National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Annual Report 2018

(Revised version pursuant to subsection 21(5) of the NSICOP Act)

Submitted to the Prime Minister on December 21, 2018 pursuant to subsection 21(2) of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada (2019)
All rights reserved.
Ottawa, ON

National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians
Annual Report 2018 (Revised version pursuant to subsection 21(5) of the NSICOP Act)
CP100 (Print)
CP100E-PDF (Online) ISSN 2562-5101 (Print)
ISSN 2562-511X (Online)

Annual Report 2018
The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians
The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P. Chair
April 2019

Revisions

Consistent with sub-section 21(1) of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act (NSICOP Act), the Committee must submit an annual report to the Prime Minister. Consistent with subsection 21(5) of the Act, the Prime Minister may, after consulting the Chair of the Committee, direct the Committee to submit to him or her a revised version of the annual report that does not contain information the Prime Minister believes the disclosure of which would be injurious to national security, national defence or international relations or is information that is protected by solicitor-client privilege.

This document is a revised version of the report provided to the Prime Minister on 21 December 2018. Revisions were made to remove information the disclosure of which the Prime Minister believes would be injurious to national defence, national security or international relations, or which constitutes solicitor-client privilege. Where information could simply be removed without affecting the readability of the document, the Committee noted the removal with three asterisks (***) in the text of this document. Where information could not simply be removed without affecting the readability of the document, the Committee revised the document to summarize the information that was removed. Those sections are marked with three asterisks at the beginning and the end of the summary, and the summary is enclosed by square brackets (see example below).

Example: [*** Revised sections are marked with three asterisks at the beginning and the end of the sentence, and the summary is enclosed by square brackets. ***]

Dedication

Gordon Brown

Image credit: © House of Commons Collection, Ottawa

The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians dedicates its first Annual Report to the memory of Gordon Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. He was a good colleague and a dear friend. His commitment to public service continues to inspire us.

Chair's message

Ottawa, ON — December 21, 2018

photo of David J. McGuinty

It is my honour to submit the first Annual Report of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians.

The Annual Report marks the first time that Canada has had a committee of Parliamentarians cleared to examine issues of national security and intelligence. This Committee takes that responsibility very seriously. In our first year, we have conducted 54 meetings totaling 220 hours as part of our commitment to understanding the roles and responsibilities of Canada's security and intelligence organizations and the issues that affect them.

I am proud of the dedication and engagement of the members - from all parties and from both the House of Commons and Senate - who have shown great commitment and collegiality. Our work has demonstrated that there are issues which are beyond partisanship - accountability, the security of Canada, and the protection of our democratic rights and freedoms.

In the coming year, the Committee intends to maintain an ambitious pace. We will continue to meet with departments and agencies, with our allied counterparts, with academics and experts, and with civil rights groups to ensure that our work continues to be relevant and well-informed. As we review national security and intelligence activities and organizations, we hope that our findings and recommendations strengthen the accountability and effectiveness of Canada's security and intelligence community.

Finally, I encourage Canadians to read our report and the many excellent documents produced by the departments and agencies responsible for the security of Canada. While Parliamentarians, review bodies and government officials work on behalf of all Canadians, there is no substitute for a citizenry that is well-informed of the risks facing Canada and the measures in place to address them. I hope that the work of this Committee contributes to better informing debate on issues that are of fundamental importance to Canadians.

The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P.
Chair
National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians

The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians

  • The Hon. David McGuinty, P.C., M.P. Chair
  • Mr. Gordon Brown, M.P. (Deceased May 2nd, 2018)
  • The Hon. Tony Clement, P.C., M.P. (Resigned November 7th, 2018)
  • The Hon. Percy Downe, Senator
  • Mr. Emmanuel Dubourg, M.P.
  • The Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C. M.P.
  • Ms. Gudie Hutchings, M.P.
  • The Hon. Frances Lankin, P.C., C.M., Senator
  • Mr. Murray Rankin, M.P.
  • Ms. Brenda Shanahan, M.P.
  • The Hon. Vernon White, Senator

April 8, 2019

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister:

On behalf of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, it is my pleasure to present you with its Annual Report for 2018. The report includes the two substantive reviews completed by the Committee in its first year of activity, notably on the Government of Canada's process to establish its intelligence priorities, and the intelligence activities of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. The Committee makes eleven findings and seven recommendations.

Consistent with subsection 21(5) of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act, the report was revised to remove content deemed injurious to national security, international relations, national defence, and information subject to solicitor-client privilege.

Yours sincerely,

David McGuinty (signature)

The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P.
Chair
National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians

P.O. Box 8015, Station “T” / C.P. 8015, Succursale « T » Ottawa ON K1G 5A6

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