Transition Binder: National and Cyber Security Branch Overview
Branch Background
The National and Cyber Security Branch (NCSB) aims to ensure that Canada is prepared for, and can respond to, a range of national security and cyber security threats by:
- Supporting and coordinating the prevention, detection, denial, response and recovery efforts of the Public Safety Portfolio, and other government departments and agencies, on matters relevant to national and cyber security
- Working with operational and policy partners to provide the federal government with strategic advice on rapidly evolving and often sensitive security issues
- Assisting the Minister and Deputy Minister in fulfilling key statutory obligations
- Identifying and closing gaps in Canada's ability to address cyber and other national security threats; and
- Coordinating, and developing policies and implementation processes related to issues such as ransomware, cyber security and incident response, foreign investments, anti-terrorist financing, critical infrastructure, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, research security, hostile state activity and counter terrorism (e.g., the listing of terrorist entities, travel abroad for terrorism related purposes, ideologically motivated violent extremism)
As of July 2022, NCSB has a total of 186 full-time employees (FTEs) (202 headcount) with a current salary budget of approximately $18 million and an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) budget of $3.3 million.
Key Files and Responsibilities
The Branch houses the Office of the National Counter-Foreign Interference Coordinator (ONCFIC) and comprises four Directorates: National Security Policy, National Cyber Security, National Security Operations and Critical Infrastructure.
Office of the National Counter-Foreign Interference Coordinator (NCFIC)
In 2023, the NCFIC position was created and staffed by an Associate Assistant Deputy Minister to coordinate Government of Canada efforts to combat foreign interference by providing leadership to advance a unified federal response to FI actions, and increasing situational awareness and transparency through community engagement with domestic and international stakeholders and partners. Since its creation, the ONCFIC has played a central role in coordinating efforts to support the development of and implementation of Bill C-70, including multiple rounds of public engagement and consultation. The ONCFIC has also served as the PS lead supporting the Public Inquiry on Foreign Interference (PIFI) Commission.
National Security Policy Directorate
The National Security Policy Directorate supports the Minister in coordinating key national security policy issues. Key responsibilities include: the Passenger Protect Program and Passport Program; review of the National Security Act, 2017; Terrorist Financing; Economic and Research Security; support to senior national security policy committees and national security governance; counter-terrorism and violent extremism; Intelligence and Evidence; Lawful Access; the National Security Transparency Commitment (including the National Security Transparency Advisory Group) and engaging with national security review bodies (NSIRA and NSICOP); CLOUD Act; information sharing for national security including the Security of Canada Information Disclosure Act and the Avoiding Complicity in Mistreatment by Foreign Entities Act; the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) Division 9/National security Inadmissibility Initiative; and the Five Country Ministerial. The Directorate also provides advice to the Deputy Minister and the Minister in support of their accountability for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
National Cyber Security Directorate
The National Cyber Security Directorate (NCSD), as Canada's cyber security policy lead, supports the Minister in coordinating the government's overall policy approach on cyber security. Key files include the new National Cyber Security Strategy, Bill C-26: An Act Respecting Cyber Security, which would enact the Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act and amend the Telecommunications Act to add promoting security as a telecommunications policy objective; as well as Ransomware; public attributions; implementation of the Cyber Diplomacy and Security component of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy; the execution of the Federal Cyber Incident Response Plan; and coordination of Canada's involvement in the Ottawa Five, the Five Eyes cyber security policy forum. NCSD also acts as the secretariat for the Deputy Ministers and Assistant Deputy Ministers' Committees on Cyber Security on yearly rotating basis with the Communications Security Establishment.
National Security Operations Directorate
The National Security Operations Directorate coordinates and leads activities to prevent individuals and entities who pose threats to national security from operating in Canada. Key files include Terrorist Listings, coordination and administration of the Criminal Code Authorization Regime, which publicly launched on June 19, 2024, countering foreign interference, National Security Operations Incident Management, economic security operations, including national security reviews under the Investment Canada Act and the Retail Payment Activities Act, Economic-based National Security including the Sensitive Technology List, Canadian Extremist Travelers, and kidnappings.
Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner's Office
The Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner's Office (FITCO) is an independent body that will be housed within Public Safety, and will ultimately be responsible for ensuring transparency in arrangements between foreign principals and activities aimed at influencing political or government processes in Canada. The FITCO, through the Foreign Influence Transparency Registry (FITR), seeks to reduce foreign interference (FI) in Canada by enhancing transparency and accountability of foreign influence activities undertaken in Canada. The FITCO has not yet been stood up and is not yet operational. Public Safety, through a small team of dedicated FTEs, is working on establishing the FITCO (The FITCO Transition Team).
Critical Infrastructure Directorate
The Critical Infrastructure Directorate (CID) is responsible for supporting the Minister in leading an overall national effort to enhance the security and resilience of Canada's critical infrastructure (CI) against all threats and hazards. In this capacity, CID has the lead policy and coordination role for CI and works in collaboration with federal departments and agencies—including federal security partners—to develop and advance CI initiatives for the Government of Canada. Key files include the National Strategy for Critical Infrastructure, for which a renewal process is underway aimed at providing transition advice for a new government. CID also manages CI stakeholder engagement and partnerships, and offers assessment tools for Canada's ten CI sectors.
Key Partners
Given the diversity and depth of the Branch, key partners can greatly vary. The Branch regularly works with the Portfolio entities, other government departments, the provinces and territories, academic and research community, and private and public sector critical infrastructure owners and operators. Key international partners are the Five Eyes alliance and the G7.
- Date modified: