Briefing material prepared for the DIR of CSIS: Public Safety and National Security (SECU) Committee Appearance – November 2020

Mandate Items with a CSIS Nexus

Key Messages

 

Director of Terrorism Prosecutions

Issue: How is CSIS supporting Public Safety on mandate letter requirement to “work with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada to coordinate efforts to prosecute terror suspects to the fullest extent of the law, including bringing forward the creation of the Director of Terrorism Prosecutions”?

Key Messages

Encryption and Online Harm

Issue: What is CSIS’ position on online harm and its relation to end-to-end encryption? Will the Government introduce new legislation/rules/regulations on encryption?

Key Messages

Systemic Racism

Issue: Is CSIS willing to recognize there is systemic racism in our society and in federal policing in Canada?

Key Messages

Actions taken to date

COVID-19 Response

Issue: What is CSIS doing to address the COVID-19 pandemic?

Key Messages

On specific measures taken

Outreach to Biopharma

Issue: What is CSIS doing to protect Canada’s health research sectors during this pandemic?

Key Messages

 

Foreign Interference in Canada’s Democratic Institutions

Issue: What is CSIS’ understanding of this threat? What is CSIS’ role in protecting Canada’s democracy?

Key Messages

On CSIS’ role in protecting Canada’s democratic institutions

On foreign interference in US Elections

Espionage and Economic Security

Issue: What is CSIS’ assessment of the threat posed by China’s foreign interference activities?

Key Messages

On the targeting of research

On CSIS’ role in reviewing foreign investments

On media reports on the Thousand Talent Program

Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism

Issue: What is ideologically motivated violent extremism? What is CSIS’ role and assessment of this threat?

Key Messages

On CSIS’ understanding of the threat

US Elections

Issue: is CSIS monitoring the US Elections in terms of possible foreign interference and civil unrest?

Key Messages

On foreign interference in US Elections

Religiously Motivated Violent Extremism

Issue: is CSIS still concerned about religiously motivated violent extremism in light of the recent attack in France?

Key Messages

5G

Issue: What is CSIS’ role in the ongoing Government review of 5G? Will the Government ban certain companies from participating in 5G implementation in Canada?

Key Messages

On Allied approaches to 5G

CSIS Federal Court Decision (En Banc)

Issue: The Federal Court released its ruling on the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s (CSIS) duty of candour obligations to the Court on July 16th, 2020. Media coverage of this focused on the comprehensive external review ordered as a result.

Key Messages

Workplace Climate - Diversity and Inclusivity

Issue: What is CSIS doing to address the workplace issues raised by claims from former employees?

Key Messages

On specific measures taken

Flight PS752

Issue: in light of reports about Iran’s behavior towards its citizens abroad in the context of Flight PS752. What is CSIS doing to protect Iranian-Canadians?

Key Messages

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