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Accountability and Review
CSIS is one of the most open and accountable security organizations in the world. This is achieved through a
system of control and review mechanisms and processes, prescribed by the CSIS Act, that include the
following:
- Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada: The Minister is responsible to
Parliament for CSIS as a whole and for its general direction. The Minister issues policy guidelines concerning
operational procedures, is informed of security operations and problems and approves cooperative agreements
and relationships with foreign agencies.
- Deputy Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada: The Deputy Minister provides
advice to the Minister on general direction to CSIS, and monitors how CSIS implements this direction.
- Director of CSIS: The Director of CSIS is accountable to the Minister for the management and control
of CSIS. The Director submits periodic reports on CSIS activities to the Minister, and chairs internal
committees that are aimed at enhancing the organization’s management and accountability. Two of these
committees are directly responsible for, and have authority over, CSIS’ use of investigative techniques.
- Inspector General: The Inspector General is responsible for monitoring CSIS’ compliance with
operational policies, reviewing its operational activities, and reviewing and issuing a certificate indicating
the degree of satisfaction with the Director's annual operational report. The certificate and the report are
forwarded to the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC). At the request of the Minister or SIRC, the
Inspector General may conduct a review of specific CSIS activities. The Inspector General has access to all
information under CSIS’ control (except for Cabinet confidences).
- Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC): SIRC is responsible for reviewing how CSIS performs
its functions, and investigates complaints against CSIS. The Committee also investigates complaints filed by
individuals who were denied security clearances, and
reviews reports concerning immigration applications and citizenship applications that were rejected based on
security or criminal grounds. To enable it to fulfill its responsibilities, the Committee has access to all
information under CSIS’ control (except Cabinet confidences). SIRC informs the Minister of Public Safety and
Emergency Preparedness of its investigation findings on an ongoing basis, and produces an annual report that
is tabled by the Minister in Parliament.
- Federal Court: The power to authorize intrusive investigation techniques rests solely with the
Federal Court of Canada. Before such an authorization can be made, CSIS must provide solid justification for
the proposed use of these techniques in an affidavit, which is reviewed by a senior CSIS committee chaired by
the Director and comprised of representatives from the Department of Justice, and Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness Canada. If the committee endorses the intrusive technique, the affidavit is submitted to the
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada for approval. If the Minister gives approval, the affidavit is then submitted to the Federal Court,
which must issue a warrant before CSIS can proceed with the intrusive investigative technique.
- Public Reporting: CSIS provides information to Parliament and the public through the Minister’s Annual
Statement on National Security and the CSIS Public Report. These documents provide Canadians with
an assessment of the current security intelligence environment and detail the government's efforts to ensure
national security. More specifically, the CSIS Public Report is aimed at increasing awareness of CSIS’
functions and the processes it employs, and dispelling some of the myths surrounding security intelligence
work.
The following diagram shows the connections between the control and review mechanisms.
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