Guideline for designated officials

On this page

1. Appointing designated officials

As a condition of registration (as per section 10 of the Controlled Goods Regulations), a registered person (called a registrant in this guideline) in the Controlled Goods Program (called the program in this guideline) must propose to appoint a designated official. The designated official is an employee who consents to a security assessment that is subject to approval by the program. If a registrant is an individual, they are considered the designated official and will be security assessed by the program. The designated official must be either a Canadian citizen ordinarily resident in Canada or a permanent resident of Canada ordinarily resident in Canada. The designated official requires critical thinking, attention to detail and should also be someone with sufficient authority, responsibility and integrity within the organization to adequately conduct security assessments.

The registrant must ensure that any individual accessing controlled goods within their respective organization is authorized to do so, either through registration, exemption or exclusion as outlined in the Controlled Goods Regulations (called the regulations in this guideline). As an on-site representative for the registrant, the designated official is well-positioned and required to security assess their officers, directors, employees and domestic students before accessing controlled goods, as well as the extent to which each may pose a risk of transferring a controlled good to an unauthorized business or individual.

2. Designated Official Certification Program

The Designated Official Certification Program provides comprehensive, free training related to the Controlled Goods Program, to help designated officials carry out their tasks and responsibilities.

Upon completion of the certification program, the designated official will be able to:

To be eligible to complete the certification program, an individual must be appointed as a designated official by the registrant. The appointed designated official must then complete the certification program while the Controlled Goods Program conducts a security assessment of the appointed designated official.

2.1 Certification program contents

The Designated Official Certification Program, a Controlled Goods Program requirement, is a free self-paced training course. The certification program consists of a series of modules and activities and is offered in both official languages. The training provides information about:

The candidate must successfully pass the certification exam before the certificate is issued.

The information in each module is relevant to the legislated duties of the designated official. Approximately 4 to 5 hours will be required to complete all modules. In addition, 2 hours will be provided to complete the written certification exam, which consists of multiple choice questions and a case study.

A designated official who successfully completes the Designated Official Certification Program receives a certificate as proof of having successfully completing the required training. If a designated official changes employer, the certificate remains with that individual, and it is not transferable to another individual.

2.2 Certification process

The following represents the basic steps to achieving designated official certification:

3. Conducting security assessments

A designated official must carry out security assessments in a prescribed manner. For the purposes of authorizing access to controlled goods, the designated official must:

A designated official can refer to the checklist for security assessment applications for more information.

3.1 Consent to a security assessment

An individual needing access to controlled goods during the course of their employment must consent to a security assessment prior to access being granted. No security assessment is required if the employee, director or officer does not access controlled goods. An individual who does not consent to a security assessment cannot be permitted access to controlled goods. Consent to a security assessment is defined in the security assessment application (PDF, 436KB) form and is given by completing the Consent section.

3.2 Government of Canada and Transport Canada transportation security clearances

The designated official must collect and validate certain information to determine whether an officer, director or employee may examine, possess or transfer controlled goods. This is part of the designated official’s security assessment process.

To speed up the assessment process, the designated official may choose to accept an individual’s valid:

To accept either of these security clearances, the designated official must meet the conditions in either section 3.2.1 Accepting a Government of Canada security clearance or 3.2.2 Accepting a Transport Canada transportation security clearance of this guideline.

3.2.1 Accepting a Government of Canada security clearance

To accept an individual’s Government of Canada security clearance of Secret (Level II) or higher, the designated official must keep the following completed documents from that individual on file:

3.2.2 Accepting a Transport Canada transportation security clearance

To accept an individual’s Transport Canada transportation security clearance, the designated official must keep the following completed documents from that individual on file:

Note

Following the process described above does not release a designated official from his or her responsibility to carry out their duties as outlined in section 13 of the Controlled Goods Regulations or their obligation to re-conduct a security assessment, if necessary, as stipulated by subsection 15(5) of the Controlled Goods Regulations.

