Backgrounder

Ottawa, Ontario, November 6, 2024 – The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency’s (NSIRA) fifth annual report has been tabled in Parliament.

This report provides an overview and discussion of NSIRA’s review and investigation work throughout 2023, including its findings and recommendations. It highlights the significant outcomes achieved through strengthened partnerships and an unwavering commitment to all Canadians to provide accountability and transparency regarding the Government of Canada’s national security and intelligence activities.

The annual report also reflects on a major milestone: NSIRA’s five-year anniversary. The agency has matured since its inception in 2019, keeping pace with emerging threats, technological advancements, and evolving security and intelligence activities. In stride, NSIRA has built an enhanced capacity to address complex issues and conduct thorough and effective reviews and investigations with a team of dedicated professionals with diverse expertise.  

In 2023, in addition to its mandatory reviews, NSIRA continued executing discretionary reviews that were deemed relevant and appropriate. Of the ongoing reviews in 2023, NSIRA has since completed 12. In particular, NSIRA’s review on the Dissemination of Intelligence on People’s Republic of China Political Foreign Interference, 2018–2023 was a significant achievement. NSIRA evaluated the flow of intelligence within government from the collectors to consumers, including senior public servants and elected officials. This involved scrutinizing internal processes regarding how collected information was shared and escalated to relevant decision-makers. NSIRA determined it was in the public interest to report on this matter and produced its first special report under section 40 of the NSIRA Act, which was tabled in both houses of Parliament in May 2024.  

Review highlights in the report include the following:  

• A review of the Communications Security Establishment’s (CSE) use of the polygraph for security screening, which examined the way CSE operated its polygraph program and the role of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) in establishing the Standard on Security Screening that governs the use of the polygraph for security screening by the Government of Canada;  

• A review of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s (CSIS) current application of its dataset regime, which enables CSIS to collect and retain datasets containing personal information that are not directly and immediately related to threats but likely to assist in national security investigations; 

• A review of operational collaboration between CSE and CSIS, NSIRA’s first review to examine the effectiveness of the collaboration by assessing their respective mandates and associated prohibitions; 

• Two mandated multi-departmental reviews: a review of directions issued with respect to the Avoiding Complicity in Mistreatment by Foreign Entities Act and a review of disclosures of information under the Security of Canada Information Disclosure Act; and 

• Three reviews concerning human source programs: the RCMP’s Human Source Program, CBSA’s Confidential Human Source Program, and the Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces’ Human Source Handling Program. 

NSIRA also closed 12 investigations in 2023. Last year, the agency saw an increase in complaints against CSIS under section 16 of the NSIRA Act, alleging process delays in immigration or citizenship security screening.  

This annual report demonstrates the value of expanded partnerships and how the organization leveraged its network of international oversight partners in 2023, including lessons learned and shared. NSIRA’s integration into the global community of national security and intelligence oversight has advanced the agency’s development and enhanced its capacity to carry out its mandate. 

Over the past five years, NSIRA has sought to demystify the often-opaque domain of national security and intelligence agencies and empower Canadians to participate in informed discussions about their security and rights. Recently, the agency codified its approach by formalizing its vision, mission, and values statements. 

Looking ahead, NSIRA is committed to continuing its vital work reporting on whether national security or intelligence activities are respectful of the rights and freedoms of all Canadians and enhancing public awareness and understanding of the critical issues at stake in national security and intelligence.