NSICOP Welcomes the Creation of NSIRA with the Coming into Force of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Act
Ottawa, July 17, 2019 — Today, the Government announced the coming into force of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA). The establishment of NSIRA will balance the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ (NSICOP) broad framework reviews with specific activity and compliance reviews.
The Chair of NSICOP, the Honourable David McGuinty, welcomes the creation of the NSIRA. “NSICOP looks forward to cooperating and collaborating with NSIRA to maximize the effectiveness of review and to further enhance the accountability of Canada’s national security and intelligence community.”
Background
NSICOP was established under the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act on June 22, 2017. NSICOP serves as an independent, high-level review body of Canada’s national security and intelligence organizations. It may review:
- the legislative, regulatory, policy, administrative and financial framework for national security and intelligence;
- any activity carried out by a department that relates to national security or intelligence, unless the activity is an ongoing operation and the appropriate Minister determines that the review would be injurious to national security;
- any matter relating to national security or intelligence that a minister of the Crown refers to NSICOP.
NSICOP members hold the highest level of security clearance, are permanently bound to secrecy under the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act and meet in private.
The NSICOP is composed of lawmakers from both houses of Canada’s Parliament and representing all major political parties and groups. They have a range of experience, including from government, academia and the private sector, and represent perspectives from across Canada. The Committee works on a collegial and non-partisan basis.
NSICOP must submit an annual report to the Prime Minister that includes the reviews conducted in the preceding year. It may also complete a Special Report on any matter related to its mandate, at any time. The Prime Minister causes NSICOP’s reports to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament, which are then referred to the appropriate Senate and House of Commons committees.