3.3 Officers, directors and employees

Program registrants must ensure their employees are security assessed before they are permitted access to controlled goods. The designated official is responsible for conducting a security assessment of each officer, director, employee and domestic student requiring the examination, possession or transfer of controlled goods. The security assessments conducted by the designated official at the place of business are subject to inspection by the program at any time over the period of registration and for a period of 2 years after the day on which the individual assessed ceases to be an officer, director or an employee of the registered business.

The security assessment application forms must be used by all individuals being security assessed for access to controlled goods (except those individuals being assessed by the designated official that have the requisite security clearance as outlined above in section 3.2 Government of Canada and Transport Canada transportation security clearances), whether the security assessment is performed by a designated official or directly by the program representatives.

An individual being security assessed must provide all of the following supporting documents:

The designated official must ensure the risk of an unauthorized transfer is evaluated as defined by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada. Accordingly, the designated official must consider (in the context of the security assessment), all of the information provided by the applicant in the security assessment application. The designated official must also verify the personal identification of the individual.

Section 46 of the Defence Production Act subjects an officer, director or employee of a corporation as liable when their corporation commits an offence under the act. The officer, director or employee is liable to be convicted of the offence if they directed, authorized, assented to, acquiesced in or participated in the commission of the offence, whether or not the corporation has been prosecuted or convicted.

3.4 Authorized individuals

The authorized individual must be security assessed by the program and not by the designated official. A completed security assessment application (PDF, 436KB) form, along with required supporting documentation listed above in section 3.3 Officers, directors and employees, must be submitted to the program. This is mandatory for all new registrations and is submitted along with the application for registration (PDF, 592KB) form.

In the case of a renewal application, if the authorized individual has been security assessed and the security assessment has not reached the 5-year expiry date, a security assessment application will not be required for the authorized individual. If the authorized individual of a registrant is changed during the period of registration, the security assessment application (PDF, 436KB) for the newly-proposed authorized individual must be submitted through a registration amendment.

3.5 Visitors

The designated official is responsible for verifying the visitor exemption application for security assessment and exemption from registration (PDF, 291KB) form and ensuring that, to the best of their knowledge, such information is accurate and complete.

As applicable and to the best of their ability, the designated official is also responsible for gathering required information pertaining to an exemption sought under section 16 of the Controlled Goods Regulations (International Traffic in Arms Regulations [ITAR] exemption).

3.6 Temporary workers and international students

The designated official is responsible for verifying the temporary worker or international student application for security assessment and exemption from registration (PDF, 891KB) form and ensuring that, to the best of their knowledge, such information is accurate and complete.

An international student who has a requirement to examine, possess or transfer controlled goods over the course of their studies must be exempt from registration, as defined in section 1 of the Controlled Goods Regulations. A security assessment will be conducted by the program in accordance with section 15 and section 19 of the Controlled Goods Regulations.

The registrant responsible for submitting the application to the program on behalf of the international student will depend upon the location of the research or the type of work the student is undertaking. The possible scenarios are as follows:

3.7 Domestic students

A designated official should treat a domestic student accessing controlled goods under their authority, who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, as an employee. Any domestic student who is on a paid internship with a registrant should be treated as an employee if accessing controlled goods.

Note

Registrants must ensure compliance with the law of all jurisdictions pertaining to children and young persons.

The designated official responsible for conducting the security assessment of a domestic student depends upon the location of the research or type of work the student is undertaking. The possible scenarios are as follows:

3.8 Owners

Individual owners, with 20% or more of the outstanding voting shares or interests of the business, are security assessed by the program and not by the designated official. A completed security assessment application (PDF, 436KB) form, along with the required supporting documentation, must be submitted to the program. This is mandatory for all new registrations and is submitted along with the application for registration (PDF, 592KB) form.

In the case of a renewal application, if an owner has been security assessed and the security assessment has not reached the 5-year expiry date, the owner’s security assessment application will not be required. If there are ownership changes for a registrant, the security assessment application for the new owner(s) must be submitted along with the application for registration form.

3.9 Confirming completeness

Once the security assessment application form has been completed by an individual, the designated official will review the application to ensure that all of the information requested has been provided. A section may be marked “n/a” (not applicable) if it is not applicable to an individual. If the application is considered incomplete, the designated official must obtain the missing information from the applicant. In order to complete a security assessment, the designated official must ensure that the applicant has provided all the information requested in the application as well as all supporting documentation.

