Privy Council Office

The Privy Council Office (PCO) is the secretariat of the federal cabinet and the department of the Prime Minister. It provides non-partisan advice and support to the Prime Minister and leadership, coordination and support to the departments and agencies of the government.

The Clerk of the Privy Council is Canada's highest-ranking public servant and serves as the Prime Minister's deputy minister, the Secretary to the Cabinet, and the Head of the Public Service. The Clerk chairs a deputy minister-level group, the Interdepartmental Committee on Security and Intelligence (ICSI). This committee discusses strategic policy and resourcing issues, considers sensitive national security matters, reviews proposals destined for Cabinet, and recommends the annual intelligence priorities for the Meeting of Ministers on Security and Intelligence. ICSI (formerly the Security Panel) dates back to 1946, making it one of the oldest senior-level committees in the government.

Click here to visit the Privy Council Office official website.

Resources

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Canada called on to increase spying on China
The report argues that better counterespionage (from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service), improved eavesdropping (from the Communications Security Establishment), and more rigorous assessments (from the Privy Council Office) could improve  [...]
HTML | Published: 2009-02-27 | Added: 2009-03-07

Canada needs counterterrorism chief, says former CSIS boss
Canada should appoint a politically independent intelligence czar who would co-ordinate the operations of security and intelligence agencies such as the RCMP and CSIS, the former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service said.
HTML | Published: 2007-03-27 | Added: 2007-04-22

Radicalization and Jihad in the West
As a follow-up to the arrest of 17 terrorist suspects in the Toronto area earlier this month, CSIS has prepared an analysis of the phenomenon of radicalization.
PDF | Published: 2006-06-07 | Added: 2007-03-27

Integrating terrorism intelligence resources
Nine departments are represented in ITAC: the Privy Council Office, Foreign Affairs Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, National Defence, Canada Border Services Agency, Transport Canada, CSE, CSIS and the RCMP.
HTML | Published: 2007-02-24 | Added: 2007-02-24

Harper to create Canadian CIA
Stephen Harper will create a Canadian spy organization like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to collect information on threats to Canadian security, counter threats overseas and add to allied intelligence capabilities.
HTML | Published: 2006-01-06 | Added: 2006-01-14

La politique canadienne de sécurité nationale, une conséquence de la transformation des institutions publiques de sécurité depuis la fin de la Guerre froide?
The Canadian Forces, Law Enforcement Agencies, Public Safety Ministries and Intelligence Services are some of the State institutions that should adjust to security and threat changes, in line with the newly proposed Canada's National Security  [...]
PDF | Published: 2004-10-30 | Added: 2005-11-01

Intelligence Analyst - Western Hemisphere
Support for the Canadian intelligence community, through coordination of inter-departmental assessment activities in support of the Intelligence Assessment Committee (IAC) and through coordination with allied intelligence assessment agencies.
HTML | Published: 2005-08-17 | Added: 2005-08-17

Privy Council Office - Analyst
Support for senior government decision makers, including the Prime Minister, Ministers and officials of PCO, FAC and other departments, through policy-neutral assessments of foreign political, economic, strategic and security issues concerning Iraq and  [...]
HTML | Published: 2005-01-19 | Added: 2005-01-19

Mounties, CSIS agents grilled over Arar leak
In the internal probes, questions were put to members of the RCMP, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Foreign Affairs and the Solicitor General's Department (since renamed Public Safety) in response to Privy Council Office requests.
HTML | Published: 2004-08-01 | Added: 2004-08-03

Fraser report sounds security alarm
Canada has ignored the lessons from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by bungling efforts to keep terrorists out and allowing as many as 4,500 workers possibly linked to organized crime a free rein at airports, Auditor-General Sheila Fraser says.
HTML | Published: 2004-03-31 | Added: 2004-04-14

Le Canada a-t-il besoin d'un service de renseignement de style CIA?
Un groupe de spécialistes de l'espionnage s'apprêterait à soulever la question de savoir si oui ou non le Canada devrait se doter d'un service de renseignement étranger du style de la CIA américaine.
HTML | Published: 2004-03-24 | Added: 2004-03-24

Panel ponders CIA-style spy service for Canada
A panel of senior spymasters is quietly mulling the vexing question of whether Canada should create a CIA-style foreign intelligence service.
HTML | Published: 2004-03-24 | Added: 2004-03-24

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces
Although the Department administers it, the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) receives its policy guidance from the Privy Council Office, which reports directly to the Prime Minister.
LINK | Published: 2002-08-06 | Added: 2004-02-25

Senior Analyst - China
Desirable Qualifications and Requirements: Ability to read and speak Mandarin; First hand experience working or travelling in China; Knowledge of the Canadian intelligence community, including its organizations and key foreign allies; Experience in  [...]
HTML | Published: 2004-01-27 | Added: 2004-01-27

Four terrorist fronts at work in Canada: secret report
A "secret" list of terrorist fronts operating in Canada was tabled in the House of Commons yesterday by the Opposition, which demanded to know why the organizations have not been outlawed under Ottawa's anti-terror law.
HTML | Published: 2003-10-01 | Added: 2003-10-02

Privy Council Office
Official site of the Privy Council Office.
LINK | Published: 1901-01-01 | Added: 2003-09-09

Privy Council Office
Information on the Privy Council Office by the Federation of American Scientists Intelligence Resource Program.
LINK | Published: 1901-01-01 | Added: 2003-09-09

Security Intelligence: A Risk Management Enterprise
There is no realistic number of intelligence personnel or financial resources that would ensure that all possible scenarios involving threats to national security at any given time are covered. The task of addressing the spectrum of potential threats  [...]
PDF | Published: 2002-10-24 | Added: 2003-08-05

Eastern and Southern Africa Intelligence Analyst
Challenge: Support for senior government decision makers, including the Prime Minister, Ministers and officials of Privy Council Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and other departments, through policy-neutral assessments of  [...]
HTML | Published: 2003-02-05 | Added: 2003-02-05

Speaking Notes for Margaret Bloodworth
To continue adapting to the changes we see unfolding, we need to learn some lessons from our past.
PDF | Published: 2002-09-27 | Added: 2002-11-13

Intelligence Analyst: Latin America and Carribean
Challenge: Support for senior government decision makers, including the Prime Ministers, Ministers and officials of PCO, DFAIT and other departments, through policy-neutral assessments of foreign political, economic, strategic and security issues  [...]
HTML | Published: 2002-08-26 | Added: 2002-08-26

Requests for classified information
Request for classified information related to the possible creation of a Canadian foreign intelligence service.
PDF | Published: 2002-07-17 | Added: 2002-07-17