Canada’s Intelligence Priorities - September 2024
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Canada’s Intelligence Priorities - September 2024 [PDF - 779 KB]
A Message from the ministers
The world has changed dramatically over the past few years. Throughout it all, Canada’s intelligence community has been there to support the Government, our allies, and Canadians.
Every day, they work to provide essential insights that bolster Canada’s security, stability, and prosperity. From tackling threats posed by foreign interference to our democratic institutions, economic security, and cyber security, to confronting global stability risks and dangerous trends in radicalization to violence and bolstering the operational readiness and safety of our Canadian Armed Forces, intelligence plays a central role in securing our society.
Constantly underscoring Canadian intelligence efforts is a steadfast commitment to upholding the law and protecting Canadians’ rights, freedoms, and privacy. Alongside our intelligence oversight and review bodies, our intelligence organizations are devoted to improving policies, procedures, and processes in line with the interests of Canadians.
Canadians deserve to have confidence in our national security institutions. But, we know there is a particular trust gap between national security and intelligence organizations and Canadians, particularly racialized Canadians. The community acknowledges that systemic racism and unconscious bias persist in our society, and that active change is required to move forward. Our national security and intelligence organizations are committed to earning Canadians’ trust by listening to marginalized voices, engaging in dialogues, and implementing initiatives that address persistent gaps and barriers.
While the majority of intelligence work must remain classified to protect valuable and sensitive intelligence information, sources, and methods, Canadians deserve to know what we do to protect national security, how we do it, and why it is important. In line with these principles and values, and the Government’s 2017 National Security Transparency Commitment, the intelligence community has worked over the past seven years to increase the amount of national security-related information available to the public without providing information that could compromise Canada’s security or the safety of Canadians.
This includes the document before you now. Together, as the Ministers responsible for key national security and intelligence departments, we are proud to publish, for the first time, Canada’s Intelligence Priorities.
These Priorities are the foundation upon which the national security and intelligence community operates, and represents what we, as Ministers, believe are the most vital factors to ensuring Canadian safety, security, and prosperity.
As a Government, it’s our job to protect our institutions and everyone who calls Canada home. But our shared national security is also dependent on the important contributions of Canadians, as well as Canadian industry and academia.
We hope that this document will provide all Canadians with the information they need to engage in national security dialogues and to hold the Government accountable. Because together, we will be better able to uphold, strengthen, and protect our shared institutions, safety, and prosperity for today and for generations to come.
Minister of National Defence
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
A Word on transparency, diversity, and inclusion in national security and intelligence
Diversity and inclusion are fundamental tenets of our Canadian cultural mosaic – and are cornerstone values of the Government of Canada. We are dedicated to creating more diverse, inclusive, and safe workplaces by implementing comprehensive organizational initiatives, including within the intelligence community.
Progress has been made, however unconscious bias, institutional and societal barriers, and discrimination persist within our society, and therefore, our intelligence organizations as well. This impacts Canadians, intelligence organizations’ relationships with Canadians, and employees of intelligence organizations.
The Canadian intelligence community recognizes that persons living in Canada – and in particular, members of Indigenous, racialized, marginalized, and other minority communities – may have prior negative experiences with intelligence organizations in Canada or abroad. We acknowledge that these experiences of racism, bias, and exclusion can cause doubt and apprehension towards our activities.
Government of Canada intelligence activities should never be based on race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, gender identity, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status.
The safety and security of all Canadians is entrusted to intelligence organizations, and every Canadian deserves to feel safe, protected, valued, and respected by the intelligence community. We have to do better. We are committed to earning your trust through concrete action, improvement, and accountability.
Transparency is one way through which we hope to account for historical inequity and bias, and provide Canadians with the information they need to keep our Government accountable moving forward. In line with the National Security Transparency Commitment, the Government is taking action in three key areas:
- Information transparency: to show what departments and agencies are doing to protect national security,
- Executive transparency: to explain the legal structure for protecting national security, and how choices are made within that structure, and
- Policy transparency: to engage Canadians in a dialogue about the strategic issues impacting national security.