The following provides a list of all supporting documents required as part of the security assessment process:

After completing the security assessment, the designated official makes a record using the security assessment summary by designated official conducting a security assessment of an employee, director or officer (PDF, 180KB) form, which includes the assessment summary, recommendation and conclusion of the security assessment. This form and the supporting documentation are to be kept in the individual’s security assessment file.

4. Assessing risk

The designated official will consider various elements when security assessing an individual and the extent to which that individual poses a risk of transferring a controlled good to an unauthorized person.

The risk matrix is a tool designed to assist the designated official in assessing this level of risk of unauthorized transfer posed by an individual, and to make a determination whether to grant or deny access to controlled goods. The designated official will validate and/or assess the information from the security assessment application against the risk matrix. The risk matrix assessment procedures, which include the risk matrix, are provided to designated officials by the program.

The designated official must verify and assess the following information:

Note

As stipulated in the paragraph 11(b) and paragraph 13(c) of the Controlled Goods Regulations, it is a program requirement for the designated official to complete the Designated Official Certification Program training prior to receiving the risk matrix assessment procedures. The risk matrix assessment procedures are an essential tool for completing security assessments. This tool may be provided without and/or in advance of the Designated Official Certification Program training in certain circumstances.

4.1 Biographical information

Biographical information, as requested in section E of the security assessment application (PDF, 436KB) form, must be verified by the designated official. The designated official must verify the identity of the individual and the place of residence by inspecting 2 pieces of government issued identification such as a driver’s licence or passport. One of the pieces of identification must bear a photo of the individual. A legible copy of all verified documents must be kept on file.

4.2 Residential history

In documenting places of residence over the last 5 years, an applicant must ensure there are no gaps in residential history and that the complete history is provided. The designated official will look for indications of stability, reliability and consistency.

4.3 Employment and educational history

Employment history assists in determining reliability, based on current and previous employment and in conjunction with educational qualifications, to assist in determining whether the individual is being truthful about their background and employment and qualifications.

4.4 Travel history

In reviewing this section, the designated official must consider the frequency of travel, the length of the travel and the locations and countries visited.

4.5 Financial risk

Details for the assessment of possible financial risk are contained in the risk matrix; however, it should be noted that while credit checks are not mandatory for all assessments, there are instances when a credit check report will be required to complete the security assessment.

4.6 Criminal history

While a certified criminal record check based on fingerprints is mandatory for the security assessment of a designated official, a name-based criminal record check verified against the RCMP's Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) system is sufficient for officers, directors and employees. A check must be made for every name used by the individual in their lifetime (for example, maiden name, married name, anglicized names and transposed names). For that reason, a fingerprint report may be a less cumbersome and inexpensive method of obtaining the necessary report.

4.7 Personal references

To verify the information in the application, the designated official should contact at least 2 of the individuals identified as personal references. Contacting these references will allow for a basis of comparison and an opportunity to identify potential discrepancies in the information provided.

Immediate family members cannot be used as references. Immediate family members are defined as:

Appropriate personal references that may be used by an individual include friends, co-workers or business acquaintances.

4.8 Extent of posing a risk of unauthorized transfer

The designated official is required to assess the extent to which the individual being security assessed poses a risk of transferring a controlled good to an unauthorized company or individual. This determination can be made using the risk matrix.

In consideration of all information provided, the designated official will determine the risk threshold and make a decision to grant or deny access to controlled goods. For a risk threshold of moderate, the designated official may forward the completed security assessment application (PDF, 436KB) form to the program for further assessment of the results, whereas for a result of high, forwarding the completed security assessment application form to the program is mandatory. This will be explained more in-depth in section 5. Referrals to the Controlled Goods Program.

5. Referrals to the Controlled Goods Program

When performing a security assessment, a designated official must refer an employee who they have security assessed to be a high risk to the program for assistance in completing their determination. Employees who have been security assessed to be a moderate risk, may be referred to the program at the discretion of the designated official.

