April 10, 2025
The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
Minister and Attorney General of Canada
Department of Justice Canada
Subject: Notification of NSIRA’s Review of a Canadian Security Intelligence Service Warranted Threat Reduction Measure
Dear Minister Anandasangaree,
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 a Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) warranted threat reduction measure (TRM).
This review is being conducted pursuant to paragraph 8(1)(a)(b) and 8(2) 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. The review will include information relating to CSIS’ compliance with the law and ministerial directions, as well as the reasonableness and necessity of a selection of CSIS activities.
NSIRA will review all aspects of the TRM, including its design, approval, authorization, and execution. NSIRA will also review the activities of the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) in relation to the TRM. Additionally, NSIRA will review the Department of Justice’s provision of legal advice in relation to the TRM including any legal advice that may have informed Justice counsel’s advice to CSIS and CSE. NSIRA will determine whether the TRM complied with relevant authorities, including the applicable judicial authorization.
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 Shalene Curtis-Micallef, Deputy Minister and Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice Canada
March 17, 2025
Subject: Notification of NSIRA’s Review of a CSIS Warranted Threat Reduction Measure
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 review of a Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) warranted threat reduction measure (TRM).
This review is being conducted pursuant to paragraph 8(1)(a) and 8(2) 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 all aspects of the TRM, including its design, approval, authorization, and execution. NSIRA will also review the activities of the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) in relation to the TRM. NSIRA will determine whether the TRM complied with relevant authorities, including the applicable judicial authorization.
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
Dist.
The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister, Public Safety
The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister, National Defence
cc Daniel Rogers, Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Caroline Xavier, Chief, Communications Security Establishment