Canadian Security Intelligence Service Case Study

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service was created on June 16, 1984, after passing Bill C-9, which took an Act of Parliament. This Act formed the civilian security intelligence service and also defined the difference between law enforcement activities and security intelligence activities. The passing of this legislation ended the intelligence responsibilities of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Security Force, which came under scrutiny after allegations of the Security Force being involved in illegal activities during the 1970’s (CSIS.GC.CA, 2014). Due to these allegations, an investigation took place called the MacDonald Commission. The end result of the commission in 1981 concluded, security intelligence activities should and needed

CSIS was created to help safeguard Canadian institutions and maintain the democratic values of Canada. The mission within the Canadian Security Intelligence Service is to investigate suspected threats, which may pose a threat to national security. The service has the authority to take measures in order to eliminate these threats under reasonable grounds and within the confines of the law. While CSIS is at the forefront of Canada’s national security, it relies on several Canadian Government agencies and services in order to obtain information. Being an intelligence service, CSIS will advise the Government of Canada through the use of intelligence reports, threat and security assessments based on activities that may pose a threat to national security. CSIS creates these reports and assessments through the collection and analysis of information produced from members of the public, foreign governments, CSIS Agents, interception of communications, newspapers, broadcasts and other published material (CSIS.GC.CA, 2014). CSIS views terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), espionage, foreign interference and cyber-tampering affecting critical infrastructure, as the

With more than 280 arrangements with foreign agencies or international organizations located within 150 countries and territories. On the CSIS website, it states the service does not publicly divulge details of the information exchanges or identify the foreign agencies in question, for national security purposes (CSIS.GC.CA, 2014). Of those 280 total arrangements, 60 foreign entities have had no exchanges for a period of one year or more with CSIS. CSIS has also restricted contact with eleven foreign entities due to ongoing concerns over the reliability or human rights reputations of the agencies in question (CSIS.GC.CA, 2014). The Canadian Government has set strict standards and guidelines with foreign Countries regarding the sharing of intelligence. Prior to entering into intelligence sharing arrangements, all must be reviewed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and approved by the Minister of Public Safety Canada (CSIS.GC.CA, 2014). CSIS provides hundreds of briefings at the national level each year to various law enforcement and other security intelligence agencies, academia, and to municipal governments (CSIS.GC.CA,