ARCHIVED: 2006–2007 Public Report

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ARCHIVED: 2006-2007 Annual Report (PDF Version 1, 104 KB)

Table of Contents

• CSIS at a glance
• Looking back at 2006-2007 - A message from the Director
• CSIS Operations - Results for 2006-2007
  • Table 1: CSIS Government Screening
  • Table 2: CSIS Site Access Screening Programs
  • Table 3: Immigration Screening
  • Table 4: Requests for Release of Information
• Inside CSIS
  • Agenda of Internal Change
  • Our People
  • Table 5: Focus on CSIS Workforce, 2006-2007
  • Figure 1: CSIS Workforce
  • Recruitment and Training
  • The Regions
  • Financial Resources
  • Figure 2: CSIS Budget
  • Management Accountability
• Public Communications
  • Table 6: CSIS Web Site
• Annexes
  • A: Glossary of Terms
  • B: Accountability and Review
  • C: CSIS Organization
  • D: Frequently Asked Questions
  • E: Contact Us

CSIS at a glance

Our Main Objective

To assist in protecting Canada and its citizens by investigating threats, analyzing information and producing intelligence; reporting to and advising the Government of Canada.

Our Legislation

Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act (CSIS Act)

Other legislation related to security intelligence, including:

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• Anti-terrorism Act
• Security of Information Act
• Public Safety Act, 2002

Our Principal Activities

• Collecting and analyzing information and security intelligence—whether inside or outside Canada-related to our country’s national security.
• Collecting foreign intelligence—i.e., political and economic intelligence related to other countries in accordance with the CSIS Act.
• Providing security assessments to federal and provincial government departments and agencies as well as some federally regulated industries.
• Providing advice related to immigration and citizenship applications.

Principal Products

• Intelligence advice
• Threat assessments
• Security screening assessments

Our Partners

Domestic:

• Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
• Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA)
• Canadian Forces (CF)
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
• Communications Security Establishment (CSE)
• Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
• Department of Justice (DoJ)
• Department of National Defence (DND)
• Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)
• Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSETS)
• Integrated Threat Assessment Centre (ITAC)
• Privy Council Office (PCO)
• Public Safety Canada (PS)
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
• Transport Canada (TC)
• Provincial and municipal police forces

International:

• 271 foreign agencies in 147 countries, as of March 31, 2007

Looking back at 2006-2007—A message from the Director

Threats to Canadians at home and abroad

Canada and Canadians remained at threat from a large range of sources in 2006-07. For example:

• Suicide bombers, roadside bombs or other improvised explosive devices killed 16 Canadian troops in Afghanistan between April 2006 and March 2007 (excludes accidental deaths or those in combat).
• Several individuals—all of them either Canadian citizens or residents - were arrested in Toronto in June 2006 on terrorism charges, including plotting attacks with explosives on Canadian targets.
• Almost 15,000 Canadians were evacuated from Lebanon after violence erupted in July 2006.
• In August 2006, British authorities discovered and foiled a bomb plot targeting multiple planes bound for North America from Heathrow Airport.

The threat of terrorism from extremists posed the most immediate danger to Canada and Canadians in 2006-07. Other persistent concerns were espionage, efforts by foreign interests to interfere in Canadian affairs, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and some domestic threats to security.

Several Canadians were awaiting trial in Canada on terrorism-related charges—one in connection with a bombing conspiracy in the United Kingdom and others in connection with the plotting of acts in Canada. Three individuals continued to be detained on security certificates. On February 23, 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the existing security certificate regime was unconstitutional, but allowed the Government one year to change the law to ensure compliance with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

CSIS’ Role

In 2006-07 the focus of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) remained preventing harm to Canadians and Canadian interests from threats to national security, particularly the threat of terrorism inspired by the ideology of al-Qaeda.

CSIS played a critical role in the investigation leading to the arrest of individuals in Toronto in June 2006 relating to a terrorist plot. I am proud of this contribution. CSIS clearly demonstrated that it is actively engaged in keeping residents of Canada safe and that it is working closely with its domestic partners, particularly the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

CSIS continued to grow and increase its capabilities in 2006-07. Even with additional resources and capacity, there is no guarantee that intelligence will always be available to forestall those who would do us harm. Like all open and democratic societies, Canada is vulnerable to terrorism.

CSIS’ Strategies

In 2006-07 CSIS continued working with other Canadian agencies and international partners to maximize its effectiveness in protecting Canadians from security threats.