The program aims to process these requests within 30 business days. However, some files may require review by security and intelligence partners, which may result in processing delays. The program, whenever possible, will advise designated officials if they anticipate delays resulting from a referred file.

The following information should be included in the referral:

The information listed above can be sent by email or mailFootnote 1:

Email:
tpsgc.ssidmcura-isscgdiau.pwgsc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca
Mail:
Controlled Goods Program
2745 Iris Street, 3rd floor
c/o PSPC Central Mail Room
Place du Portage, Phase III, 0B3
11 Laurier Street
Gatineau, QC  K1A 0S5

6. Denying access to controlled goods

When a designated official determines that an applicant does not meet the assessment criteria to access controlled goods, the individual cannot be allowed access to controlled goods.

The individual who has been security assessed and denied access to controlled goods must be formally notified using the notice of security assessment denial (PDF, 184KB) form (negative assessment). This form does not need to be sent to the program, but a copy must be kept with internal records.

7. Conducting a security reassessment

The designated official must reassess an individual after receiving information regarding any change in regards to the criminal history. The designated official may also reassess an individual who has been denied access to controlled goods in the case of a negative evaluation, if there are reasonable grounds to do so. An individual who has been denied access to controlled goods in the performance of their duties following a risk assessment should be given the opportunity to provide additional information that could affect the result of the evaluation.

8. Granting access to controlled goods and period of validity of a positive security assessment evaluation

When a designated official determines that an applicant meets the assessment criteria to access controlled goods, the individual will be granted access to controlled goods. An evaluation to grant access to controlled goods is valid for a period of 5 years as long as the individual remains employed or associated (officer or director) with the same registrant. The evaluation can be revised at any time prior to the 5-year period should the designated official consider it appropriate to do so in view of changing circumstances. A security assessment completed under the program is not transferable if the individual moves to employment with another program registrant. A security assessment must be completed by the new employer.

The individual who has been security assessed and will be granted access to controlled goods must be informed by way of the notice of security assessment authorization (PDF, 191KB) form (positive assessment).

9. Records of security assessments

As per paragraph 10(b) of the Controlled Goods Regulations, the registrant must keep the most recent records of security assessments and supporting documentation with respect to each officer, director, employee, temporary worker, international student and visitor who examines, possesses or transfers controlled goods during the period of registration and for a period of 2 years after the day on which the individual ceases to act in that capacity.

The record must include, but is not limited to, the following supporting documents:

If the security assessment was completed using a security clearance of Secret or higher, the record must include the following:

If the security assessment was completed using Transport Canada transportation security clearance, the record must include the following:

10. Exemptions

To be exempt from registration in the program, one must be a visitor, temporary worker or international student of a registrant in the program, or an officer, director or employee of a person registered under the United States ITAR. Exemptions for temporary workers, international students and visitors require an application to the program from the registrant.

The following factors are considered when deciding to exempt an individual (as per section 20 of the Controlled Goods Regulations):

Exemption certificates are issued on the basis of the information supplied by the designated official in the application for exemption. However, the program may request additional information. The determination whether to exempt an individual from registration is made pursuant to section 39.1 of the Defence Production Act.

The role of the designated official in verifying that accurate and complete application information is submitted to the program, in conjunction with visit monitoring, is critical to the security of the controlled goods.

11. Visitor exemptions

A visitor is an individual who is not an officer, director or employee of a registrant and who is not a Canadian citizen ordinarily resident in Canada or is not a permanent resident ordinarily resident in Canada. An individual who visits Canada to transfer controlled goods to a registrant- where there is no transfer of controlled goods from the registrant to the visitor - is not required to apply for a certificate of exemption.

Visitors who do not examine, possess or transfer controlled goods do not require an exemption from registration. A registrant is required to apply for an exemption from registration for each visitor who will be accessing controlled goods, at each place of business where controlled goods will be accessed, and must specifically identify the controlled goods the visitor will be accessing.

11.1 Submitting an application for a visitor exemption

A registrant must submit the visitor exemption application for security assessment and exemption from registration (PDF, 291KB) form to the program with respect to each visitor travelling to a place of business where controlled goods are kept, and who, in the course of their visit, will access controlled goods. The designated official is responsible for verifying the form and ensuring that, to the best of their knowledge, such information is accurate and complete.

