security and Intelligence Activities of Global Affairs Canada Tabled in Parliament
November 04, 2022
Ottawa, November 04, 2022 — The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ (NSICOP) Special Report on the National Security and Intelligence Activities of Global Affairs Canada (GAC, or the Department) was tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2022.
The report provides an overview of the nature and scope of the Department’s national security and intelligence activities. It examines the authorities under which the Department conducts those activities and how it governs them to support the accountability of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It also describes the structures the Department has in place to try to ensure that the activities and policies of other organizations with security and intelligence responsibilities align with Canada’s foreign policy objectives. Finally, the report highlights areas where the Department plays a leadership role in the government, including two recent case studies of terrorist hostage takings abroad.
The unanimous report includes five findings and four recommendations. The government agreed with all of NSICOP’s recommendations.
The Honourable David McGuinty, Chair of NSICOP, stated that: “This is the first external independent review of Global Affairs Canada’s national security and intelligence activities. The Committee believes that its recommendations will strengthen the Department’s role in the national security and intelligence community, enhance consultations with the Department of National Defence, and improve ministerial accountability. The Committee also hopes that its recommendations lead to the development of a whole of government approach to better respond to terrorist hostage takings abroad.”
The classified version of the report was delivered to the Prime Minister on June 27, 2022.
The report is available on the NSICOP website at https://www.nsicop-cpsnr.ca/reports/rp-2022-11-04/intro-en.html.
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.
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