CSIS continued to provide advice to other Government of Canada agencies:

• It produced 208 threat assessments for Canadian interests in Canada and abroad.
• In addition, the Government of Canada’s Integrated Threat Assessment Centre (ITAC), housed at CSIS, issued 83 threat assessments and redistributed 1,150 others that were produced by ITAC’s allied intelligence agency counterparts.
• It prepared 35 intelligence briefs and 15 studies¹ to be shared with other government departments and agencies.
• It conducted investigations and provided advice on a total of 92,300 refugee claims and immigration applications, as well as 227,000 citizenship applications.
• CSIS issued 525 information briefs and 127 inadmissibility briefs.
• It vetted 114,000 visitor visa applications from foreign nationals.
• CSIS issued 49 information briefs and 62 inadmissibility briefs.
• It provided 55,000 government screening assessments.
• CSIS issued 12 information briefs reporting information of an adverse nature.
• It provided almost 84,000 site-access clearance assessments.
• CSIS provided three information briefs to requesting agencies.

¹See Annex A for definitions of these and other terms.

To remain effective, the Service developed new and innovative investigative techniques, as well as sophisticated technological solutions. This has included:

• improving the way it uses technology;
• working with Canadian and international partners to develop leading-edge technologies;
• expanding our intelligence officer (IO) and analyst ranks; and
• expanding and strengthening our network of foreign officers.

CSIS enhanced its analysis capabilities and maximized efficiency by:

• streamlining our organizational structure and simplifying how we do business; and
• working with international partners to learn from their knowledge and expertise.

CSIS continued to make a valuable contribution by:

• investigating covert activity by foreign entities, including espionage and attempts to interfere in the lives of people in Canada or in political processes here or overseas;
• collecting foreign intelligence in Canada at the request of the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Foreign Affairs; and
• countering the efforts of state and non-state actors to acquire materials or technology in Canada that could be used for producing weapons of mass destruction.

CSIS’ People and Budget

CSIS’ budget in 2006-07 was $356 million.

As of March 31, 2007, CSIS had 2,449 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. The Service has continued to attract high-calibre applicants in a wide range of job categories. It has developed tools ensuring it can recruit, train and integrate the right staff at the right time:

• Intensive recruitment campaigns seek to attract applicants from varied backgrounds for a range of vacancies, including positions as intelligence officers (100 new IOs were hired in 2006-2007), intelligence analysts and linguists, and jobs with a technical, information technology, legal or administrative focus.
• Training programs build skills in leadership and management, analysis, intelligence operations, languages and corporate functions.

Carleton University named CSIS an Employer of the Year in 2006-07 in recognition of our attendance at career fairs, and other job recruitment initiatives.

CSIS will continue to invest heavily in developing the range of skills and knowledge needed across all functions of the organization.

Accountability and Oversight

CSIS’ activities continued to attract extensive media, community, business and parliamentary attention.

The Inspector General of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service continued her task of reviewing, monitoring and studying CSIS operations. Where the Inspector General identified administrative or procedural shortcomings, CSIS initiated corrective action. In her 2006 Certificate to the Minister of Public Safety, the Inspector General stated that the Service “has not acted beyond the framework of its statutory authority, has not contravened any Ministerial Directions, and has not exercised its powers unreasonably or unnecessarily.”

The Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) conducted its annual review of CSIS operations in 2006-07. The review examined CSIS security intelligence activities, complaints made against the Service and CSIS accountability mechanisms. The Committee’s Annual Report was released in October 2007.

On October 31, 2006, I appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, where I was invited to present CSIS’ perspective on the report of Justice O’Connor concerning the case of Mr. Maher Arar.

During my appearance, I acknowledged the report’s criticisms of CSIS. Justice O’Connor found that CSIS did not undertake an adequate reliability assessment to determine whether information received from Syria was likely to have been obtained by torture. He also noted a lack of CSIS and RCMP support for a letter from Foreign Affairs Canada to Syrian authorities, seeking Mr. Arar’s release. Further, Justice O’Connor criticized both the process and the impact of claims made by the Government of Canada to protect national security confidences.

I would like to reiterate that CSIS takes the findings and recommendations of Justice O’Connor very seriously. We are, and will be, adjusting our policies in response to certain recommendations. We are also working with other federal departments and agencies to develop effective responses to other recommendations.

