Annex B: List of Recommendations
National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Annual Report 2019
Chapter 1: Diversity and Inclusion in the Security and Intelligence Community
R1.
The Committee conduct a retrospective review in three to five years to assess the security and intelligence community's progress in achieving and implementing its diversity goals and inclusion initiatives, and to examine more closely the question of inclusion, including issues of harassment, violence and discrimination, through closer engagement with employees.
R2.
The security and intelligence community adopt a consistent and transparent approach to planning and monitoring of employment equity and diversity goals, and conduct regular reviews of their employment policies and practices (that is, employment systems reviews) to identify possible employment barriers for women, Aboriginal peoples, members of visible minorities and persons with disabilities.
R3.
The security and intelligence community improve the robustness of its data collection and analysis, including GBA+ assessments of internal staffing and promotion policies and clustering analyses of the workforce. In this light, the Committee also highlights the future obligation for organizations to investigate, record and report on all occurrences of harassment and violence in the workplace.
R4.
The security and intelligence community develop a common performance measurement framework, and strengthen accountability for diversity and inclusion through meaningful and measurable performance indicators for executives and managers across all organizations.
Chapter 2: The Government Response to Foreign Interference
R5.
The Government of Canada develop a comprehensive strategy to counter foreign interference and build institutional and public resiliency. Drawing from the Committee's review and findings, such a strategy should:
- identify the short- and long-term risks and harms to Canadian institutions and rights and freedoms posed by the threat of foreign interference;
- examine and address the full range of institutional vulnerabilities targeted by hostile foreign states, including areas expressly omitted in the Committee's review;
- assess the adequacy of existing legislation that deals with foreign interference, such as the Security of Information Act or the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, and make proposals for changes if required;
- develop practical, whole-of-government operational and policy mechanisms to identify and respond to the activities of hostile states;
- establish regular mechanisms to work with sub-national levels of government and law enforcement organizations, including to provide necessary security clearances;
- include an approach for ministers and senior officials to engage with fundamental institutions and the public; and
- guide cooperation with allies on foreign interference.
R6.
The Government of Canada support this comprehensive strategy through sustained central leadership and coordination. As an example of a centralized coordinating entity to address foreign interference, the Committee refers to the appointment and mandate of the Australian National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator.
The Committee reiterates its recommendation from its Special report into the allegations associated with Prime Minister Trudeau's official visit to India in February 2018:
In the interest of national security, members of the House of Commons and Senate should be briefed upon being sworn-in and regularly thereafter on the risks of foreign interference and extremism in Canada. In addition, Cabinet Ministers should be reminded of the expectations described in the Government's Open and Accountable Government, including that Ministers exercise discretion with whom they meet or associate, and clearly distinguish between official and private media messaging, and be reminded that, consistent with the Conflict of Interest Act, public office holders must always place the public interest before private interests.
Chapter 3: The Canada Border Services Agency's National Security and Intelligence Activities
R7.
The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness provide written direction to the Canada Border Services Agency on the conduct of sensitive national security and intelligence activities. That direction should include clear accountability expectations and annual reporting obligations.
R8.
The Canada Border Services Agency establish a consistent process for assessing and reporting on the risks and outcomes of its sensitive national security and intelligence activities.