Date of Publishing:
NSIRA’s Notification Letter
Dear Mr. Vigneault,
I am writing on behalf of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) to inform you that NSIRA has initiated its Annual Compliance Review of CSIS Activities (ARCA) for 2024.
The ARCA will examine information relating to CSIS’ compliance with the law and ministerial directions, as well as the reasonableness and necessity of CSIS activities. Furthermore, information gleaned from ARCA will inform NSIRA’s classified annual report to the Minister of Public Safety, a requirement under subsection 32(1) and (2) of the NSIRA Act.
This review is being conducted pursuant to paragraphs 8(1)(a) of the 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, except for cabinet confidences. This includes a right to receive any documents and explanations NSIRA deems necessary for the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties and functions.
The NSIRA review team conducting this review has been identified in the cover email to this letter; they should serve as your officials’ primary point of contact at NSIRA regarding this review. Please ensure that the relevant points of contact within your organization are identified to NSIRA’s review team in the coming days. As the review progresses, NSIRA’s review team will be in regular contact with them regarding 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. NSIRA reviews may also include independent inspections of technical systems. NSIRA’s “Expectations for Responsiveness in Reviews” are available on our website, www.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,
John Davies
Executive Director, National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Secretariat