It should be noted that Justice O’Connor did not find any evidence that CSIS, or any Canadian official, participated or acquiesced in the decision to detain Mr. Arar or remove him to Syria. More specifically, Justice O’Connor found no evidence that CSIS shared any information about Mr. Arar with the United States before he was detained in New York and after he was deported to Syria. These findings are consistent with those of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, which examined the Service’s involvement in Mr. Arar’s case.

CSIS also participated in the Commission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182.

Outreach

For CSIS’ public communications and outreach, 2006-07 was a busy year.

CSIS participated in a press conference on June 3, 2006, when the current Deputy Director of Operations spoke about CSIS’ role in the investigation leading to the arrest of terror suspects in Toronto. Our organization usually shuns the spotlight. In this case, however, we felt it was important to talk to the media and Canadians about our role in the investigation, and to demonstrate how we work in partnership with other federal departments and agencies to help keep Canada and Canadians safe.

CSIS also held meetings with a variety of communities and stakeholder groups to keep the lines of communication open and to listen to the concerns of Canadians. I intend to continue expanding opportunities for Canadians to learn about CSIS and the important work we do. There is likely, however, always to be some conflict between the public’s desire for information and CSIS’ need to maintain confidentiality for security and legal reasons, personal safety or operational effectiveness.

Looking Ahead

According to the University of British Columbia’s Human Security Brief 2006, terrorism incidents (and victims) have tripled since 2000. Given the persistent and pervasive threats we face, CSIS will continue to focus on its core mandate of investigating security threats to Canada and its interests. Such threats include the radicalization of some Canadians and continued aggressive activities by foreign governments engaged in espionage activities and foreign interference.

CSIS will also make progress on its agenda of internal change. We will continue to recruit and train a new generation of intelligence professionals who represent the geographic and demographic diversity of Canada. To accommodate existing and future employees, we will begin construction of the next phase of our national headquarters building—a project that has been in the planning stages for several years now. We will strive to continue to be an employer of choice. And we will carry on our efforts to develop a full performance measurement program.

We will work to keep abreast of the relentless changes in technology—especially in areas such as telecommunications and the Internet. These play a central role in the planning, organizing, and execution of terrorist activities, as well as in recruiting participants. They are also crucial for our response to other threats.

In international operations, CSIS will further enhance its capacity to detect and deter threats originating outside Canada. This will also help us better protect Canadians beyond our borders, whether military personnel or civilians.

Finally, CSIS will continue its efforts in the area of public communications and outreach to Canadians. The aim is to ensure that Canadians better understand who we are and how we conduct our business.

Jim Judd
Director

CSIS Operations - Results for 2006-07

There were significant terrorist attacks around the world in 2006-07. The motives for the attacks varied. Some were the actions of separatist movements. Others reflected sectarian tensions. Still others were inspired by the ideology of al-Qaeda.

Terrorism is a global phenomenon requiring an international response. Canada cannot counter the threat working alone. To carry out its mandate, CSIS operates within as well as outside Canada: it shares information with domestic partners, such as the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency, and also with foreign agencies.

Once again, CSIS’ counterterrorism program was our focus in 2006-07. The Service put much of its efforts into investigating any potential terrorist threats to Canada and its interests, and ensuring that Canada was not used to support or stage attacks elsewhere. For example:

• During the year, a main focus of CSIS was terrorism inspired by the ideology of al-Qaeda, and the issue of radicalization of citizens or residents of Western countries.
• Terrorism continued to represent a major threat to Canadian military and other personnel in Afghanistan. The use of suicide bombers against Canadian Forces personnel remained a concern. CSIS continued to provide intelligence support - both domestically and in-theatre - to the Department of National Defence (DND) for the protection of Canadian Forces stationed in Afghanistan.
• In summer 2006, CSIS provided intelligence support to Foreign Affairs Canada and to the Canadian Forces to help safely evacuate Canadians from Lebanon. This was the largest evacuation in Canadian history. It was carried out in the face of huge challenges, including a deteriorating security situation, warfare, a sea blockade, and severely damaged Lebanese infrastructure and communication systems.

Apart from counter-terrorism efforts, CSIS investigated cases in which foreign governments or organizations tried to interfere with, manipulate or gain control of communities of different ethnic or cultural backgrounds in Canada.

Other priorities in 2006-07 included investigating threats to Canada’s economic security and critical infrastructure, and safeguarding the confidential information of the Government of Canada from espionage by foreign governments. As part of this work, CSIS produced 208 threat assessments, 35 intelligence briefs and 15 studies, and it shared these with other government departments and agencies.