To that end, we hope that all Canadians can benefit from the clear and consolidated information within this document.
Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus)
The Government of Canada uses GBA Plus analyses to assess how various identity factors should be accounted for in federal Government initiatives, including with respect to the Intelligence Priorities.
The GBA Plus assessment for the Priorities focused on how Canadians are affected by intelligence activities as well as understanding the intelligence community as a workplace.
The Intelligence Priorities included in this document were tangibly affected by GBA Plus analyses. While identification of a Priority does not indicate level of intelligence effort, the Priorities within this document communicate that the Government understands the need for greater intelligence on “non-traditional” national security interests which pose risks that disproportionately affect minorities and equity-deserving communities in Canada and around the world (such as climate change, and security of global health, food, water, and biodiversity).
Furthermore, terminology used in the Intelligence Priorities was reviewed to ensure it would not have unintended consequences or impacts on marginalized and racialized groups.
Echoing findings of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ 2019 Annual Report and the National Security Transparency Advisory Committee’s 2020 Initial Report, the Intelligence Priorities GBA Plus analysis concluded that significant inclusion and diversity challenges remain within the intelligence community. However, it also revealed that the intelligence community understands and acknowledges the existence of these challenges better than ever before; is committed to working towards more diverse, inclusive, and safe workplaces; and is actively implementing GBA Plus initiatives throughout their organizations to create positive progress.
Overview
This document provides a consolidated overview of Canada’s national security and intelligence landscape.
It begins with the fundamentals of intelligence and an overview of the role intelligence plays within the Government of Canada. It also provides consolidated information about the key departments and agencies within the Canadian intelligence community, and the governance structures that guide them.
The final section of this document lists Canada’s current Intelligence Priorities, which will direct the Canadian intelligence community into 2025.
In responding to the Intelligence Priorities, Canada’s intelligence community remains committed to lawfulness and privacy protection. The intelligence community complies with all applicable laws, legal mandates and authorities, and government direction – including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“As a Government, it’s our job to protect our institutions and everyone who calls Canada home.”
About “Intelligence”
What is intelligence?
For the purpose of this document, “intelligence” (as a noun) refers to the body of products available to Government of Canada decision makers, which contain tailored information and analysis related to issues of strategic interest.
How is intelligence made?
Intelligence producers acquire data and information under their legislative, mandated, or other legal authorities, and in line with direction provided by Canada’s Intelligence Priorities. Intelligence producers then process, analyze, or assess this data and information, and organize it into intelligence products. These products are then distributed to intelligence consumers via appropriately secure methods and systems.
Who uses intelligence?
Intelligence is used by “intelligence consumers” within government – this includes decision makers and support staff with appropriate security clearances, a “need to know,” and access to suitably secure facilities where they may review products or receive briefings.
Intelligence is normally kept within the federal government. However, where appropriate, processes exist for the declassification or sanitization of intelligence for sharing beyond its original audience. For example, in alignment with applicable laws, policies, and procedures, declassified or sanitized intelligence may be shared with law enforcement, provincial and municipal governments, critical infrastructure partners, businesses, and Canadians.
Why intelligence matters?
Classified intelligence provides information, knowledge, and understanding that decision makers could not obtain from public sources alone. Intelligence provides:
- Advanced warning of threats to prevent strategic or operational surprises that could cause harm to Canadians, Canadian institutions, or allies;
- Insight into issues and trends to support policy planning and development; and
- Fair, balanced and long-term subject matter expertise and knowledge.
Resultant situational awareness gives distinct advantages to Government operational and strategic decision makers, and results in better outcomes for Canadian safety, security, and prosperity. The real-world examples below show how intelligence production and sharing supports Canada and Canadians.
Intelligence products
- Reports: Intelligence reports cover specific topics and provide context about events that have occurred or are occurring. Reports do not, generally speaking, speculate or estimate likelihood or long-term trends, or overtly display analysis of future outcomes.
- Summaries: Intelligence summaries are products that may reference or combine information from various intelligence reports or sources, including open sources, into a new document that provides a consolidated synopsis.
