Technical Assurance Review (TAR) of a Specific CSE Activity: Notification Letter

Technical Assurance Review (TAR) of a Specific CSE Activity

Notification Letter

February 4, 2026

The Honourable David J. McGuinty, P.C., M.P.

Minister

National Defence

Subject: Notification of NSIRA’s Technical Assurance Review of a Specific CSE Activity

Dear Minister McGuinty,

I am writing on behalf of the Members of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) to inform you that NSIRA has initiated a Technical Assurance Review (TAR) on a specific activity conducted by the Communications Security Establishment (CSE).

Following the completion of the TAR pilot last year, NSIRA has formally established the TAR as a permanent review program. A TAR remains a focused and short-term review that uses independent technical analysis to provide Canadians with an appropriate level of assurance on a specific system, application, process, or departmental activity.

This review is being conducted pursuant to paragraph 8(1)(a) of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Act (NSIRA Act). The NSIRA Act grants NSIRA full and timely access to all information held by reviewed departments and agencies, including classified and privileged information, with the exception of cabinet confidences.

NSIRA will engage with your officials regarding this TAR. NSIRA will be in regular contact with them to define the precise scope and execution details. NSIRA may require access to relevant documentation, briefings, interviews, surveys, and any other information NSIRA determines to be of relevance. This review will require direct or directed access to technical systems as part of the review’s independent assurance activity. NSIRA’s expectations for responsiveness are available online at https://nsira-ossnr.gc.ca.

I thank you in advance for your cooperation and support to the independent review process, which is key to transparency and democratic accountability.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Marie Deschamps, C.C.
Chair, National Security and Intelligence Review Agency

cc

Caroline Xavier, Chief, Communications Security Establishment

Date Modified:: 2026-02-24

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Total Recommendations Issued

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Date Modified:: 2026-05-28

Review of the Communications Security Establishment’s Targeting Activities: Notification Letter

Review of the Communications Security Establishment’s Targeting Activities

Notification Letter

January 30, 2026

Subject: Notification of NSIRA’s Review of the Communications Security Establishment’s Targeting Activities

Dear Minister McGuinty,

I am writing on behalf of the Members of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) to inform you that NSIRA has initiated a review of the Communications Security Establishment’s (CSE) targeting activities.

NSIRA will review CSE’s targeting activities to examine their reasonableness, necessity, and compliance with the law, ministerial authorization, and policy. Emphasis will be placed on assessing CSE’s compliance with the statutory prohibition against directing its activities at Canadians or persons in Canada and with the requirement to not infringe the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

NSIRA will engage with your officials regarding this review. As the review progresses, NSIRA’s review team will be in regular contact with them with requests for information. Such requests may involve documents, system access, written explanations, briefings, interviews, surveys, and any other information that NSIRA determines to be of relevance to this review. This review may also include independent inspections of some technical systems. NSIRA’s expectations for responsiveness are available online at https://nsira-ossnr.gc.ca.

I thank you in advance for your cooperation and support to the independent review process, which is key to transparency and democratic accountability.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Marie Deschamps, C.C.
Chair, National Security and Intelligence Review Agency

cc

Caroline Xavier, Chief, Communications Security Establishment

Date Modified:: 2026-02-19

Review of the Passenger Protect Program and Secure Air Travel Act: Report

Review of the Passenger Protect Program and Secure Air Travel Act

Report

Table of Contents

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Date of Publishing:

February 16, 2026

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Date Modified:: 2026-02-16

Review of the Passenger Protect Program and Secure Air Travel Act: Backgrounder

Review of the Passenger Protect Program and Secure Air Travel Act

Backgrounder

The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) has completed its review of Canada’s Passenger Protect Program (PPP), commonly known as the “no-fly list,” and how it’s managed under the Secure Air Travel Act (SATA). This program, overseen by the Minister of Public Safety, plays an important role in national security but also impacts people’s ability to travel. NSIRA’s review looked at the entire process, from how people are added to the list, to 90-day reviews of the list, actions taken when listed individuals try to fly, and ways to challenge their listing or get removed.

Why It’s Important: Balancing Security and Rights

It’s vital to review how security measures interplay with individuals’ rights. Since the Passenger Protect Program can prevent people from traveling by air, being unclear or inconsistent could lead to unfair treatment. A well-functioning program is crucial for public trust in both national security and individual freedoms.

NSIRA’s Findings: What’s Working and What Needs Improvement

NSIRA found that recent improvements to the Passenger Protect Program, like centralized passenger screening, have made the process more accurate, reduced errors, and improved security. Public Safety Canada has also generally made sure that people on the list aren’t unfairly restricted from traveling.