In addition, the Government of Canada’s Integrated Threat Assessment Centre, which is housed at CSIS, issued 83 threat assessments and redistributed 1,150 others produced by the fusion centres of allied intelligence agencies.

CSIS’ Security Screening Program is a vital component of the Government of Canada’s national security. It is one of the most visible functions undertaken by CSIS, as well as one of our main operational responsibilities.

Table 1: CSIS Government Screening*

* Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.

The Screening Program seeks to prevent anyone presenting a security concern from gaining access to sensitive government assets, locations or information. CSIS conducts screening investigations and provides security assessments for all federal departments and agencies. The sole exception is the RCMP, which screens its own personnel. Screening is critical to the protection of classified information and sensitive assets. It is also essential for maintaining the confidence of countries that provide Canada with intelligence and access to sensitive technology and sites. Table 1 summarizes Screening Program activities during 2005-06 and 2006-07. During the past year, CSIS issued three information briefs to DND, nine information briefs to other government departments and no denial briefs.

Table 2: CSIS Site Access Screening Programs*

* Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.

In addition, CSIS provides site-access screening. A site-access clearance allows an individual to enter certain secure areas within installations (e.g. airports, the Parliamentary Precinct, nuclear power stations, restricted areas) or provides accreditation for a special event. In 2006-2007, CSIS received almost 84,000 requests for this type of screening. It provided two information briefs related to Parliamentary Precinct requests and one information brief related to a request under the Airport Restricted-Access Area program.

The goal of CSIS’ Immigration Screening Program is to prevent non-Canadians who pose security risks from entering or receiving status in Canada. Under this program, CSIS vets applications and provides advice to Citizenship and Immigration Canada as well as the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to support the processing of refugee claims or applications for immigration or citizenship. CSIS’ authority in this regard is provided under sections 14 and 15 of the CSIS Act. In 2006-07, CSIS received approximately 92,300 requests under various immigration screening programs. The Service issued 370 information briefs and 127 inadmissibility briefs.

Table 3: Immigration Screening

¹ Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
² Represents individuals who arrive at the Canadian border claiming refugee status.
³ Represents refugees (as defined by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act) who apply from within Canada for permanent resident status.

In 2006-07, CSIS received over 114,500 applications from foreign nationals for visitor visas. The Service provided 49 information briefs and 62 inadmissibility briefs related to these requests.

CSIS also responds to inquiries under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. Table 4 represents the number of requests CSIS has received under these acts in the past two fiscal years.

Table 4: Requests for Release of Information

Inside CSIS

Agenda of Internal Change

In 2006-07, CSIS continued to take steps to modernize and improve its organization and management practices:

• On May 1, 2006, CSIS launched a new organizational structure with the aim of increasing operational capacity, consolidating and enhancing analysis and production functions, and enhancing corporate support. For the new CSIS organizational chart, see Annex C.
• In fall 2006, CSIS launched a program to develop a performance measurement framework. With operational pressures growing steadily, the framework will help ensure that CSIS resources are properly allocated and generate intended results.

Our People

CSIS has its National Headquarters in Ottawa, and regional and district offices across the country.

CSIS also has employees stationed in certain diplomatic posts outside Canada, and Canada-based personnel travelling outside the country for specific operations.

In 2006-07, CSIS had 2,449 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Our workforce consists of intelligence investigators and analysts, surveillants, information management and technical specialists, security screening investigators, and translators and interpreters. We also have staff performing standard corporate management and support functions.

CSIS employees have varied educational qualifications. Many hold multiple university degrees in disciplines such as law, social and physical sciences, or information technology.

The CSIS workforce is diverse. In 2006-07 it was split evenly along gender lines, while visible minorities were represented in higher proportions than the average for the federal public service. Sixty-four percent of our employees speak both of Canada’s official languages. In addition, 38 percent of our intelligence officers are able to speak a language other than English or French. Collectively, our employees speak more than 85 foreign languages.

Table 5: Focus on CSIS Workforce, 2006-2007

Figure 1: CSIS Workforce

Recruitment and Training

CSIS has made it a priority to recruit a new generation of intelligence professionals reflecting the current demographic realities of Canada.

CSIS continues to attract many bright young Canadians to its ranks—people who have the knowledge, aptitude, skills and passion for modern intelligence work and the desire to protect Canada’s national security. Among them are intelligence officers as well as analysts, computer scientists, technicians, linguists and others.