- Assessments: Assessments provide in-depth analysis into issues to provide context, often with indications of likelihood for future trends and developments. Assessments usually involve multiple sources of information or intelligence, including media reports, academic research, insight from privileged contacts, or highly classified information from intelligence reports or summaries. Assessments may be used by policymakers and operational departments as contextual information to support policy deliberations, or to refine or change operational programs.
Types of intelligence
There are various types and categories of intelligence. For example, Canadian legislation provides the following:
- The Communications Security Establishment Act defines “foreign intelligence” as intelligence including information about the capabilities, intentions or activities of a foreign individual, state, organization, or terrorist group, as they relate to international affairs, defence, or security.
- The Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act defines “security intelligence” as information relating to threats to the security of Canada, such as espionage, foreign interference, and violent extremism.
However, there are also various other categories of intelligence – such as, but not limited to, defence intelligence (in support of the Canadian Armed Forces), financial intelligence (in support of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre), and criminal intelligence (primarily used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency).
Intelligence in action
Canada-wide and online
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) provide intelligence that bolsters Canada’s cyber resiliency and helps protect Canada’s critical infrastructure from threats posed by domestic and foreign hostile actors. For example, in line with appropriate policies and procedures, CSIS and CSE use declassified intelligence to warn Canadians, provincial and territorial governments, and industry partners of cyber risks, such as those posed by malware that can extract personal or private information. Additionally, over the past few years, intelligence has also enabled CSE to disrupt foreign cybercriminal infrastructure that was used to target Canadian and allied, critical infrastructure providers – including health care systems. This effort has reduced hostile actors’ ability to target Canadians, launch ransomware attacks, and solicit, buy and sell Canadian personal and proprietary information.
Information lawfully collected by CSIS and CSE related to threats posed to Canada’s economy and cyber security is compiled into intelligence products and expert advice.
Intelligence community provides unclassified information to governments, the private sector, and Canadians to raise awareness of threats. Where appropriate and authorized, steps are also taken to disrupt identified threats.
National security and public safety are protected through threat awareness. Cyber security is also strengthened; data, economic security, and infrastructure are protected from malicious cyber activity.
At the border
In 2022, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) received intelligence about suspicious exported shipments originating from Central America. CBSA worked with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Transnational Serious and Organized Crime (TSOC) team, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), and the Brantford Police Service to unravel a sophisticated international drug importation scheme resulting in the seizure of over 1.5 tonnes of cocaine – with an illicit market value of approximately $198 million. Charges were then laid against three individuals in 2023.
Intelligence producers provide intelligence products and operational support related to transnational organized criminal groups and illicit drug trafficking.
CBSA and RCMP notify on-the-ground border service agents and law enforcement of potential illicit drug trafficking activity.
Canadian border security and public health are supported by reducing the illicit drug supply, and public safety is protected by reducing the profits of organized crime.
Abroad
Members of the Canadian intelligence community, including CSE, National Defence, CSIS, and the Privy Council Office’s Intelligence Assessment Secretariat (IAS), worked together to provide advanced warning and critical insights to Government officials in the lead-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Canadian efforts to declassify intelligence supported public warnings used by the United States regarding Russia’s impending invasion. Following the invasion, CSE declassified and used intelligence to publicly expose Russia’s ongoing disinformation efforts and issued public reports on Russian state-sponsored cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure in Ukraine, Canada, and other NATO countries. Canadian Forces Intelligence Command (CFINTCOM) also issued tweets to counter Russian disinformation campaigns. Defence intelligence supports ongoing efforts to protect Canadians in Ukraine, as well as Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to the region. Canadian intelligence is informing Ukraine’s defensive efforts and helping save lives.
Intelligence producers provide intelligence products regarding threat activities against Canadians or Canadian interests.
Canadian officials use this intelligence to determine the cause of, or contributing factors to, a threat and take appropriate steps in response. This includes informing industry partners and the public, alongside allies, or taking action to disrupt the threat.
Canadians and individuals around the world are better protected from these threats, and Canada, alongside allies, is able to hold threat actors accountable for their actions.
