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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | July 16, 1984; 41 years ago (1984-07-16) |
| Preceding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Canada |
| Headquarters | Ottawa,Ontario, Canada 45°26′15″N75°36′50″W / 45.4374°N 75.6139°W /45.4374; -75.6139 |
| Motto | A safe, secure and prosperous Canada, through trusted intelligence and advice. |
| Employees | 3,200+ (2020)[1] |
| Annual budget | $702.6 million (2024–25)[2] |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
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| Parent department | Public Safety Canada |
| Website | www |
TheCanadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS,/ˈsiːsɪs/;French:Service canadien du renseignement de sécurité,SCRS) is aforeign intelligence service andsecurity agency of thefederal government of Canada. It is responsible for gathering, processing, and analyzingnational security information from around the world and conductingcovert action within Canada and abroad.[3] CSIS reports to theMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and is subject to review by theNational Security and Intelligence Review Agency.[4]
The CSIS has no law enforcement function and mainly focuses on intelligence gathering overseas.[5] The agency is led by a director, the current being Daniel Rogers, who assumed the role on October 15, 2024.[6]
Prior to 1984, security intelligence in Canada was the purview of theRoyal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). However, during the 1970s, there were allegations that theRCMP Security Service – the predecessor to CSIS – had been involved in numerous illegal activities. As a result of these allegations, Justice David McDonald was appointed in 1977 to investigate the activities of the RCMP Security Service. The resulting investigation, known as theMcDonald Commission, published its final report in 1981, with its main recommendation being that security intelligence work should be separated from policing, and that a civilian intelligence agency be created to take over from the RCMP Security Service.[7]
On June 21, 1984, CSIS was created by anAct of Parliament. At the time, it was also decided that the activities of this new agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, should be subject to both judicial approval for warrants and to general review by a new body, theSecurity Intelligence Review Committee, as well as the office of the Inspector General (which was disbanded in 2012). Itsde facto existence began on July 16 under the direction ofThomas D'Arcy Finn.[8] In its early years, its primary focus was on investigating terrorist groups in response to a number of violent crimes with political undertones, such as thebombing of an Air India jet departing from Montreal and the armed takeover of the Turkish embassy in Ottawa.[9]
At first, the main emphasis of CSIS was combatting the activities of various foreign intelligence agencies operating in Canada.[10] For example, it has been engaged in investigating economic espionage involving Chinese operations throughout Canada.[11] While the threat posed by foreign intelligence agencies still remains, CSIS over the years since9/11 has focused more and more on the threat to Canadian security and its citizens posed by terrorist activity, and this has led to the memorable cases ofMaher Arar andOmar Khadr.
The institutional focus of CSIS returned to state actors (such as Russia and China) after a February 2021 speech by the CSIS director, David Vigneault, who warned that the Chinese "strategy for geopolitical advantage on all fronts — economic, technological, political and military" uses "all elements of state power to carry out activities that are a direct threat to our national security and sovereignty."[12] Meanwhile, in May 2023, according to a CSIS intelligence assessment which provided an overview of Chinese government foreign interference in Canada, it was claimed that China sees Canada as a “high-priority target” and employs “incentives and punishment” as part of a vast influence network directed at legislators, business executives and diaspora communities.[13]
In 2024, the Parliament of Canada passed theCountering Foreign Interference Act, which amended theCanadian Security Intelligence Service Act to give CSIS powers to investigate potential foreign interference in the Canadian political system.
The leadership position is mostly a political appointment.
Coulombe, Yaworski, Lloyd, and Rogers were promoted from the ranks within CSIS. Vigneault had held a management posting with CSIS. Neufeld had joined CSIS in 1984 after being in the RCMP.
Finn was previously assistant secretary to the federal cabinet for security and intelligence matters in the 1970s.
Neufeld (RCMP) and Vigneault (CBSA, CSE) have law enforcement backgrounds.