However, there are areas that need attention:

Listing Decisions and Documentation
While everyone on the list met the necessary criteria at the time of their listing, NSIRA found issues in how decisions were made to keep people on the list. Sometimes, the reasons weren’t fully documented, which raises concerns about fairness. Some individuals were kept on the list without lawful justification.
Timeliness of the 90-Day Reviews
The law requires that the list be reviewed every 90 days. NSIRA found six instances where this wasn’t done on time.
Inconsistent Decision-Making Across the Program
NSIRA observed that decisions made when adding and keeping people to the list weren’t always consistent with decisions taken when listed people tried to fly or when listed people challenged their listing. There’s no system to review these different decisions to ensure they all align. Moreover, there is no clear guidance to departments regarding SATA-related threat indicators.
Coordination Between Departments
Public Safety Canada could improve its leadership and interdepartmental coordination function. Outdated frameworks and unclear roles make the program less effective.

NSIRA’s Recommendations: A Roadmap for Improvement

In light of its findings, NSIRA made ten recommendations aimed at ensuring a more principled, coordinated, and fair approach to managing the Passenger Protect Program.

Looking Ahead: Ensuring Fairness and Accountability

The review highlights progress in the Passenger Protect Program, including improved screening and better protections for travellers. However, it also identifies gaps in governance, consistency, and oversight, particularly regarding relisting decisions and the impact on travellers.

Date Modified:: 2026-02-16

Review of federal institutions’ disclosures of information under the Security of Canada Information Disclosure Act in 2025: Notification Letter

Review of federal institutions’ disclosures of information under the Security of Canada Information Disclosure Act in 2025

Notification Letter

January 23, 2026

Subject: Notification of NSIRA’s Review of the Government of Canada Institutions’ Disclosures of Information Under the Security of Canada Information Disclosure Act in 2025

Dear Ministers,

I am writing on behalf of the Members of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) to inform you that NSIRA has initiated its annual review of the Government of Canada institutions’ disclosures of information under the Security of Canada Information Disclosure Act (SCIDA) for 2025.

This review is being conducted pursuant to paragraph 8(1)(a), 8(1)(b), and subsection 39(1) of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Act (NSIRA Act). The NSIRA Act grants NSIRA full and timely access to all information held by reviewed departments and agencies, including classified and privileged information, with the exception of Cabinet confidences.

We would also like to take this opportunity to remind departments of their obligation, under subsection 9(3) of the SCIDA, to provide NSIRA with copies of records prepared under subsections 9(1) or 9(2) of that Act to NSIRA within 30 days after the end of the calendar year; that is, by January 30, 2026.

We request that these records be provided to the attention of The Honourable Marie Deschamps, NSIRA’s Chair, via the NSIRA Leadership Mailbox (leadership@nsira-ossnr.gc.ca) or CTSN.

I thank you in advance for your cooperation and support to the independent review process, which is key to transparency and democratic accountability.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Marie Deschamps, C.C.
Chair, National Security and Intelligence Review Agency

Dist.

The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health
The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry
The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety
The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport
The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

cc

General M.A.J. Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff
Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister, National Defence
Caroline Xavier, Chief, Communications Security Establishment
Nick Leswick, Deputy Minister, Finance
David Morrison, Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs
Shalene Curtis-Micallef, Deputy Minister, Health
Paul Mackinnon, President, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Nancy Hamzawi, President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar, Deputy Minister, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Philip Jennings, Deputy Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Erin O’Gorman, President, Canada Border Services Agency
Dan Rogers, Director, Canadian Security and Intelligence Service
Michael Robert Duheme, Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Tricia Geddes, Deputy Minister, Public Safety
Arun Thangaraj, Deputy Minister, Transport Canada
Pierre Tremblay, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Bob Hamilton, Commissioner, Canada Revenue Agency
Sarah Paquet, Director, Financial Transactions and Analysis Centre of Canada

Date Modified:: 2026-02-06

Review of Operational Collaboration between the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS): Report-OLD

Review of Operational Collaboration between the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)

Report

Table of Contents

HTML Version Coming Soon

Date of Publishing:

February 2, 2026

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Date Modified:: 2026-05-07

Review of Operational Collaboration between the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS): Backgrounder

Review of Operational Collaboration between the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)

Backgrounder

The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) completed a review of how the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) collaborate. As Canada’s two main intelligence organizations, responsible for signals intelligence and human intelligence respectively, their collaboration is critical to national security.

This review is the first to examine CSE and CSIS collaboration across both departments. NSIRA’s predecessor review bodies did not have the authority to assess activities across multiple institutions. NSIRA reviewed operational activities, information sharing, and compliance under both organizations’ enabling legislation.

The review also enabled NSIRA to meet its annual requirement under section 8(2) of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Act to review an aspect of CSIS’s Threat Reduction Measures (TRM).