Canada’s core intelligence organizations
| Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces | Collects and analyzes all-source intelligence in support of military operations, other defence activities, and strategic decision-making. |
|---|---|
| Canadian Security Intelligence Service | Collects and analyses intelligence on threats to the security of Canada to advise the Government and, when appropriate, takes measures to reduce those threats; collects, within Canada, foreign intelligence to support the conduct of international affairs and defence of Canada; conducts government and immigration security screening. |
| Communications Security Establishment | Canada’s lead for foreign signals intelligence and foreign cyber operations; also houses the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, which defends Government of Canada networks and provides cyber security advice, guidance, and services to Canadians and Canadian institutions. |
| Royal Canadian Mounted Police | Investigates national security offences and transnational serious and organized crime; enforces federal legislation; protects designated individuals, sites, and events; takes measures to reduce threats; provides contract-policing services to provinces and territories; and conducts threat assessments. |
| Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre | Produces financial intelligence, including assessments, relevant to investigations of money laundering, terrorist financing, and threats to the security of Canada. |
| Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre | Reports on violent extremist threats, trends, and events; recommends the National Terrorism Threat Level for Canada; and sets terrorism threat levels for Canadian interests worldwide, including for special events and internationally protected persons. |
| Canada Border Services Agency | Ensures border integrity at ports of entry and uses intelligence and other data to make assessments and risk-based decisions regarding the admissibility of persons and goods to Canada. |
| Global Affairs Canada | Manages foreign policy, including global security issues and overseas emergency response; obtains privileged information through personnel posted abroad and provides diplomatic reporting; and produces all-source strategic assessments. |
| Privy Council Office – National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister | Provides intelligence assessments, and advises the Prime Minister and Cabinet on national security and intelligence issues. |
Intelligence oversight and review
Canada has a robust framework for national security and intelligence oversight and review:
- The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians reviews national security and intelligence legislative, regulatory, policy, administrative and financial frameworks; activities carried out by all departments or agencies that relate to national security and intelligence; and matters relating to national security and intelligence that a minister of the Crown refers to the Committee.
- The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) reviews Government of Canada national security and intelligence activities to ensure that they are lawful, reasonable, and necessary. NSIRA also investigates complaints regarding the activities of CSE, CSIS, and the national security and intelligence activities of the RCMP.
- The Intelligence Commissioner is responsible for performing independent quasi-judicial reviews of the conclusions reached by either the Minister of National Defence or the Minister of Public Safety with respect to issuing certain ministerial authorizations and determinations for both the CSE and CSIS, concerning intelligence activities before they can be carried out.
The RCMP is also reviewed by the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC), however, CRCC does not review national security and intelligence activities of the RCMP.
“Constantly underscoring Canadian intelligence efforts is a steadfast commitment to upholding the law and protecting Canadians’ rights, freedoms, and privacy. Alongside our intelligence oversight and review bodies, our intelligence organizations are devoted to improving policies, procedures, and processes in line with the interests of Canadians.”
The intelligence priorities
For over 60 years, Cabinet (the body of ministerial advisors, including the Prime Minister, that sets the Government’s policies and priorities) has played a role in setting Canada’s Intelligence Priorities.
Intelligence Priorities are broad categories for which the Government requires intelligence support.
The objective of setting Intelligence Priorities is to align intelligence production efforts with whole-of-Government strategic interests. In other words, they indicate where the intelligence community should direct its focus, in accordance with their respective mandates and legal frameworks. In increasingly complex global and threat environments, the Priorities ensure that our limited intelligence resources are put to best use on issues of the highest interest and need.
The Government renews the Intelligence Priorities every two years, based on recommendations from the National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister and the intelligence community.
The Intelligence Priorities are reviewed and approved by Cabinet. Upon approval, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, National Defence, and Public Safety issue Ministerial Directives to relevant organizations within their portfolios that produce intelligence. These Ministerial Directives outline the Minister’s expectations for the implementation of the Priorities by each specific organization, tailored to their respective mandates and legal frameworks.
