Government of Canada Introduces Legislation to Establish National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians

News Release

Ottawa, Ontario, June 16, 2016 - The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Dominic LeBlanc, today introduced legislation to create the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP). The legislation was developed in close collaboration with the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ralph Goodale.

The Government of Canada is committed to two critical goals: ensuring that our security and intelligence agencies are effective in keeping Canadians safe and safeguarding our values, our rights and freedoms and the open, generous, inclusive character of our country. The new National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians is a critical step in providing the essential scrutiny to meet these commitments.

The multi-partisan committee – which would include representatives from both the House of Commons and the Senate – would have a broad government-wide mandate and special access to highly classified information to review national security and intelligence activities.

Quotes

“The establishment of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians is an important first step in enhancing national security review and furthering our commitments towards meaningful engagement with parliamentarians. By proposing the establishment of this committee, we are acknowledging the important role parliamentarians can and should play in reviewing national security and intelligence activities.”
- The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

“Having a committee of Parliamentarians with robust scrutiny of national security and intelligence activities is critically important for Canada. The proposed mandate and powers of the committee will help ensure that our security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies are effective in keeping Canadians safe while at the same time respecting fundamental rights and freedoms and the values of a democratic society."  
- The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

Related link

• Backgrounder: National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians

For further information:

Sabrina Atwal
Press Secretary
Office of the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
613-995-2727

Scott Bardsley
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-998-5681

Hon. Ralph Goodale Hon. Dominic LeBlanc Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Government and Politics