Info Source – Sources of Federal Government and Employee Information 2013

Table of Contents

General Information

Background

The Security Intelligence Review Committee (Review Committee) was established under the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, R.S.C. c. C-23 (CSIS Act), in July 1984.

Responsibilities

The Review Committee has two programs. The first is to receive and inquire into complaints by any person about any action of CSIS. The second is to conduct in-depth reviews of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) activities to ensure that they comply with the law, including the CSIS Act, and with the various policy and legal instruments that flow from it.

Institutional Functions, Programs and Activities

Complaints

The Complaints Section investigates complaints from individuals concerning CSIS activities and complaints resulting from the denial of federal security clearances. The Complaints Section also investigates matters referred to the Review Committee from the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and the reports referred to the Review Committee by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration concerning citizenship.

Complaints

Description:
Information on each complaint or referral submitted to the Review Committee is placed in a separate file.
Document Types:
Correspondence, memoranda, notes, transcripts, exhibits, submissions, reports, briefing notes, legal opinions.
Record Number:
SIR COM 001
Complaints
Description:
This bank contains the files on complaints received and investigated by the Review Committee. These files contain all correspondence, memoranda, notes, transcripts, exhibits, submissions, reports, briefing notes, legal opinions.
Class of Individuals:
Complainants, witnesses, counsel and other parties to the complaint.
Purpose:
The bank is used to record and investigate complaints.
Consistent Uses:
There are no consistent uses for this information.
Retention and Disposal Standards:
These files have a retention period of 30 years. At the end of this 30 year period, these files are transferred to the Library and Archives of Canada (LAC) as historical records.
RDA Number:
94/016
Related Record Number:
SIR COM 001
TBS Registration:
004449
Bank Number:
SIR PPU 005
Organization and Functions
Description:
This bank contains information on the Review Committee's organization and operations.
Document Types:
General correspondence, appointments, organization, complaint procedures, meetings, annual reports.
Record Number:
SIR ORG 002

Reviews of CSIS Activites

To determine whether CSIS is in compliance with the law, the Review Committee conducts in-depth reviews of past operations of the Service. With the sole exception of Cabinet confidences, the Review Committee has the absolute authority to examine all information concerning CSIS activities, no matter how highly classified that information may be. The Review Committee's reviews for any given year are designed to yield assessments across the range of CSIS activities. This approach helps to ensure that over time, the Review Committee has a comprehensive understanding of CSIS's activities. Each review can include findings or recommendations. The Review Committee's role is to advise, so that CSIS and those bodies of government that direct it, may take steps to modify policies and procedures accordingly.

Research

Description:
This record contains information related to Research projects undertaken by the Review Committee in order to review the compliance of CSIS activities within the provisions of the CSIS Act, Ministerial Direction, CSIS operational policy and other related legislation. Information on each research project undertaken by the Review Committee is placed on a separate file. Each research project completed by the Review Committee is listed in its Annual Report to Parliament.
Document Types:
Research plans, memoranda, briefings and interviews documentation, field visit notes, drafts and final copies of review results reports, analyses, etc.
Record Number:
SIR RES 003

Internal Services

Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Material Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Acquisitions

Acquisition Services involve activities undertaken to acquire a good or service to fulfil a properly completed request (including a complete and accurate definition of requirements and certification that funds are available) until entering into or amending a contract.

Financial Management

Financial Management Services involve activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources, including planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, control and oversight, analysis, decision support and advice, and financial systems.

Contracts
Description:
This bank contains a record of all personnel and professional service contracts entered into by the Review Committee. It contains information such as contractual documents, invoices and records of payment for individual and professional services.
Class of Individuals:
Individuals hired under personal service contracts by the Review Committee.
Purpose:
The bank is used for accounting and reference purposes.
Consistent Uses:
There are no consistent uses for this information.
Retention and Disposal Standards:
These files are destroyed 5 years after the contract is terminated.
RDA Number:
94/016
Related Record Number:
SIR PRN 914
TBS Registration:
004450
Bank Number:
SIR PPU 010

Human Resources Management

Human Resources Management Services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, allocating resources among services and processes, as well as activities relating to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and/or plans.

Travel and Other Administrative Services

Travel and Other Administrative Services include Government of Canada (GC) travel services, as well as those other internal services that do not smoothly fit with any of the internal services categories.

Classes of Personal Information

The Review Committee receives unsolicited opinions and requests for information. This information is not used for an administrative purpose other than to respond in some instances to the originator. This correspondence is stored in a general file and is disposed of in a manner authorized by the Librarian and Archivist of Canada. This form of personal information is normally retrievable only if specifics are provided concerning the subject and date of correspondence.

Manuals

Additional Information

Please see the Introduction to this publication for information on access procedures under the provisions of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.

For additional information about the programs and activities of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, please contact:

The Security Intelligence Review Committee
P.O. Box 2430, Station D
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5W5
Telephone: 613-990-8441

The Security Intelligence Review Committee's Annual Reports are available on SIRC's website at www.sirc-csars.gc.ca

Reading Room

In accordance with the Access to Information Act, an area on the premises of this institution has been designated as a public reading room. The address is:

Jackson Building
122 Bank Street, 4th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario

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