Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ 2023-24 Departmental results report

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From the Minister

Headshot of Karina Gould

The Honourable Karina Gould

Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

It is my pleasure to present the 2023-24 Departmental Results Report for the Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. This report summarizes the Secretariat’s results in the last fiscal year .

Since its establishment in 2017, the Secretariat has supported the Committee in completing twelve reviews of Canada’s national security and intelligence community covering a broad range of organizations and issues.

In 2023-24, the Secretariat supported the Committee in completing its 2022 Annual Report, its Special Report of the Federal Policing Mandate of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, its Special Report on Foreign Interference in Canada’s Democratic Processes and Institutions and a review of an intelligence collection activity. The Secretariat continued its work on the Committee’s ongoing review of the lawful access for security and intelligence activities.

The Secretariat also briefed new Committee members on their roles and responsibilities, as well as the work completed to date, and ensured that required security measures were completed. 

These are only a few highlights of the Secretariat of the NSICOP’s achievements over the past year. I invite you to read more about the department’s results.

 

Results – what we achieved

Core responsibilities and internal services

Core responsibility 1: Parliamentary review of national security and intelligence activities

Description

The core responsibility of the Secretariat is to support Parliamentary review of national security and intelligence activities in Canada thereby contributing to enhanced transparency and accountability of the national security framework.

Progress on results

This section presents details on how the department performed to achieve results and meet targets for Parliamentary review of national security and intelligence activities. Details are presented by departmental result.

Table 1: Targets and results for Parliamentary review of national security and intelligence activities

Table 1 provides a summary of the target and actual results for each indicator associated with the results under Parliamentary review of national security and intelligence activities.

Table 1: Enhancing transparency and accountability of the national security framework
Departmental Result Indicators
Target
Date to achieve target
Actual results
Committee’s annual report delivered to the Prime Minister on or before 31 December each year.
Committee’s annual report complies with legislative requirements.
The Committee’s annual report must be delivered to the Prime Minister by 31 December. This report must meet the requirements of subsection 21(1) of the NSICOP Act.
December 31, 2023

Report delivered to the Prime Minister for:

  • 2021–22: May 18, 2022
  • 2022–23: May 12, 2023
  • 2023–24: April 10, 2024
Report met legislative requirements.

Additional information on the detailed results and performance information for the Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Details on results

The following section describes the results for the Parliamentary review of national security and intelligence activities in 2023–24 compared with the planned results set out in the Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ departmental plan for the year.

Enhancing transparency and accountability of the national security framework

The results achieved in 2023–24 compared with the planned results set out in the departmental plan for that fiscal year were delayed due to the inability to provide a completed report on December 31, 2023.

Results achieved:

  • The Committee’s 2023 annual report was delivered to the Prime Minister on April 10, 2024.
  • The Committee’s annual report complies with legislative requirements.

Key risks

The NSICOP Act sets out the Committee’s right of access to information held by the government and the limitations to that right of access, including information that constitutes a confidence of the King’s Privy Council for Canada. In previous reviews and annual reports, the Committee raised a serious issue with respect to the government's broad claims of Cabinet confidence on documents or information. The Committee registered its concern that the breadth of the definition of Cabinet confidence reflected in its statute and found in s. 39(2) of the Canada Evidence Act, together with the lack of a requirement for departments to inform the Committee of how many and which relevant documents are being withheld and on what basis, may hamper its ability and the Secretariat’ ability to properly fulfil their mandates. The Secretariat continued its discussions with PCO to mitigate this risk.

In addition, the Committee is most effective when its full complement of members is in place. Delays in appointment of members who have resigned creates a risk that the Committee and its Secretariat are unable to conduct and complete reviews in a timely manner. Two additional members joined the Committee in 2023–24.

Resources required to achieve results

Table 2: Snapshot of resources required for the Parliamentary review of national security and intelligence activities

Table 2 provides a summary of the planned and actual spending and full-time equivalents (FTEs) required to achieve results.

Table provides a summary of the planned and actual spending and full-time equivalents required to achieve results
Resource
Planned
Actual
Spending
2,868,986
2,068,361
Full-time equivalents
9.0
7.5

Complete financial and human resources information for the Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Related government priorities

Internal services

Description

Internal services are the services that are provided within a department so that it can meet its corporate obligations and deliver its programs. There are 10 categories of internal services:

  • management and oversight services
  • communications services
  • legal services
  • human resources management services
  • financial management services
  • information management services
  • information technology services
  • real property management services
  • materiel management services
  • acquisition management services

Progress on results

This section presents details on how the department performed to achieve results and meet targets for internal services.