In 2006-07, CSIS participated in 53 career fairs, provided 134 information sessions about intelligence officer positions and participated in 18 special recruitment events (receptions and cultural events). For its efforts, Carleton University named CSIS an Employer of the Year in 2006-07.

CSIS continued its “Lunchtime Theatre Series” for employees, with outside speakers and some in-house experts sharing their knowledge and encouraging discussion. Topics covered in 2006-07 included:

• intellectual property law;
• Russia and Chechnya from a journalist’s viewpoint;
• the UK threat environment (video presentation by the then-Director General of the British Security Service, Eliza Manningham-Buller);
• the US invasion of Iraq (video presentation by Richard Clarke); and
• defence intelligence in 2007.

The Regions

About half of CSIS’ workforce is located in its six Regional offices: Atlantic, Quebec, Ottawa, Toronto, Prairie and British Columbia ². Together with district offices, CSIS operations cover all geographic areas of Canada.

² See Annex E for a list of CSIS regional offices and their locations.

Financial Resources

CSIS’ final budget for 2006-07 was $356 million (see Figure 2).

CSIS’ financial resources have increased since 2001-02 as a result of new funding for public security and anti-terrorism initiatives allocated in the December 2001 federal budget. In addition, CSIS received resources for its part in the Government of Canada’s Marine Security Initiatives and the Canada-US Smart Borders Declaration.

In 2005-06, the CSIS budget increased significantly as a result of the inclusion of Employee Benefit Plan costs; these were not previously paid out of the Service’s appropriation. Additional funding was provided to augment the Service’s foreign collection capabilities and administer the Integrated Threat Assessment Centre.

Construction costs shown from fiscal years 2002-03 to 2006-07 represent expenditures associated with the project definition stage of a planned expansion of the National Headquarters building.

The March 2007 federal budget committed $80 million over two years to CSIS to assist in maintaining operational capacity. We will report on the impact of Budget 2007 on CSIS operations in our 2007-08 Public Report.

Figure 2: CSIS Budget

Management Accountability

Sound management within the federal Public Service demands strong accountability. The Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) provides advice to federal departments and agencies, as well as oversight of financial management functions. In this regard, TBS developed a tool called the Management Accountability Framework (MAF). The purpose of the MAF is to identify strengths and weaknesses in the management of federal organizations. It provides clear expectations with which federal institutions - including the Service - can plan and measure their performances.

TBS’s 2006 MAF assessment of the Service - while indicating there remained some room for improvement in the area of performance measurement - was largely positive. In particular, TBS recognized the Service’s strong performance in managing its information technology assets. The Service also met TBS’s expectations for management decision-making, contributions to horizontal policy initiatives, continuous learning, asset and project management, procurement and our response to clients’ needs.

Another recent management accountability initiative in which the Service will participate is Treasury Board’s new Program Activity Architecture (PAA). The PAA is an authoritative list of program activities against which federal organizations - including CSIS - will report to Treasury Board and Parliament. The PAA is meant to reflect how organizations are structured, how accountabilities are managed and how performance measures are identified.

Public Communications

CSIS once again increased its efforts to communicate with Canadians in 2006-07.

In June 2006, the Service participated in a news conference to discuss its role in the investigation leading up to the arrests of terror suspects in Toronto.

CSIS handled almost 520 media inquiries in 2006-07; approximately 20 percent of them concerned the Toronto arrests. CSIS spokespersons appeared on television and radio news shows-including “MTV Live”-to encourage young people to consider a career with the Service. Also, the Director gave four public speeches during 2006-07, and appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. On behalf of the Director, the Deputy Director of Operations appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence.

CSIS’ outreach activities in 2006-07 included:

• informal meetings with members of Canada’s academic and ethno-cultural communities;
• meetings with Canadian business leaders;
• responses to invitations from other government departments, women’s groups, non-governmental organizations and universities;
• participation in numerous regional events of the federal Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security; and
• attendance at career fairs and recruiting events at universities and community festivals.

CSIS will continue to develop its public communications and outreach programs in 2007-08.

Table 6: CSIS Web Site

 

Annexes

Annex A: Glossary of Terms

[Return]

CSIS Report: One of several types of classified strategic intelligence assessments prepared by CSIS to inform the government about the entire range of threats to the security of Canada. Based on all-source information—including a range of open-source and classified information—the CSIS Report provides a broad, in-depth review of the issue. (CSIS discontinued production of the CSIS Report at the end of 2005-06, focusing instead on the CSIS Study.)