The visitor application for security assessment and exemption from registration form must include the following:

The designated official is responsible for ensuring the visitor, for whom an exemption is being requested, meets the definition of a visitor and the information contained in the application is true, complete and correct. The designated official and the program must be able to verify the veracity, completeness and accuracy of the information provided in the application for exemption from registration for it to be considered valid.

For the purpose of determining the extent to which a visitor poses a risk of transferring controlled goods to a person who is not registered or exempt from registration, the program will conduct a security assessment of the visitor prior to deciding whether or not to exempt an individual under the act and the regulations.

The registrant must inform the program, within 5 business days, of any change to the information given in the application for visitor exemption, in particular, if the visit is to be extended to other sites, prolonged or if there are additions or changes to the controlled goods which the visitor will be examining, possessing or transferring. The visitor application for security assessment and exemption from registration form must be used for this purpose.

11.2 Granting an exemption certificate for visitors

As required by regulation, it is the responsibility of the registrant to provide the visitor with a copy of the certificate of exemption (including any limiting conditions). The registrant nonetheless remains responsible at all times for the application of the conditions of exemption, as well as the security of the controlled goods in their possession.

Subsection 39.1(2) of the Defence Production Act allows the program to set any conditions that, in its opinion, are appropriate. Such conditions shall be stated in the certificate of exemption. A certificate of exemption is assigned to a specific individual and it may not be transferred or in any way used by any other individual.

11.3 Period of validity of a visitor’s certificate of exemption

The period of validity of a certificate of exemption is determined by the program during the vetting process of the application. This period of validity will be primarily determined by the following 3 factors:

The maximum period of validity is for a period not exceeding 3 years from the date of approval as set out in section 23 of the Controlled Goods Regulations. In order to renew a certificate of exemption, the registrant must submit a new visitor exemption application for security assessment and exemption from registration (PDF, 291KB) form to the program.

11.4 Recurring visits

As long as the certificate of exemption is valid, the individual visitor may leave and return for subsequent visits to the same site and to access the same controlled goods. A certificate is valid only for the visitor named in the certificate for the declared duration, purpose and controlled goods. For a visit to a different site of the registrant or to access a different controlled good (or to extend a visit), it is the registrant's responsibility to inform the program prior to the change of site and to confirm the continued validity of the exemption with the program either through a new application or an amendment to the existing one, as appropriate.

11.5 Records of visitors

A visitor is eligible for an exemption from registration in the program only if a registrant submits an application on their behalf to the Controlled Goods Program and the visitor consents to a security assessment.

The registrant must keep the most recent records, including supporting documentation, of all visitors who will examine, possess or transfer controlled goods at the registrant’s place of business and records of transfer of controlled goods. Records of visitors should be kept during the period of registration and for a period of 2 years after the day on which the individual in question ceases to act in that capacity.

The record may include, but is not limited to, the following supporting documents:

12. Temporary worker or international student exemptions

A temporary worker or international student is eligible for an exemption from registration in the program only if a registrant submits an application on their behalf to the Controlled Goods Program, and if the temporary worker or international student consents to a security assessment.

A temporary worker means an individual who is an officer, director or employee of a registrant who is not a Canadian citizen ordinarily resident in Canada or is not a permanent resident ordinarily resident in Canada.

An international student means an individual who is authorized by a study permit or by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to engage in studies in Canada and who is not an officer, director or employee of a registrant under the regulations.

A registrant, through their designated official, must apply for an exemption from registration for each temporary worker or international student who will be accessing controlled goods, at each place of business where controlled goods will be accessed, and for the specifically identified controlled goods that the temporary worker or international student will be accessing.

This exemption must be granted by the program prior to the temporary worker or international student’s examination, possession or transfer of controlled goods.

12.1 Submitting an application for a temporary worker or international student exemption

Designated officials must submit the temporary worker or international student application for security assessment and exemption from registration (PDF, 891KB) form to the program for each temporary worker or international student.

