Date of Publishing:
Results at a glance
A departmental results report provides an account of actual accomplishments against plans, priorities and expected results set out in the associated Departmental Plan.
Key priorities
NSIRA Secretariat’s top priorities for 2023-24 were as follows:
- Mandatory reviews related to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), the Security of Canada Information Disclosure Act and Governor in Council directions under the Avoiding Complicity in Mistreatment by Foreign Entities Act.
- Completing the Review of the dissemination of intelligence on People’s Republic of China political foreign interference, 2018-2023, which was submitted to the Prime Minister as NSIRA’s first ever special report, and subsequently tabled in Parliament.
- Meeting the newly implemented NSIRA Service Standards for the timely investigations of complaints.
- Successfully hosting, in Ottawa, the annual conference of the Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council.
- Keeping the NSIRA Secretariat facility expansion project on track for successful completion and timely relocation of employees to the new workspace.
Highlights
In 2023-24, total actual spending (including internal services) for NSIRA Secretariat was $14,962,179 and total actual human resources spending was $11,861,196. For complete information on NSIRA Secretariat’s total spending and human resources, read the Spending and human resources section of the full report.
The following provides a summary of the department’s achievements in 2023-24 according to its approved Departmental Results Framework. A Departmental Results Framework consists of a department’s core responsibilities, the results it plans to achieve and the performance indicators that measure progress toward these results.
Core responsibility 1: National Security and Intelligence Reviews and Complaints Investigations
Actual spending: $7,307,710
Actual human resources: 51
Departmental results achieved
Ministers and Canadians are informed whether national security and intelligence activities undertaken by Government of Canada institutions are lawful, reasonable and necessary
NSIRA Secretariat staff supported NSIRA in the completion of 11 national security and intelligence reviews over the course of the 2023-24 fiscal year. A total of 13 Government of Canada organizations were subject to review and eight Ministers, plus the Prime Minister, went on to receive one or more of the NSIRA reports that were approved by members in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Results achieved
- 10 section 34 ministerial reports
- 12 section 35 compliance reports
- 1 section 39 report on disclosures under the Security of Canada Information Disclosure Act
- NSIRA’s first ever section 40 special report to the Prime Minister, which was tabled in Parliament
Two departments were subject to NSIRA review for the first time: TBS and SSC.
National security related complaints are independently investigated in a timely manner
In 2023-24, the NSIRA Secretariat advanced its investigative processes, focusing on timeliness, efficiency, and transparency. The number of investigations remained high, with a notable rise in complaints about CSIS delays in security assessments for immigration.
The Secretariat enhanced its investigative fairness and efficiency by implementing new procedures and practices. With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, NSIRA’s efficiency improved, completing six formal investigations and resolving seven complaints informally.
New service standards were introduced on April 1, 2023, setting internal time limits for investigative steps. NSIRA achieved a 100% success rate in meeting these standards.
Additionally, NSIRA and the CRCC concluded a study on collecting race-based and demographic data to support anti-racism initiatives. This collaboration will continue into 2024-25.
More information about National Security and Intelligence Reviews and Complaints Investigations can be found in the Results – what we achieved section of the full departmental results report.