Within the public service, two senior executive committees are charged with overseeing the implementation of the Intelligence Priorities: an appropriate deputy ministers’ national security committee and the Assistant Deputy Minister Intelligence Committee (ADM INT).
Under the guidance and direction of the deputy ministers’ committee, ADM INT is responsible for the operational management and coordination of the Intelligence Priorities, as well as performance management of their implementation. ADM INT consists of Government of Canada officials from across the intelligence community, including intelligence producers and consumers. It is chaired by the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence, of the Privy Council Office.
The intelligence requirements
Following approval of the Intelligence Priorities and the issuance of Ministerial Directives, the security and intelligence community works together with a wide range of intelligence consumers to set Intelligence Requirements.
An Intelligence Requirement is a specific topic of interest that aligns with an Intelligence Priority. While the Priorities are broad, the Requirements are granular and focused. Requirements are ranked based on a standardized methodology, which considers risks to Canada and Canadians, threat levels, the need for sovereign collection or uniquely Canadian analysis, the feasibility of intelligence production, and the potential value of intelligence to Canadian national interests.
“Intelligence Priorities are broad categories for which the Government requires intelligence support.”
“An Intelligence Requirement is a specific topic of interest that aligns with an Intelligence Priority.”
Canada’s intelligence priorities
| Outcomes | Priorities |
|---|---|
Counter and prevent state activities against Canada and Canadians at home, abroad, and online, to protect our economic security, cyber security, civil society, critical infrastructure, research security, and democratic institutions. Strategic interests: Digital information and cybersecurity; Sovereignty; Environmental sustainability; Public safety; Defense and military; Arctic security; Civil society and social cohesion; Canadian institutions; Critical infrastructures; Public health; Economic security
|
Foreign Interference and Malign Influence |
| Espionage & Extraction of Knowledge and Information | |
| Sabotage and Cyber Threats | |
Advance Canada’s prosperity, economic security, sustainability, and global leadership by understanding complex and dynamic international issues, such as the global economy, cyberspace, and our changing physical environment and climate, to pursue, promote, and protect Canadian interests and resilience through informed and proactive actions and agile responses. Strategic interests: Digital information and cybersecurity; Sovereignty; Environmental sustainability; Public safety; Defense and military; Arctic security; Civil society and social cohesion; Canadian institutions; Critical infrastructures; Public health; Global standing; Economic security
|
Technological Environment and Infrastructure Security |
| Global Governance and International Engagement | |
| Security of Global Health, Food, Water, and Biodiversity | |
| Climate Change and Global Sustainability | |
Defend and strengthen Canadian and allied security and defence initiatives and operations, at home, abroad, and online, by understanding operational and tactical security environments and threats. Strategic interests: Digital information and cybersecurity; Sovereignty; Public safety; Defense and military; Arctic security; Global standing; Economic security
|
Arctic Sovereignty and Security |
| National Defence & Canadian Armed Forces Activities and Operations | |
| Global Security and Stability | |
Protect Canadians, Canadian interests, and Canadian allies by deterring, preventing, and disrupting serious threats to Canada and Canadians at home, abroad, and online. Strategic interests: Digital information and cybersecurity; Public safety; Defense and military; Civil society and social cohesion; Canadian institutions; Critical infrastructures; Public health; Global standing; Economic security
|
Violent Extremism |
| Transnational Organized Crime, Cyber Crime, and Border Security | |
| Illicit & Threat Finance, and Financial Sector Integrity | |
| Migration Security and Border Integrity |
Counter
The intelligence community will support Government of Canada initiatives to counter and prevent state activities against Canada and Canadians at home, abroad, and online, to protect our economic security, cyber security, civil society, critical infrastructure, research security, and democratic institutions.
- Foreign interference and malign influence - This Priority relates to the plans, intentions, and capabilities of state actors (or their proxies) to conduct interference or influence activities against Canadian interests.
- Espionage & extraction of knowledge and information - This Priority relates to the plans, intentions, and capabilities of state actors (or their proxies) to obtain classified, protected, sensitive, private, proprietary, or open source data and information (covertly or otherwise) from or related to Canadian/allied governments, industry or infrastructure, academia, research and development entities, or Canadian persons or communities, where the acquisition of the information/data may pose a risk to Canada’s strategic interests, including the rights and privacy of Canadians.