The Secretariat attributes the following expenses and activities to internal services: the memoranda of understanding with the Privy Council Office for corporate, administrative, information technology services and security support; the memorandum of understanding with the Communication Security Establishment for information technology services; and legal counsel, which is consistent with standard practice.

Results – what we achieved

Table 3: Resources required to achieve results for internal services this year

Table 3 provides a summary of the planned and actual spending and full-time equivalents (FTEs) required to achieve results.

Table provides a summary of the planned and actual spending and full-time equivalents required to achieve results.
Resource
Planned
Actual
Spending
784,906
960,895
Full-time equivalents
3.0
2.0

The complete financial and human resources for the Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Contracts awarded to Indigenous business

Government of Canada departments are to meet a target of awarding at least 5% of the total value of contracts to Indigenous businesses each year. This commitment is to be fully implemented by the end of 2024–25.

The Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians is a Phase 3 department and is aiming to achieve the minimum 5% target by the end of 2024–25.

The Secretariat continues to review its activities and contracts to identify where it could enhance opportunities for Indigenous businesses. For instance, the Secretariat has sought to support Indigenous businesses in its purchasing of office supplies.

Spending and human resources

Spending

This section presents an overview of the department's actual and planned expenditures from 2021–22 to 2026–27.

Budgetary performance summary

Table 4 Actual three-year spending on core responsibilities and internal services (dollars)

Table 4 presents how much money the Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians spent over the past three years to carry out its core responsibilities and for internal services.

Table presents how much money National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians spent over the past three years to carry out core responsibilities and for internal services
Core responsibilities and internal services
2023–24 Main Estimates
2023–24 total authorities available for use
Actual spending over three years (authorities used)
Parliamentary Review of National Security and Intelligence Activities
2,868,986
2,919,192
  • 2021–22: 1,836,281
  • 2022–23: 2,003,822
  • 2023–24: 2,068,361
Subtotal
2,868,986
2,919,192
5,908,463
Internal services
784,906
965,704
  • 2021–22: 861,721
  • 2022–23: 847,557
  • 2023–24: 960,895
Total
3,653,892
3,884,896
8,578,635

More financial information from previous years is available on the Finances section of GC Infobase.

Table 5 Planned three-year spending on core responsibilities and internal services (dollars)

Table 5 presents how much money the Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ plans to spend over the next three years to carry out its core responsibilities and for internal services.

Table presents how much money Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ plans to spend over the next three years to carry out its core responsibilities and for internal services.
Core responsibilities and internal services
2024–25 planned spending
2025–26 planned spending
2026–27 planned spending
Parliamentary Review of National Security and Intelligence Activities
2,635,805
2,635,805
2,635,805
Subtotal
2,635,805
2,635,805
2,635,805
Internal services
1,084,795
1,084,795
1,084,795
Total
3,720,600
3,720,600
3,720,600

More detailed financial information from previous years is available on the Finances section of GC Infobase.

Funding

This section provides an overview of the department's voted and statutory funding for its core responsibilities and for internal services. For further information on funding authorities, consult the Government of Canada budgets and expenditures.

Graph 1: Approved funding (statutory and voted) over a six-year period

Graph 1 summarizes the department's approved voted and statutory funding from 2021-22 to 2026-27.

Graph 1: Approved funding (statutory and voted) over a six-year period. Text version below:

For further information on the Secretariat’s departmental voted and statutory expenditures, consult the Public Accounts of Canada.

Financial statement highlights

The Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ complete financial statements (unaudited or audited) for the year ended March 31, 2024, are available online.

Table 6 Condensed Statement of Operations (unaudited) for the year ended March 31, 2024 (dollars)

Table 6 summarizes the expenses and revenues for 2023–24 which net to the cost of operations before government funding and transfers.
Financial information
2023–24 actual results
2023–24 planned results
Difference (actual results minus planned)
Total expenses
3,277,969
3,818,493
(540,524)
Total revenues
0
0
0
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers
3,277,969
3,818,493
(540,524)
Difference between 2023-24 actual results and 2023-24 planned results:

The department’s actual net cost of operations from continuing activities was $540,524 lower than the planned results. These lower costs are due to the decision to not proceed with planned travel and a reconfiguration of the Committee’s meeting schedule which resulted in lower meeting-related costs (e.g., simultaneous interpretation, hospitality).

