Date of Publishing:
July 12, 2024, Ottawa, ON – The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) is proud to celebrate its fifth anniversary, marking half a decade of a new model for reviewing Canada’s national security and intelligence activities.
Since its inception in 2019, NSIRA has conducted dozens of independent reviews and investigations, assessing whether the actions of Canada’s national security and intelligence agencies are lawful, reasonable, and necessary. In all its work, NSIRA has maintained its mission to serve as the trusted eyes and ears of Canadians.
“I am motivated by NSIRA’s independence and respect for the rule of law, two fundamental values that have guided me throughout my career,” said Marie Deschamps, NSIRA’s Chair. “Through these values and a commitment to rigorous, high-level reviews, the Agency’s impact on strengthening national safety and security cannot be overstated.”
NSIRA’s reviews have resulted in valuable insights and recommendations to enhance the accountability of Canada’s national security and intelligence agencies. By publishing declassified versions of its review reports, NSIRA has made strides in fostering public transparency.
“Wise intelligence community leaders know that review makes their services better, often by identifying problem areas that otherwise risk going unaddressed,” said Craig Forcese, NSIRA’s Vice-Chair. “Over its first five years, NSIRA had embraced a robust review professionalism facilitating progressive improvement in the services it reviews.”
NSIRA’s investigations have also underscored the importance of an independent investigative process to deal with complaints about the activities of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Over the past five years, NSIRA’s array of work has included launching a review arising from a 2020 Federal Court decision that found institutional failings by CSIS and Justice Canada, investigating 58 complaints referred by the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and earlier this year, publishing its first-ever Section 40 public interest report, Review of the dissemination of intelligence on People’s Republic of China political foreign interference, 2018-2023.
NSIRA has also hosted the Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council and established strong working relationships with international and domestic partners with whom the Agency continues to exchange best practices.