- Sabotage and cyber threats - This Priority relates to the plans, intentions, and capabilities of state actors (or their proxies) to sabotage Canada’s government institutions, industry, economy, research and development, infrastructure, or persons, including sabotage of Canadian government and private infrastructure through cyber-attacks.
“The threat from hostile activity by state actors in all its forms represents a significant danger to Canada’s prosperity and sovereignty. … Canada’s biopharma and health sector, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, ocean technology and aerospace sectors [face] particularly severe threat activity; [they] have been compromised and have suffered losses from human and cyber-enabled threats. CSIS has observed persistent and sophisticated state-sponsored threat activity for many years now and we continue to see a rise in the frequency and sophistication of this threat activity. … The greatest strategic threat to Canada’s national security comes from hostile activities by foreign states.”
– David Vigneault, then-Director of CSIS, February 9, 2021, to the Centre for International Governance Innovation
Advance
The intelligence community will support Government of Canada initiatives to advance Canada’s prosperity, economic security, sustainability, and global leadership by understanding complex and dynamic international issues, such as the global economy, cyberspace, and our changing physical environment and climate, to pursue, promote, and protect Canadian interests and resilience through informed and proactive actions and agile responses.
- Technological environment and infrastructure security - This Priority relates to threats, opportunities, and developments in the international cyber, technological, and infrastructure security environments, which could have an effect on Canadian interests.
- Global governance and international engagement - This Priority relates to the development and maintenance of capabilities to support Canada’s understanding of, and position within, the global geopolitical environment, as well as the ability to pursue and promote Canadian interests and values.
- Security of global health, food, water, and biodiversity- This Priority relates to opportunities, threats, and risks to Canada’s and Canadians’ security, safety, and prosperity stemming from developments in environmental and health security environments.
- Climate change and global sustainability - This Priority relates to international factors, which may have an impact on Canadian or global efforts to counter the climate crisis and support global sustainable development and sustainability efforts.
Intelligence provides “the Government of Canada with unique information about foreign threats to Canadian security and prosperity and important insights to support foreign policy and decision making.”
– CSE 2022-2023 Annual Report
“Cyber threat actors adapt their activities and utilize new technologies to achieve their financial, geopolitical, or ideological goals.”
– National Cyber Threat Assessment 2023-2024 from CSE’s Canadian Centre for Cyber Security
“While the Government of Canada focuses on the current pandemic risk, it must also work to be better prepared for the climate risks it knows it will face, such as flooding, wildfire, extreme heat, the spread of infectious disease, sea-level rise and permafrost thaw. Building resilience will not only help Canadian communities adapt to the current realities of a changing climate, it reduces lost productivity and economic losses from climate-related disasters, as well as enhances the health, well-being, and safety of Canadians and communities.”
– Environment and Climate Change Canada, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy
Defend
The intelligence community will support Government of Canada initiatives to defend and strengthen Canadian and allied security and defence initiatives and operations, at home, abroad, and online, by understanding operational and tactical security environments and threats.
- Arctic sovereignty and security - This Priority relates to threats and opportunities related to Canada’s sovereign Arctic territory, Arctic security environments, Arctic conservation, as well as threats from hostile actors towards the safety and prosperity of northern and Arctic communities and Indigenous persons.
- National Defence & Canadian Armed Forces activities and operations - This Priority relates to threats and opportunities related to National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces initiatives, tasks, activities, operational planning, missions, other operational activities, stations, personnel, and assets.
- Global security and stability - This Priority relates to global and regional security environments and issues, and associated threats, opportunities, and risks which may impact Canadian interests, Canadian diplomatic missions, or the safety of Canadians abroad.
“In the Arctic and in the North, as in the rest of Canada, safety, security and defence are essential prerequisites for healthy communities, strong economies, and a sustainable environment.”
– Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Canada’s Arctic and Northern Policy Framework
“The ability to collect, understand and disseminate relevant information and intelligence has become fundamental to the military’s ability to succeed on operations. This provides earlier warning of threats, allowing the Government to identify emerging events and crises, intervene earlier in the conflict cycle if necessary, and minimize the destructive effects of prolonged conflict.” – Strong, Secure, Engaged: Canada’s Defence Policy 2017-2024 (ch. 6)
Global Affairs Canada currently manages a global network of 182 missions in 112 countries that supports the international work of the department and 36 partner departments, agencies, and co-locators and “the security environment in which these missions operate is evolving and dynamic. Mission staff members abroad, as well as buildings and other assets, are exposed to a range of security threats, including politically motivated violence, general crime, civil disorder, and espionage.”
– Auditor General, 2018 Fall Report 4 – Physical Security of Canada’s Missions Abroad
Protect
The intelligence community will support Government of Canada initiatives to protect Canadians, Canadian interests, and Canadian allies by deterring, preventing, and disrupting serious threats to Canada and Canadians at home, abroad, and online.
- Violent extremism - This Priority relates to attack planning, capacity building, as well as intelligence related to recruitment, radicalization, and influence activities of ideologically-motivated, religiously-motivated, and politically-motivated violent extremist entities.
- Transnational organized crime, cyber crime, and border security - This Priority relates to the activities, capabilities, and intentions of serious organized crime, including transnational organized crime, cyber crime, and the unlawful or illicit movement of goods across the border.
- Illicit & threat finance, and financial sector integrity - This Priority relates to the activities, capabilities, and intentions of state and non-state money launderers, violent extremist financiers, organized crime financiers, and other transnational illicit or threat financial actors which pose threats to the integrity of the Canadian or international financial sector.
- Migration security and border integrity - This Priority relates to the activities, capabilities, and intentions of those acting to disrupt, deceive, or avoid Canadian immigration, refugee, citizenship, and passport programs, or border systems, as well as threats to international migration security posed by transnational criminal actors, traffickers, and smugglers, and trends in international security environments which could affect migration flows to Canada.
“Canada’s National Terrorism Threat Level (NTTL) is currently at Medium, meaning that a violent act of terrorism could occur in the next twelve months. Although in-range fluctuations occur, the country has been at Medium since 2014.”
– The Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre, National Terrorism Threat Level
“Globalization and rapid advances in technology have contributed to the expansion and internationalization of organized crime activities; … The violence and corrupting effect of organized crime groups are mainstays of primary activities, which greatly affect every Canadian’s right to safety and security.”
– RCMP, web page: Serious and Organized Crime
“In Canada, money laundering is a multibillion-dollar problem. It is an integral element of organized criminal activity, and is the proven method by which organized crime groups seek to transform the proceeds of drug trafficking, contraband goods and people smuggling, extortion, fraud and other activities into apparently legitimately earned funds.”
– FINTRAC, Compliance Framework Guideline
“Intelligence activities are conducted to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals and entities that are of interest to the CBSA in connection to organized crime, human smuggling, immigration fraud, terrorism and other violations of the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.”
– CBSA, Securing the Border: Intelligence and Risk Management
Conclusion
The Intelligence Priorities provide a framework for a coherent, whole-of-government approach that aligns Canada’s intelligence efforts with national strategic interests and objectives.
This first-ever publication of Canada’s Intelligence Priorities is an important step for the Canadian security and intelligence community. We hope that knowledge of these Priorities will support confidence in the work of intelligence organizations and help to enhance dialogues with Canadians.
However, our action on improving transparency and public accountability will not end here. The Government is committed to continue working closely with review and oversight bodies, as well as with Canadians, to increase public knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the national security and intelligence community's activities.
Canada faces complex threats to our security, prosperity, and sovereignty – and they are evolving every day. Canada’s security and intelligence community will continue to work with partners, both internationally and at home, to respond to these threats and to strengthen Canada’s resiliency to face the challenges of the years ahead.
“Canada’s security and intelligence community will continue to work with partners, both internationally and at home, to respond to these threats and to strengthen Canada’s resiliency to face
the challenges of the years ahead.”
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