CSIS Study: Differs from the CSIS report in that it offers an assessment of a threat in its entirety.

Denial brief: Advice issued by CSIS recommending to a requesting agency that a security clearance or site access be denied to an individual.

Foreign intelligence: Section 16 of the CSIS Act allows CSIS to collect foreign information or intelligence relating to the capabilities, intentions or activities of any foreign state or group of foreign states, or anyone other than a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or a Canadian corporation. CSIS can collect foreign intelligence only in Canada, at the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs or the Minister of National Defence under the CSIS Act.

Foreign operations: Activities of CSIS employees stationed outside Canada, and the collection of threat-related information overseas.

Inadmissibility brief: Advice issued to Citizenship and Immigration Canada and to the Canada Border Services Agency regarding the potential inadmissibility of an applicant under the security provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Incidental letter: Advice issued to Citizenship and Immigration Canada and to the Canada Border Services Agency when CSIS has information about an applicant who is or has been involved in non-security-related activities defined under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Information brief: Advice issued in a government screening case when CSIS has information that could have an impact on the requesting agency’s decision to grant an applicant a security clearance or site access. It is also provided in immigration screening cases when CSIS has information that an applicant is or was involved in activities that bear consideration when determining admissibility for entry into Canada.

Intelligence brief: A classified report prepared by CSIS based on all-source information, including a broad range of open-source and classified information. Unlike the CSIS report or study, this is a short assessment that addresses a specific facet of a threat and is more time-sensitive.

National security: While the CSIS Act does not define national security per se, it does define threats to national security very specifically (section 2):

• espionage or sabotage directed against Canada or its interests;
• foreign-influenced activities within Canada that are detrimental to its interests;
• activities involving the threat or use of serious violence against persons or property for the purpose of achieving a political, religious or ideological objective within Canada or a foreign state; and
• activities directed toward undermining by covert unlawful acts or destroying or overthrowing Canada’s constitutionally established system of government.

Security intelligence: The product resulting from the collection, collation, evaluation and analysis of information regarding security threats. It provides government decision-makers with insight into activities and trends at the national and international levels that can have an impact on the security of Canada. This insight allows decision-makers to develop suitable policy anticipating possible threats. Regardless of its source, security intelligence provides value by supplementing information already available from other government departments, open sources such as the Internet, or the media.

Threat assessment: Information concerning a potential threat to national security, issued by CSIS or ITAC to the intelligence community, law enforcement agencies and other organizations.

Annex B: Accountability and Review

CSIS is one of the most open and reviewed security organizations in the world. It is subject to a system of control and review mechanisms and processes, prescribed by the CSIS Act:

• Minister of Public Safety: The Minister is responsible to Parliament for CSIS as a whole and for its general direction. The Minister issues policy guidelines concerning operational procedures, is informed of security operations and problems, and approves cooperative agreements and relationships with foreign agencies.
• Deputy Minister of Public Safety: The Deputy Minister provides advice to the Minister on general direction to CSIS, and monitors how CSIS implements this direction.
• Director of CSIS: The Director of CSIS is accountable to the Minister for the management and control of CSIS. The Director submits periodic reports on CSIS activities to the Minister, and chairs internal committees mandated to enhance the organization’s management and accountability. One of these committees has direct responsibility for, and authority over, CSIS’ use of intrusive investigative techniques.
• Inspector General: The Inspector General is appointed by the Governor in Council to monitor CSIS’ compliance with operational policies, review its operational activities and issue a certificate indicating the degree of satisfaction with the Director’s annual operational report. The certificate and the report are forwarded to the Security Intelligence Review Committee. At the request of the Minister or SIRC, the Inspector General may conduct a review of specific CSIS activities. The Inspector General has access to all information under CSIS’ control, except for Cabinet confidences.
• Security Intelligence Review Committee: SIRC is appointed by the Governor in Council to review how CSIS performs its functions and to investigate complaints against the Service. The Committee also investigates complaints filed by individuals denied security clearances, and reviews reports concerning immigration applications and citizenship applications rejected on security or criminal grounds. To fulfill its responsibilities, the Committee has access to all information under CSIS’ control, except Cabinet confidences. SIRC informs the Minister of Public Safety of its investigation findings on an ongoing basis, and produces an annual report tabled by the Minister in Parliament.
• Federal Court: The power to authorize intrusive investigation techniques rests solely with the Federal Court of Canada. Before such an authorization can be made, CSIS must provide solid justification for the proposed use of these techniques in a warrant application, which is reviewed by a senior CSIS committee chaired by the Director and composed of representatives from the departments of Justice and Public Safety.
  If the committee endorses the application, it is then submitted to the Minister of Public Safety for approval. Only after receiving the Minister’s approval is the warrant application, in the form of an affidavit, submitted to a judge of the Federal Court for a decision.
• Public Report: CSIS provides information to Parliament and the public through the CSIS Public Report, which gives an assessment of the current security intelligence environment. The Public Report seeks to increase awareness of CSIS functions and procedures, and to dispel some of the myths surrounding security intelligence work. CSIS also issues a classified report to the Minister of Public Safety each year, giving a detailed assessment of the security intelligence environment.

