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- Section 3. SIRC at a glance
Annual Report 2008-2009 - Accountability in a New Era of Security Intelligence
Section 3: SIRC at a Glance
Committee Activities
October 5–8, 2008: The Chair, the Executive Director, and a Member of SIRC attended the International Review Agencies Symposium, hosted in Auckland, New Zealand, by the Inspector-General Intelligence and Security.
October 30–November 1, 2008: The Executive Director and several staff attended a conference of the Canadian Association of Security and Intelligence Studies, held in Ottawa.
November 4, 2008: At Carleton University, the Executive Director gave a lecture to students of a course on national security, providing an overview of SIRC’s role and mandate.
March 5, 2009: The Executive Director appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.
March 24, 2009: The Acting Senior Counsel and the Senior Advisor met with officials from the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.
March 26, 2009: The Acting Senior Counsel and the Senior Advisor met with officials from the Intelligence Security Committee (United Kingdom).
Committee Membership
SIRC is chaired by the Honourable Gary Filmon, P.C., O.M., who was appointed as Chair on June 24, 2005. The other Committee Members are the Honourable Frances Lankin, P.C., the Honourable Denis Losier, P.C., the Honourable Dr. Arthur T. Porter, P.C., M.D., and the Honourable Raymond Speaker, P.C., O.C.
All Members of SIRC are Privy Councillors. Each is appointed by the Governor-in-Council after consultation by the Prime Minister with the leaders of the Opposition parties.
In addition to attending monthly committee meetings, members preside over complaints hearings, prepare reviews and complaint reports in consultation with SIRC staff, visit CSIS regional offices, address Parliamentary committees and exercise other duties associated with their responsibilities.
Staffing and Organization
SIRC is supported by an Executive Director, Susan Pollak, and an authorized staff complement of 20, located in Ottawa. The staff comprises a Senior Advisor, a Senior Counsel, a Corporate Services Manager, Counsel, a Senior Paralegal, plus researchers and administrative staff.
Committee Members provide staff with direction on research and other activities that are identified as a priority for the year. Management of day-to-day operations is delegated to the Executive Director with direction, when necessary, from the Chair as Chief Executive Officer.
As part of their ongoing work, the Chair of SIRC, Committee Members and senior staff participate in regular discussions with CSIS executive and staff, and other senior members of the security intelligence community.
These exchanges are supplemented by discussions with academics, security and intelligence experts and other relevant organizations. These activities enrich SIRC’s knowledge about issues and opinions affecting national security intelligence.
SIRC also visits CSIS regional offices on a rotating basis to better understand and examine the day-to-day work of investigators in the field. These visits give Committee Members an opportunity to be briefed by regional CSIS staff on local issues, challenges and priorities. It is also an opportunity to communicate SIRC’s focus and concerns.
During the 2008–09 fiscal year, SIRC visited three regional offices.
Budget and Expenditures
SIRC continues to manage its activities within allocated resource levels. Staff salaries and travel within Canada for Committee hearings, briefings and review activities represent its chief expenditures. Table 2 below presents a breakdown of actual and estimated expenditures.
| 2008-09 (Estimates) | 2008-09 (Actual) | |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | $1,900,000 | $1,700,000 |
| Goods and Services | $1,000,000 | $700,000 |
| Total | $2,900,000 | $2,400,000 |