*Deputy directorJeffrey Yaworski briefly served as interim director for a few weeks following Coulombe's departure, but the agency considers Vigneault to be its ninth director.[25][26]
CSIS is one of several federal agencies (primarily those involved with law enforcement, security, or having a regulatory function) that have been granted aheraldic badge. The badge was created in July 1984 (pre-dating the creation of theCanadian Heraldic Authority). The badge received royal approval in June 1985.[27]
On December 21, 2016, a CSIS flag was raised for the first time by the director at the national headquarters. The flag displays the CSIS badge on a white field.[28]
In the book,The Mosaic Effect, co-authors, former Canadian Military Security Intelligence Analyst, Scott McGregor and Journalist Ina Mitchell revealed that employees' internal nickname for CSIS is "the Sisters."[29]
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CSIS is a federalnational security agency which conducts national security investigations and security intelligence collection. CSIS collects and analyzes intelligence, then advises theGovernment of Canada on issues and activities that may threaten the security of Canada and its citizens.[30] These threats include terrorism,[31] espionage and foreign interference in Canadian affairs,[32] proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,[33] andinformation security threats.[34] The agency is also responsible for the security screening program.[35]
There is no restriction in theCanadian Security Intelligence Service Act on where CSIS may collect "security intelligence" or information relating to threats to the security of Canada.[36] The Service can collect three sorts of datasets: a publicly available dataset, a dataset which belongs to an approved class which is defined by the Minister, and a dataset that "predominantly relates to non-Canadians who are outside Canada."[36]
There is a distinction between "security intelligence" and "foreign intelligence". Security intelligence pertains to national security threats (e.g.,terrorism,espionage). Foreign intelligence involves information collection relating to the political or economic activities of foreign states. Previous law stated that CSIS was only allowed to collect this intelligence within Canada but due to an updated law in 2016 they are now allowed to collect that intelligence abroad as well.
CSIS has served in many different countries, especially after 9/11. Examples of some of the countries they have served in are: Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Mali, Libya, Sudan, Pakistan, Somalia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
CSIS is neither a police agency nor is it a part of the military. As a civilian intelligence agency, the primary role of CSIS is not law enforcement. Investigation of criminal activity is left to the RCMP and local (provincial, regional or municipal) police agencies. CSIS, like counterparts such as theUKSecurity Service (MI5) and the USCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA), is a civilian agency. CSIS is subject to review by the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) as well as other legislative checks and balances. The agency carries out its functions in accordance with theCanadian Security Intelligence Service Act, which governs and defines its powers and activities.
Canadian police, military agencies (Canadian Forces Intelligence Branch), and numerous other government departments may maintain their own "intelligence" components (i.e. to analyze criminal intelligence or military strategic intelligence).Global Affairs Canada maintains a Security and Intelligence Bureau to review and analyze overtly acquired information. The bureau plays a coordinating and policy role. While not an intelligence agency, it is responsible for the security of Global Affairs Canada personnel around the world.[37] However, these agencies are not to be confused with the more encompassing work of larger, more dedicated "intelligence agencies" such as CSIS, MI5,MI6, or the CIA.
AsCanada's contributor of human intelligence to theFive Eyes, CSIS works closely with the intelligence agencies of theUnited States,United Kingdom,Australia, andNew Zealand. Under the post-World War IIQuadripartite (UKUSA) Agreement, intelligence information is shared between the intelligence agencies of these five countries.
CSIS was named one of "Canada's Top 100 Employers" by Mediacorp Canada Inc. for the years of 2009–2011, and was featured inMaclean's newsmagazine.[38]
CSIS headquarters is located in Ottawa, Ontario and is responsible for the overall operations. Regionally, Canada is broken down into six subordinate regions; the Atlantic, Quebec, Ottawa, Toronto, Prairie, and British Columbia Regions.[39]
These regions are responsible for investigating any threat to Canada and its allies as defined by theCanadian Security Intelligence Service Act. They liaise with the various federal, provincial, municipal and private sector entities found within their areas of responsibility. They also conduct various outreach programs with different community and cultural groups, universities, and private sector organizations in an effort to provide a better understanding, and to clear up any misunderstandings of the role of CSIS.[40] All these regions also border the US and they therefore maintain contact with their US federal counterparts.[41]
The Atlantic Region encompasses the four Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia,New Brunswick,Newfoundland and Labrador, andPrince Edward Island) and is the smallest of the six CSIS regions. Its main office is located inHalifax, with two district offices inFredericton andSt. John's.
