Annual Reports

Annual Report 1995-1996
An Operational Audit of CSIS Activities

Security Intelligence Review Committee
122 Bank Street
P.O. Box 2430, Station D
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5W5

Tel: (613) 990-8441
Fax: (613) 990-5230
Web Site: http://www.sirc-csars.gc.ca
Collect calls are accepted, and the switchboard is open
from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

© Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1995
Cat. No. JS71-1/1995
ISBN 0-662-61343-0

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The Honourable Herb Gray, P.C., M.P.
Solicitor General of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Gray:

As required by section 53 of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, we transmit to you the Annual Report of the Security Intelligence Review Committee for the fiscal year 1995-96, for your submission to Parliament.

Yours sincerely,

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The Security Intelligence Review Committee at a Glance

The Security Intelligence Review Committee (called "SIRC" or "the Committee" in this report) acts as the eyes and ears of the public and Parliament on the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) is a federal government agency, created in 1984 by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act (the CSIS Act). CSIS investigates terrorists, agents of hostile intelligence services, and others whose activities may be a, "threat to the security of Canada." CSIS must protect its sources and methods. Inevitably, therefore, much of its work remains secret. This makes it difficult for Members of Parliament and the Canadian public to ensure that CSIS operations are effective and that, at the same time, CSIS respects the rights and freedoms of Canadians. To pre-empt these potential problems, the same law that created CSIS created SIRC.

The Committee is independent of the Government in its operations, but responsible to the Parliament of Canada. The CSIS Act provides that its members are appointed by the Governor General in Council, after consultation by the Prime Minister with the leaders of all parties having more than twelve members in the House of Commons. Individuals may be appointed to the Committee only if they are already Privy Councillors or are appointed to the Privy Council for that purpose by order of the Governor General in Council.

To the extent that national security permits, the Committee reports to Parliament through its Annual Report. This is available to the public. It constitutes an evaluation of CSIS operations that would otherwise not be allowed to come under public scrutiny because of national security considerations.

The Committee also has the power to investigate complaints relating to CSIS. First, it can investigate complaints by a person about, "any act or thing" done by CSIS. It is not necessary that the person complaining be personally affected by what CSIS did.

Second, the Committee can review certain denials or revocations of security clearances affecting federal government employees, or job applicants, or persons who seek to sell goods or services to the federal government under contract.

Third, in a related vein, it can also review adverse security findings that would affect a person's right to immigrate to Canada or obtain Canadian citizenship. If the Committee finds a complaint justified, it recommends a remedy.