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Mission
Statment of purpose from ther website: http://www.csis-scrs.gc.ca/en/index.asp The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) plays a leading role in protecting the national security interests of Canada by investigating and reporting on threats to the security of Canada. Guided by the rule of law and the protection of human rights, CSIS works within Canada’s integrated national security framework to provide advice to the Government of Canada on these threats.
CSIS is Canada's lead agency for national security matters. Other Canadian government departments, primarily as consumers of intelligence, also maintain an interest or stake in the wider intelligence community. CSIS is neither a police agency nor is it a part of the of the military. It is a Federal agency which conducts national security investigations and intelligence collection at home and abroad. There is often ambiguity regarding the term "intelligence agency." Canadian police, military agencies and numerous other government departments may maintain their own intelligence components (ie. to analyse criminal intelligence or military strategic intelligence). However, this is not to be confused with the work of larger, dedidcated "intelligence agencies" such as CSIS. Although agencies such as CSIS and the CIA (United States) or the British BSS or BSIS (known as MI5 and MI6) are known to the public, it is these type of organizations, both defensive and offensive agencies, that are generically referred to as "secret services." CSIS is Canada's secret service. The agency is Canada's only intelligence organization to have been specifically created and mandated by an Act of Parliament. Its dedicated legislated mandate is found in the CSIS Act. CSIS collects and analyzes information and security intelligence from across the country and abroad, and reports to and advises the Government of Canada on national security issues and activities that may threaten the security of Canada. CSIS also conducts security investigations and assessments for all applicants seeking a security clearance with federal departments and agencies (includes applicants to the Department of National Defence), with the exception of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
THREATS TO CANADIAN NATIONAL SECURITY
a) terrorism, that is, serious violence for the purpose of achieving a political, religious or ideological objective; b) proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; c) espionage; d) transnational criminal activity; e) foreign-influenced activities
DOMESTIC VS FOREIGN COLLECTION:
By legislation, CSIS can collect foreign intelligence within Canada (see below). However, in the collection of “security intelligence” - threats to national security - the organization is not limited to operating domestically and can collect intelligence from anywhere in the world. According to its website, the CSIS Act allows the agency to collect foreign information defined as: intelligence relating to the capabilities, intentions, or activities of any foreign state or group of foreign states, or anyone other than a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a Canadian corporation. “Foreign intelligence,” as defined in the Act, can be collected in Canada at the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, or the Minister of National Defence CSIS operates both in Canada and abroad to collect intelligence in order to provide advice to the Government of Canada and thus protect Canada from internal and external threats. CSIS maintains offices across Canada and at select locations abroad.
INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS VS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
The agency operates domestically as well as internationally and thus operates under a uniquely different legal framework then local or federal police agencies. Intelligence agencies and police agencies are entirely different entities. At times, the agency may work closely with federal law enforcement agencies or other Canadian government departments, but as an intelligence agency, CSIS collects information for intelligence purposes and not for criminal prosecution. CSIS provides advice on national security matters to the Government of Canada. Some observers contend that the work of intelligence agencies may be considered generally more intrusive than law enforcement agencies. Recognizing this distinct difference, Canada separates intelligence and law enforcement functions. CSIS is strictly concerned with intelligence operations; collecting information and security intelligence for the purpose of advising the government, the role of the RCMP and or other local law enforcement agencies is to investigate criminal activity and to collect evidence that can be used in criminal prosecutions. Given intelligence activities differ from law enforcement matters, CSIS is subject to stringent review by the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) and an Inspector General (IG) as well as other legislative checks and balances. The agency carries out its functions in accordance with the CSIS Act which governs and defines its powers and activities.
CSIS does not investigate “lawful advocacy, protest or dissent,” unless it is carried out in conjunction with one of the threat-related activities defined in the Act.
METHODS AND APPROVALS One of the acknowledged methods of investigation used by CSIS, and by intelligence agencies worldwide, is the recruitment of human sources. Intelligence collected by CSIS stems from analysis and a wide variety of investigative techniques, including the use of covert and intrusive methods, such as electronic surveillance and the recruitment and tasking of human sources. If a CSIS investigation was to involve the use of intrusive techniques, such as telephone intercepts or covert searches, the agency would be required, pursuant to section 21 of the CSIS Act, to obtain a warrant approved by a Federal Court judge. All intrusive methods of investigation used by CSIS are subject to several levels of approval before they are deployed. The most intrusive methods—such as electronic surveillance, mail opening, and covert searches—require a warrant issued by a judge of the Federal Court of Canada.
