Inspector General of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
There are two review bodies for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS):
- the Inspector General, internal to the Government and reporting to the Minister of Public Safety
- the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC), external to the Government and reporting to Parliament
Duties of the Inspector General
The Inspector General (IG) was established under the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act (CSIS Act) in 1984. The IG who is appointed by the Governor in Council provides independent assurance to the Minister of Public Safety to support ministerial responsibility for CSIS. In order to provide the Minister with this independent and external perspective to the work of CSIS, the IG and staff undertake a variety of review activities to monitor the compliance by CSIS with its operational policies and to review the operational activities of CSIS. The IG may also be directed by the Minister or tasked by the Security Intelligence Review Committee to review Service activities.
These activities are conducted to better ensure that the Minister is informed, in an independent manner, of the operational activities of CSIS and their compliance with the legislative and policy framework. This result supports the Minister in his accountability for CSIS.
Annual certificate
Each year, the IG produces a certificate for the Minister stating the extent to which she is satisfied with the Annual Report of the Director of CSIS to the Minister and whether in the opinion of the IG, CSIS, in the course of its operational activities, has done anything that is not authorized by the CSIS Act, has contravened any Ministerial Directions or has involved the unreasonable or unnecessary use of its powers.
Additional duties
The Minister can direct the Inspector General to examine particular issues and operational activities. The Inspector General also provides ongoing advice in various forms to Public Safety Canada's Minister and Deputy Minister as well as to CSIS. The advice relates to compliance matters and the effectiveness of the control/accountability framework, including the directions the Minister provides to CSIS under Section 6 of the CSIS Act.