This region is responsible solely for the province ofQuebec. Its main office is inMontreal, with one district office inQuebec City.
These two regions are responsible for operations in Ontario (except for NW Ontario). There are four district offices located in Niagara Falls, Windsor,Downtown Toronto and atToronto Pearson International Airport.[42]
Geographically, this represents the largest of the six regions and encompasses the area of Ontario north and west ofThunder Bay,Manitoba,Saskatchewan,Alberta and the three northern territories ofYukon,Northwest Territories andNunavut. The regional office is located inEdmonton with three district offices located inWinnipeg,Regina andCalgary.
This region is responsible for the province of British Columbia. Its main office is located in downtown Burnaby with a district office at theVancouver International Airport.
CSIS is functionally divided into three Deputy Directorates and five Assistant Directorates:[43]
CSIS also houses a Chief Audit and Evaluation Executive and a Senior Officer for Disclosure of Wrongdoing.[43]
CSIS officers stationed in foreign flashpoints, such as Afghanistan, carry unspecified guns, however they are not authorized to bear arms inside Canada.[44]
CSIS Intelligence Officers (IOs) are required to complete the Intelligence Officer Entry Training (IOET) program at CSIS HQ in Ottawa, Ontario, followed by a three-year professional development program with a mandatory posting in Ottawa. Upon completion of the program, IOs may progress to the investigator role and may be relocated to other offices.[45] Intelligence Officers are put on probation for at least a year upon completion of the IOET.[46] Foreign language training is also available for Intelligence Officers.[citation needed]
The RAP was reorganized in 1996–1997 in order to better coordinate with the Intelligence Assessment Secretariat of thePrivy Council Office.[47][48] It has four sub-divisions: Counter Intelligence, Foreign Intelligence, Counter-terrorism and Distribution.[47]
As part of an omnibus national security bill passed by the Parliament in 2019, the oversight and reporting regime for CSIS was overhauled.[49] The previous agency that handled all oversight of CSIS, theSecurity Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) was replaced by a new agency, theNational Security & Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA), which now includes oversight of all national security and intelligence activities undertaken by any agency of the Government of Canada.
The reforms also included the creation of a newIntelligence Commissioner who reports to Parliament and has quasi-judicial oversight of all national security matters.[50]
National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) is the primary oversight committee in regards to Canadian Intelligence. The committee performs strategic and systematic reviews of the legislative, regulatory, policy, expenditure and administrative frameworks under which national security activities are conducted.[51] The committee is composed of members from theHouse of Commons andSenate. While members are made up ofMembers of Parliament, the committee is not astanding committee nor aspecial committee of Parliament. Rather, it is an agency of the executive branch, itself overseen by thePrime Minister's Office.
