The Committee’s 2024 activities
Annual Report 2023
2. In 2024, NSICOP welcomed two new members from the House of Commons. On April 22, the Prime Minister announced the appointment of Mr. Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, and on July 26, the appointment of Ms. Brenda Shanahan, Member of Parliament for Châteauguay—Lacolle, who previously served on the Committee.
3. The Committee met 40 times in 2024. That work resulted in the completion of a special report, the launch of a new review, and the continuation of a review launched in 2022.
4. On June 3, a revised version of the Committee’s Special Report on Foreign Interference in Canada’s Democratic Processes and Institutions was tabled in both Houses of Parliament. The report was submitted to the Prime Minister on March 22 and is summarized below. Its findings and recommendations are presented in Annex A.
5. Throughout 2024, the Committee continued work on review related to the its lawful access to communications by security and intelligence organizations. This review examines the legislative, regulatory, policy and financial framework for the lawful interception of communications for security and intelligence activities, the challenges resulting from the impact of rapidly changing and emerging technology, including the use of end-to-end encryption, and the limitations of the current framework faced with these challenges. NSICOP is also examining potential risks to the privacy rights of Canadians associated with modernizing authorities in this area.
6. On October 10, the Committee announced a review of the role of the National Security and Intelligence Advisor (NSIA) to the Prime Minister. The NSIA is one of the most senior officials in the government and a key advisor to the Prime Minister on security and intelligence. While the role was created more than twenty years ago, its authorities and governance framework have not been the subject of a dedicated external review.
Review of Act after five years
7. According to section 34 of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act,
Five years after the day on which this Act comes into force, a comprehensive review of the provisions and operation of the Act is to be undertaken by the committee of the Senate, of the House of Commons or of both Houses of Parliament that is designated or established by the Senate or the House of Commons, or by both Houses of Parliament, as the case may be, for that purpose.
8. A comprehensive review as outlined in the NSICOP Act would allow the Committee and others to make specific recommendations about reforming and modernizing the NSICOP Act. First, amendments to the NSICOP Act could improve the Committee’s access to information and its ability to exchange information with other review bodies. Since its inception in 2017, and as mentioned consistently in previous reports, the Committee has faced challenges in obtaining information. Second, reforms could enhance the independence and efficiency of the Committee. It is important to the Committee that the government initiate the statutory review of the Act, now nearly 3 years overdue.