The 2023–24 planned results information is provided in the Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ Future-Oriented Statement of Operations and Notes 2023–24.

Table 7 summarizes actual expenses and revenues which net to the cost of operations before government funding and transfers.
Financial information
2023–24 actual results
2022–23 planned results
Difference (2023-24 minus 2022-23)
Total expenses
3,277,969
3,070,449
207,520
Total revenues
0
0
0
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers
3,277,969
3,070,449
207,520
Difference between 2022-23 actual results and 2023-24 actual results:

The department’s actual net cost of operations before government funding and transfers for 2023-24, as compared to 2022-23 increased by $207,520. This increase is primarily attributable to the increase in personnel mainly for Salary and Wages expenditures, as well as professional and special services.

Table 8 Condensed Statement of Financial Position (unaudited or audited) as of March 31, 2024 (dollars)

Table 8 provides a brief snapshot of the department’s liabilities (what it owes) and assets (what the department owns), which helps to indicate its ability to carry out programs and services.

Table provides a brief snapshot of the department’s liabilities (what it owes) and assets (what the department owns), which helps to indicate its ability to carry out programs and services.
Financial information
Actual fiscal year (2023–24)
Previous fiscal year (2022–23)
Difference (2023–24 minus 2022–23)
Total net liabilities
439,904
362,557
77,347
Total net financial assets
295,961
249,656
46,305
Departmental net debt
143,943
112,901
31,042
Total non-financial assets
6,626
7,722
(1,096)
Departmental net financial position
(137,317)
(105,179)
(32,138)

In 2023-24, the department’s net liabilities increased by $77,374. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in accrued salaries.

Total net financial and non-financial assets were $302,587, an increase of $45,209 from 2022-23. This variance is primarily attributable to a decrease in accounts receivable with Other Government Departments.

The 2023–24 planned results information is provided in the Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarian’s Future-oriented Statement of Operations and Notes 2023-24.

Human resources

This section presents an overview of the department’s actual and planned human resources from 2021–22 to 2026–27. 

Table 9: Actual human resources for core responsibilities and internal services

Table 9 shows a summary of human resources, in full-time equivalents (FTEs), for the Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ core responsibilities and for its internal services for the previous three fiscal years.

Table shows a summary of human resources, in full-time equivalents, for Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ core responsibilities and for its internal services for the previous three fiscal years
Core responsibilities and internal services
2021–22 actual full-time equivalents
2022–23 actual full-time equivalents
2023–24 actual full-time equivalents
Parliamentary Review of National Security and Intelligence Activities
7.6
7.7
7.5
Subtotal
7.6
7.7
7.5
Internal services
0.9
1.0
1.0
Total
8.5
8.7
8.5

Table 10: Human resources planning summary for core responsibilities and internal services

Table 10 shows information on human resources, in full-time equivalents (FTEs), for each of the Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ core responsibilities and for its internal services planned for the next three years. Human resources for the current fiscal year are forecasted based on year to date.

Table shows information on human resources, in full-time equivalents, for each of ecretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ core responsibilities and for its internal services planned for the next three years. Human resources for the current fiscal year are forecasted based on year to date.
Core responsibilities and internal services
2024–25 planned full-time equivalents
2025–26 planned full-time equivalents
2026–27 planned full-time equivalents
Parliamentary Review of National Security and Intelligence Activities
7.0
7.0
7.0
Subtotal
7.0
7.0
7.0
Internal services
3.0
3.0
3.0
Total
10.0
10.0
10.0

Corporate information

Supplementary information tables

The following supplementary information tables are available on the Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parlimentarians’ website:

Federal tax expenditures

The tax system can be used to achieve public policy objectives through the application of special measures such as low tax rates, exemptions, deductions, deferrals and credits. The Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for these measures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditures. This report also provides detailed background information on tax expenditures, including descriptions, objectives, historical information and references to related federal spending programs as well as evaluations and GBA Plus of tax expenditures.

Definitions

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