According to L'Hebdo Journal, it is reported that some senior officials of the service used abunker inOttawa to file and discuss warrant applications with judges of theFederal Court.[52]
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In the first year after its creation, CSIS was embroiled in theAir India bombing incident. There is evidence that CSIS knew of the plot three weeks before it happened, had multiple informants under surveillance, and that one of the suspects in the bombing,Surjan Singh Gill, was a CSIS informant.[53][54] It was also revealed that of the 210 wiretaps recorded before and after the bombing, 156 were erased by CSIS. The scandal contributed to the resignation of CSIS' first director,Ted Finn.[55]
Crown prosecutor James Jardine expressed frustration with CSIS to theCommission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182, headed by Justice John C. Major. Two Canadian courts have publicly criticized CSIS for destroying wiretap evidence. One court commented on the importance of wiretap evidence from CSIS in establishing guilt. The second focused on its exculpatory value.[citation needed]
From 1988 to 1994, CSIS contracted a private investigator to act as an undercover agent. The agent,Grant Bristow, built relationships with far-right activists and white supremacists involved in theNationalist Party of Canada, before breaking off with them to form theHeritage Front. Bristow would act as one of the Front's leading organizers, including helping to organize actions, recruit members, bring speakers to Canada (such asTom Metzger), and offer training to Front activists. When the story became public knowledge, the press aired concerns that he had not only been one of the founders of the Heritage Front group, but that he had also channelled CSIS funding to the group.[56][57][58]
In 1997, theRoyal Canadian Mounted Police collaborated with CSIS onProject Sidewinder, a study alleging China had set up a foreign influence network in Canada. The RCMP accused CSIS of "watering down" the report.[59]
In several instances, CSIS has been accused of misrepresenting facts to the courts.[60] In 2013, CSIS was censured by Federal Court JudgeRichard Mosley for deliberately misleading the Federal Court to make it possible for them to allow other agencies to spy on Canadians abroad, which is not allowed by Canadian law.[61] Mosley found that "CSIS breached its duty of candour to the Court by not disclosing information that was relevant," according to a statement by the Federal Court.[62]
CSIS has also been involved in cases where evidence has been mishandled or omitted from the Courts. In 2009, it was alleged that the service did not disclose information that their confidential informants, which CSIS had been relying on to gather information about their targets, were either deceptive,[clarification needed] or failed lie-detector tests.[63] This was not an isolated case, and in several other instances, the agency mishandling of evidence has also called for investigation.[64][65]
On September 18, 2006, the Arar Commission absolved CSIS of any involvement in theextraordinary rendition by the United States of aCanadian citizen,Maher Arar.[citation needed] The commission found that US authorities sent Arar toJordan and thenSyria (his country of birth) based on incorrect information which had been provided by the RCMP to the US government. Arar was held by the Syrians for one year and was tortured. The sole criticism of CSIS leveled by the commission was that the agency should do more to critically examine information provided by regimes which practicetorture.[citation needed]
On March 31, 2009, CSIS lawyer and advisor Geoffrey O'Brian told the Committee on Public Safety and National Security that CSIS would use information obtained by torture if it could prevent another attack such as9/11 or the Air India bombing. Testifying before the same committee two days later, the director of CSIS, Jim Judd said that O'Brian "may have been confused" and "venturing into a hypothetical", and would send the committee a clarifying letter.[66] Two weeks later CSIS announced that Judd would be retiring in June, five months before the end of his five-year term.[67]
Prominent Canadian national security lawyerBarbara Jackman has also been critical, categorizing the research by CSIS as "sloppy" and that its officers are "susceptible totunnel vision".[68]
In 2017, several CSIS members includingHuda Mukbil accused the organization of having a racist and homophobic workplace culture.[69][70]
In 2018, CSIS was accused by Canadian lawmakers of purposely giving money to former terrorists-turned-informants for more information, CSIS repeatedly denied this. However several weeks later DirectorDavid Vigneault would appear in front ofCanada's Parliament to testify regarding the act.[71]
In June 2023, a prominent Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was murdered outside a temple in British Columbia, Canada by unidentified gunmen. Notably in September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being behind Nijjar's death, saying that Canadian intelligence had identified "credible allegations" of a link between his death and agents of the Indian state.[72]
In December 2023, CSIS launched a workplace assessment on CSIS' BC office due to serious allegations of rape by anonymous female CSIS officers and concerns of a toxic environment.[73] At the same time, an ombudsman position would be created to look into workplace issues for employees to submit reports anonymously without any fear of reprisals while reports on harassment and wrongdoing by CSIS would be released annually.[74]
...Vigneault became the ninth Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
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