In addition, CSIS activities are reviewed by outside bodies such as the Office of the Auditor General, and the commissioners dealing with access to information, privacy and official languages.

Annex C: CSIS Organization

Annex D: Frequently Asked Questions

What does CSIS do?

CSIS collects and analyzes information and security intelligence from across the country and abroad, and reports to and advises the Government of Canada on national security issues and activities that threaten the security of Canada. CSIS also provides security assessments to all federal departments and agencies, with the exception of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

How does CSIS differ from the RCMP?

CSIS is not a law-enforcement agency. The Service is strictly concerned with collecting information and security intelligence for the purpose of advising the government. The role of the RCMP and other law enforcement agencies is to investigate criminal activity and collect evidence that can be used in criminal prosecutions.

Is CSIS allowed to investigate protest groups?

CSIS is mandated to investigate individuals or groups that may pose a threat to the security of Canada. As defined in section 2 of the CSIS Act, threats include espionage or sabotage, foreign-influenced activities or activities in support of terrorism. Section 2 specifically prohibits CSIS from investigating “lawful advocacy, protest or dissent” unless it is carried out in conjunction with one of the threat-related activities defined in the Act.

How does CSIS decide to investigate a particular person or group?

While CSIS cannot disclose its operational methodologies, it is important to note that when it decides to investigate a person or group, it does so because they are suspected of posing a threat to the security of Canada as defined in section 2 of the CSIS Act. The person or group must be engaging in activities that are believed to be in support of espionage, sabotage, foreign-influenced activity or terrorism-related activity.

Is CSIS targeting its counter-terrorism activities at particular racial groups?

CSIS targets individuals and groups based on their activities—if these are in support of a threat as defined in section 2 of the CSIS Act—and not on their ethnic origin or country of birth.

CSIS’ operational activities are subject to yearly review by the Security Intelligence Review Committee and the Inspector General.

As a federal government agency, CSIS is sensitive to Canada’s multicultural society. CSIS is an active participant in outreach events across Canada. Moreover, CSIS makes a concerted effort to have a workforce that is representative of the country’s population. In fact, cultural diversity is an essential component of CSIS’ operational effectiveness. In 2005, 10 percent of CSIS employees belonged to visible minorities.

Can CSIS investigative techniques be arbitrarily deployed?

No. All intrusive methods of investigation used by CSIS must pass several levels of approval before they can be deployed. The most intrusive methods—such as electronic surveillance—require a warrant issued by a judge of the Federal Court of Canada. The Security Intelligence Review Committee and the Inspector General closely review CSIS operations to ensure that they are lawful and comply with the Service’s policies and procedures.

What does CSIS do with the intelligence it collects?

CSIS reports to and advises the Government of Canada on threats to the security of Canada. CSIS intelligence is shared with other federal departments and agencies, including Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Department of National Defence, and the RCMP. CSIS also has arrangements to provide security assessments to other countries, mostly concerning visa applications.

Does CSIS have a foreign presence?

CSIS foreign officers are posted at certain Canadian diplomatic missions in various countries around the world. They collect relevant information from foreign police, military and security intelligence agencies, as well as from open sources such as newspapers, periodicals, domestic broadcasts, the Internet and official documents. Foreign officers also provide security advice to Citizenship and Immigration Canada or to the Canada Border Services Agency regarding prospective immigrants.

Does CSIS operate overseas?

CSIS has carried out operations overseas in the past and will continue to do so as circumstances warrant.

There are no geographical restrictions in the CSIS Act on where CSIS may collect information on threats to the security of Canada. We may collect information on security threats from anywhere in Canada or abroad.

The CSIS Act also allows CSIS to provide the Government of Canada with non-threat-related intelligence that is collected incidentally during CSIS operations.

What is CSIS’ role with respect to Canada’s foreign intelligence requirements?

“Foreign intelligence,” as defined in the CSIS Act, can be collected in Canada only at the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs or the Minister of National Defence.

Section 16 of the CSIS Act allows CSIS to collect foreign information or intelligence relating to the capabilities, intentions or activities of any foreign state or group of foreign states, or anyone other than a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or a Canadian corporation.

Our current priority, however, is threats to the security of Canada—particularly terrorist threats.

What is security screening?

Security screening is a process by which the name of a security clearance applicant is verified against CSIS databases to determine whether the applicant is mentioned in relation to threat-related activities. Depending on the level or category of security clearance required, security screening can also involve interviewing the applicant’s friends, neighbours and employers, consulting with local police, and possibly interviewing the applicant.

On completion of the screening process, CSIS issues a security assessment advising whether to grant the applicant security clearance or access to a sensitive site.

What is the purpose of security screening?

The purpose of security screening is to prevent anyone presenting a security concern from gaining access to sensitive government assets, locations or information, and to prevent non-Canadians who pose security concerns or risks from entering Canada or receiving permanent residence in the country.

Who must undergo the security screening process?

Security screening is required for federal public service employees, members of the Canadian Forces and persons under contract to a government department who, in the performance of their duties, have access to classified government assets or information, as well as people who work at sensitive sites such as airports, the Parliamentary Precinct and nuclear power stations. Non-Canadians who apply for permanent residence or refugee status must also undergo security screening.

Security screenings fall into the following program categories: Government Screening; Sensitive Sites Screening; Foreign Screening; Immigration and Citizenship Screening; and Refugee Claimant Screening.

How can I obtain a security clearance?

CSIS provides security assessments of individuals for all federal government departments and agencies, except the RCMP. It does not, however, assist members of the general public with obtaining security clearances. To obtain a security clearance, you may contact the following authorities:

• If you are a member of the general public and a condition of employment requires a government security clearance, contact the human resources division of the hiring government department.
• If you are a general contractor and require a security clearance, call Public Works and Government Services Canada at 613-948-4176 in the National Capital Region or toll-free at 1-866-368-4646 (weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

For all issues related to immigration, refugee status or visas, contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada toll-free at 1-888-242-2100.

To file a complaint concerning the denial or revocation of a security clearance needed to obtain or keep federal government employment or contracts, contact the Security Intelligence Review Committee and follow the prescribed complaint process.

I have some important information that might be of interest to CSIS. Whom do I contact?

See the list of addresses and telephone numbers for CSIS headquarters and regional offices, or call the toll-free National Security Tipline at 1-800-420-5805.

Whom do I contact to file a complaint about CSIS?

The Director of CSIS and the Security Intelligence Review Committee are responsible for responding to complaints concerning an activity conducted by CSIS, or the denial or revocation of a security clearance.

To file a complaint, send a letter by postal mail to the attention of the Director of CSIS at the Service’s National Headquarters (see Annex E for the address). For further information on the complaint-filing process, visit the CSIS Web site: www.csis-scrs.gc.ca.

Annex E: Contact Us

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National Headquarters:

Canadian Security Intelligence Service
PO Box 9732, Station T
Ottawa ON K1G 4G4

Media and Public Liaison Contacts:

1941 Ogilvie Road
Ottawa ON K1J 1B7

Tel. 613-993-9620 or 1-800-267-7685 toll-free (Ontario only)
TTY 613-991-9228 (for hearing-impaired, available 24 hours a day)

Regional Offices:

Atlantic

PO Box 126, Station Central
Halifax NS B3J 3K5
Tel. 902-420-5900

Quebec

PO Box 2000, Station A
Montreal QC H3C 3A6
Tel. 514-393-5600 or 1-877-223-2265 toll-free (Quebec only)

Ottawa

PO Box 9732, Station T
Ottawa ON K1G 4G4
Tel. 613-998-1679 or 1-800-267-7685 toll-free (Ontario only)

Toronto

PO Box 760, Station A
Toronto ON M5W 1G3
Tel. 416-865-1480

Prairie
(Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Thunder Bay)

PO Box 47009
62 City Centre
Edmonton AB T5J 4N1
Tel. 780-401-7800 or 1-800-661-5780 toll-free (Prairie only)

British Columbia

PO Box 80629, Station South
Burnaby BC V5H 3Y1
Tel. 604-528-7400