Why This Matters

Collaboration between CSE and CSIS plays an important role in keeping Canada safe. When collaboration is not clearly structured or properly governed, it can create legal risks and reduce the effectiveness of intelligence activities.

NSIRA’s review highlights the need for clearer rules, better planning, and more consistent communication to ensure collaboration remains lawful, accountable, and effective. This oversight helps protect Canadians’ rights while supporting strong national security outcomes.

Purpose of the Review

NSIRA’s review examined whether CSE and CSIS:

Collaborated in a way that respected the differences in their legal mandates
Had clear policies, procedures, and planning in place to manage legal and compliance risks arising from collaboration
Shared information in a manner that was lawful, appropriately limited, and supported by clear governance and accountability
Met legal requirements to consult and share information when CSIS undertook Threat Reduction Measures (TRM) involving or affecting CSE

The review examined a sample of collaborative operational activities and information sharing between CSE and CSIS, including assistance provided by CSE to CSIS, joint operations, and coordination related to Threat Reduction Measures.

What NSIRA Found

Context

CSIS is authorized to collect and share information about Canadians in support of its intelligence and threat reduction mandates. CSE, by contrast, is prohibited from directing its foreign intelligence activities at Canadians or at any person in Canada. This difference creates risks when the two organizations collaborate and requires careful planning and clear rules.

At the same time, CSE and CSIS have complementary capabilities. When collaboration is properly planned and governed, it can support stronger intelligence outcomes for Canada.

Findings

Operational collaboration: NSIRA found that collaboration was not always supported by sufficient advance planning or risk mitigation. In some cases, CSE did not adequately account for the increased risk of directing its activities at Canadians when collaborating with CSIS. NSIRA identified two instances of non-compliance with the law.
Information sharing: NSIRA found that some information-sharing practices lacked clear governance and consistent procedures. These gaps increased the risk that Canadian information could be used in ways that were not aligned with CSE’s mandate. NSIRA identified one instance of non-compliance related to information sharing.
Threat Reduction Measures (TRM): NSIRA found that while CSIS consulted CSE when planning Threat Reduction Measures, consultation and information sharing were not always sufficiently detailed or timely throughout the process. NSIRA also found that information sharing could be improved when compliance issues arise in activities involving both organizations.
Departmental cooperation: NSIRA found that communication and cooperation between CSE and CSIS were inconsistent and, in some cases, limited the ability to fully use domestic collaboration to advance Canadian intelligence priorities.

What NSIRA Recommends

NSIRA made several recommendations aimed at improving collaboration and compliance, including:

Strengthening joint planning, policies, procedures, and training
Improving governance and consistency in information-sharing practices
Enhancing consultation and information sharing related to Threat Reduction Measures
Supporting more effective communication and cooperation between the departments

Date Modified:: 2026-02-02

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Date Modified:: 2026-02-23

(Follow-Up Review) Rebuilding Trust – Reforming the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Warrant and Justice Legal Advisory Process: Notification Letter

(Follow-Up Review) Rebuilding Trust – Reforming the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Warrant and Justice Legal Advisory Process

Notification Letter

December 3, 2025

Subject: Notification of NSIRA Follow-Up Review to Rebuilding Trust: Reforming the CSIS Warrant and Justice Legal Advisory Process

Dear Ministers,

I am writing on behalf of the Members of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) to inform you that NSIRA has initiated a follow-up review to its 2022 review titled Rebuilding Trust: Reforming the CSIS Warrant and Justice Legal Advisory Process (Review # 21-18).

This review is being conducted pursuant to paragraphs 8(1)(a) and 8(1)(b) of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Act (NSIRA Act). The NSIRA Act grants NSIRA full and timely access to all information held by reviewed departments and agencies, including classified and privileged information, with the exception of cabinet confidences.

NSIRA will review the implementation of recommendations made in 2022. NSIRA will measure progress at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the Department of Justice and Public Safety in resolving the systemic issues with the warrants process and the identified issues pertaining to the provision of legal advice. Furthermore, NSIRA will examine and assess the implementation of new judicially authorized powers included in Part II of the CSIS Act.

NSIRA will engage with your officials regarding this review. As the review progresses, NSIRA’s review team will be in regular contact with them with requests for information. Such requests may involve documents, written explanations, briefings, interviews, and any other information that NSIRA determines to be of relevance to this review. NSIRA’s expectations for responsiveness are available online at https://nsira-ossnr.gc.ca.

I thank you in advance for your cooperation and support to the independent review process, which is key to transparency and democratic accountability.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Marie Deschamps, C.C.
Chair, National Security and Intelligence Review Agency

Dist.

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

cc

Shalene Curtis-Micallef, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada
Tricia Geddes, Deputy Minister, Public Safety Canada
Daniel Rogers, Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

Date Modified:: 2026-01-29