Not much is widely known about the CSIS work force and training. However, at times, major Canadian newspapers have carried ads for employment at CSIS. CSIS has had recruiters at booths at job fairs. Not everyone who works at CSIS would be a "CSIS Agent" or intelligence officer or involved in covert operations/intelligence collection. Many would have a public role as in any government department. The agency would also hire engineers, guards, clerks, administrators, support staff, analysts and investigators who work in a more public role. However, the stream most associated with intelligence or spy agencies is often referred to as an "intelligence officer" "CSIS Agent" or a "case officer." It is this professional category that most people associate with a secret service. For this type of category, CSIS ads say they at minimum require a university degree, a willingness to undergo a lengthy interview process as well as a lengthy screening and training process; ability to speak both English and French as well as a willingness to relocate as per the needs of the organization. Public reports indicate the agency at its height employed about 3500 people and presently is believed to employ about 2300. However, presumably only a smaller few work as intelligence collectors or "case officers" which are traditionally associated with spy agencies. The very first training facility used by CSIS was referred to as the Sir William Stephenson Academy and was said to be located on a military base in the Canadian province of Ontario. The training Academy was named after Sir William Stephenson, a Canadian also famously referred to as "A Man Called Intrepid" who was widely hailed as a World War II hero. Stephenson was involved with British intelligence operations and one of the instrumental figures in the formation and founding of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the US Office of Strategic Services (OSS) which would eventually become known as the CIA. SOE operatives, including Canadians, then trained at the secretive CAMP X facility near Whitby, Ontario on the shores of Lake Ontario.
HistoryCSIS was founded in 1984 by an act of the Parliament of Canada, following a recommendation of the McDonald Commission. That Commission advised removing responsibility for intelligence from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, specifically the RCMP Security Service. Prior to the establishment of CSIS, the RCMP, which is Canada's federal police service, was responsible for intelligence and counterintelligence activities. The agency officially commenced operations on 16 July 1984, with Thomas D'Arcy "Ted" Finn appointed as its first Director. HeadquartersImage:Max csishq.jpg CSIS Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario CSIS National Headquarters is located at 1941 Ogilvie Road, in Ottawa, Ontario. There are several branch offices throughout Canada. After its 1984 evolution from the RCMP Security Services branch, CSIS found itself needing a new headquarters and commissioned the Osbaldeston Report in 1987 to examine the issue. The report recommended "An immediate solution to the CSIS accommodation problem must be found, bringing all headquarters functions together in a building that can be adapted to meet the needs of CSIS, both human and technological" September 1988 saw Cabinet approve the recommendations for a new structure, rather than trying to salvage the operations of the eight existing structures, and the following April saw the Treasury Board designate the funds necessary for its construction. The first phase of construction was completed in 1991, and the second phase in February 1995. CSIS formally relocated to the new headquarters in November 1995. [1] DirectorsPrevious directors of CSIS are:
ProgramsThe Operational Programs of CSIS include:
CSIS works closely with the intelligence agencies of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Under the post-WWII Quadpartite Pact all intelligence information is shared between the intelligence agencies of these four countries. While largely relying on information gathered by other countries, CSIS performs its own analysis. Permission to put a subject under surveillance is granted by the Target Approval and Review Committee. Security Liaison Officers (SLOs) of CSIS are posted at Canadian embassies and consulates to gather security-related intelligence from other nations. This information may be gathered from other national intelligence agencies, law enforcement services and other sources. SLOs also assess potential immigrants to Canada for security issues. OversightThe activities of CSIS are regularly reviewed on behalf of Parliament by the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC). It is also under the portfolio of the federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (Canada). ControversiesCSIS has occasionally come under criticism, such as in the apparent bungling of the investigation into the 1985 Air India bombing. [2] From 1988 to 1994, CSIS mole Grant Bristow infiltrated the Canadian white-supremacist movement; when the story became public knowledge, the press aired concerns that he had not only been one of the founders of the Heritage Front group, but that he had also channeled CSIS funding to this group. In 1999, classified documents were stolen from the car of a CSIS employee who was attending a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game. The Security Intelligence Review Committee reportedly investigated this incident. [3] [4] See also
TriviaUnderfunded, a made for television show, depicts the exploits of an agent from the Canadian Secret Service. Notes
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