Integrated Threat Assessment Centre

The Integrated Threat Assessment Centre (ITAC) (previously the Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre) is a specialized organization in the Canadian intelligence community responsible for providing timely, relevant and objective assessments based on all-source information and intelligence that enable decision-makers and security partners to safeguard Canadians and advance Canadian interests at home and abroad. 

Who we are

ITAC employs professionals from departments and agencies within Canada’s security and intelligence community. Many of these individuals are with ITAC on temporary assignment. These professionals bring together expertise from their organizations and are what makes ITAC an “integrated” assessment centre.

What we do

ITAC produces threat assessments that are based on classified and open-source information. These products are shared with both domestic and international partners. ITAC assessments provide senior-level decision makers with the latest and most detailed threat information, which helps them to assess the overall threat and risk level, and to make efforts to mitigate the possibility or impact of terrorism.

ITAC is a community resource that delivers results through four lines of effort:

1. Deliver actionable analysis on threat reporting, data and trends;
2. Assess and recommend the National Terrorism Threat Level (NTTL) for Canada;
3. Assess and set terrorism threat levels for Canadian interests worldwide, including for special events and internationally protected persons; and
4. Develop strategic all-threat assessments for federal and elected public officials.

Mission

Our mission is to enable decision-makers and security partners, both public and private, to safeguard Canadians and advance Canadian interests through rigorous threat assessments based on all-source data, information and intelligence.

National Terrorism Threat Level (NTTL)

Canada’s National Terrorism Threat Level (NTTL), which is published at least twice a year, is the only assessed threat level that ITAC recommends for decision by the Director of CSIS. Any change to the level can have implications for the Minister of Public Safety, the Government of Canada, and other orders of government. If the Director of CSIS were to raise the NTTL to High or Critical, for example, this would trigger the Federal Terrorism Response Plan, led by Public Safety Canada. Further, Public Safety communicates the NTTL to all Canadians.

Fusion centre model

ITAC works on a fusion centre model, which means we leverage the knowledge and skills of secondees from partner departments and organisations in developing our analysis products. Seconded employees bring professional networks, specialized expertise, information, ideas, knowledge of relevant legislation, and unique situational awareness to their work at ITAC. This fusion of expertise and information enables ITAC to provide a more complete and accurate picture of the threat landscape, and ensures that products are relevant to ITAC’s broad clientele.

Accountability and transparency

ITAC is co-located with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in its headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario. It operates under the provisions and authorities of the CSIS Act and is accountable to the Director of CSIS. It may also receive policy direction from the National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister.

ITAC is subject to administrative oversight by CSIS, including internal audits. ITAC’s activities are subject to review by the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency and the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. Additionally, ITAC is subject to review by various federal bodies, similar to other government departments and agencies. These include the Privacy Commissioner, the Auditor General, the Information Commissioner, the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Commissioner of Official Languages. ITAC is also subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.

Career opportunities

ITAC is always looking for professional, experienced and dedicated individuals to join our team. If you are looking for a secondment opportunity, possess an undergraduate degree and at least four years of experience conducting in-depth research and analysis and drafting intelligence or policy products, there may be an opportunity for you as an intelligence analyst at ITAC. Please see our Recruitment notice for additional details regarding the analyst function and screening criteria.

For more information, please feel free to contact the ITAC Partnership team at ITAC2@smtp.gc.ca.

Employment and secondment opportunities are also regularly posted on the Government of Canada jobs website.