The registrant must inform the program, within 5 business days, of any change to the information given in the temporary worker or international student application for security assessment and exemption from registration (PDF, 891KB) form, in particular if the temporary worker’s or international student’s assignment is to be prolonged, extended to other sites or includes additional controlled goods. The temporary worker or international student application for security assessment and exemption from registration (PDF, 891KB) form must be used for this purpose and must include the following:

The temporary worker or international student application for security assessment and exemption from registration (PDF, 891KB) form must include the following:

Submit all applications by email to tpsgc.ssidmcura-isscgdiau.pwgsc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.caFootnote 1.

12.2 Granting an exemption certificate for a temporary worker or international student

Subsection 39.1(2) of the Defence Production Act allows the program to set any conditions it deems appropriate. Such conditions shall be stated in the certificate of exemption or as a matter of general published policy. Subsection 21(2) of the Controlled Goods Regulations specifies that it is the responsibility of the registrant to provide the temporary worker or international student with a copy of the certificate of exemption within 1 business day, including any limiting conditions. Even after the temporary worker or international student has been granted a certificate of exemption, the registrant remains responsible for the application of the conditions of exemption as well as for the security of the controlled goods in their possession.

A certificate is valid only for the temporary worker/international student named in the certificate, for the period specified on the face of the certificate and for access to the controlled goods detailed in the temporary worker or international student application for security assessment and exemption from registration (PDF, 891KB) form. A certificate of exemption is assigned to a specific individual; it may not be transferred or used in any way, by any other individual or registrant.

12.3 Period of validity of a certificate of exemption for temporary workers or international students

The period of validity of a certificate of exemption is determined by the program during the vetting process of the application. This date will be primarily determined by the following 2 factors:

The maximum period of validity is 3 years from the date of approval, as set out in section 23 of the Controlled Goods Regulations. In order to receive a new certificate of exemption from registration, the registrant must submit a new application for reassessment.

12.4 Recurring assignments

As long as the certificate of exemption is valid, the temporary worker or international student may leave and return to the same site to access the same controlled goods for the same purpose as set out in the application for exemption. Any change to the information provided in support of an application for exemption must be communicated to the program within 5 business days. If the registrant assigns the temporary worker/international student access to different controlled goods or extends the duration of employment, it is the registrant’s responsibility to inform the program prior to the change and to confirm the continued validity of the exemption with the program, either through a new application or an amendment to the existing one as appropriate.

12.5 Records of temporary workers or international students

The registrant must keep records and supporting documentation of each temporary worker international student who examines, possesses or transfers controlled goods at the registrant’s place of business.

The record must include, but is not limited to, the following supporting documents:

13. Additional exemptions

The special category of individuals consisting of officers, directors or employees of persons registered and eligible to access controlled goods under the United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) are exempt from the program registration pursuant to section 16 of the Controlled Goods Regulations.

13.1 Individuals registered under the United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations

Specifically with respect to officers, directors or employees of persons registered under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), an individual is exempt from registration from the day on which they provide the following evidence to the registrant from whom they will obtain access to controlled goods:

Eligibility means not debarred or suspended under the ITAR and therefore able, under the ITAR, to participate directly or indirectly in the export or import of defence-related articles, including technical data or in the furnishing of defence services for which a licence or approval is required.

14. Denials, suspensions, amendments and revocations of exemptions

An exemption may be denied, suspended, amended or revoked on the basis of information supplied by the designated official or gathered by the program. For example, this might occur in situations where a visitor is considered to pose an undue risk of transferring controlled goods to a person who is not registered or exempt from registration.

The following situations may be grounds for suspension or revocation pursuant to section 27 of the Controlled Goods Regulations:

The program may deny a certificate of exemption to any visitor on the basis of the facts and credible information collected based on the legislation, including the information supplied in the application for exemption. Pursuant to section 22 of the Controlled Goods Regulations, a notice of the denial, with reasons, shall be given to the registrant.

15. Excluded persons

In accordance with the regulations, the following classes of persons are excluded from registration:

Part 2 of the act does not apply to excluded persons, as per section 36 of the Defence Production Act.

Page details

Date modified: