Departments and Agencies

In response to the overall priorities established by the government and the direction set by their individual ministers, the departments and agencies that constitute the security and intelligence community work both independently and together to safeguard Canada's security and to advance the country's interests. Some of these organizations are devoted exclusively to security and intelligence work, while others participate in the community as they fulfil broader mandates.

This section is the most important one of CIRC website as it presents resources related to these departments and agencies. It is subdivised according to the hierarchical division of the government entities. For example, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service can be found in the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada subsection.

Resources in this section include links and documents mainly related to the activities and organization of these entities. Since some of these resources relate to more than one organization, some duplication might occur in order to give the best coverage in each subsection.

Please note that the subsection on the Canadian Foreign Intelligence Service does not refer to a existing organization but to the issue of whether Canada should establish such an agency.

Resources

Sort by   Title | Date published | Date added | Document type

Bonding with water and hosers
In an intriguing exchange near the movie's end, Bond asks one lovely: "You're Canadian intelligence, aren't you?" Canadian intelligence? That drew a chuckle at a Vancouver screening.
HTML | Published: 2008-12-11 | Added: 2009-02-22

Canada may join U.S.-led energy, environment security project
Canada may join a new, U.S.-led effort to gather and share intelligence about threats to energy and environmental security, a newly released document shows.
HTML | Published: 2008-11-02 | Added: 2009-02-22

Canada must share intelligence with torturers
The need to exchange information with unpalatable regimes is a significant and troubling aspect of the new reality.
HTML | Published: 2008-11-01 | Added: 2009-02-22

The necessity of HUMINT
It is absurd to demand a "debate" on whether a fighting force abroad should have a HUMINT apparatus; it would be exactly like debating whether it should carry ammunition.
HTML | Published: 2008-05-30 | Added: 2008-07-03

Terrorist rhetoric is hate speech, Major says
Rudner also recommended the restructuring of Canada's intelligence-sharing agencies to ensure that critical information is appropriately circulated.
HTML | Published: 2007-12-11 | Added: 2008-01-26

Terrorisme : une base secrète DGSE-CIA à Paris
Cette base antiterroriste est coordonnée par un général français, ancien chef de poste de la DGSE à Washington. Quatre autres pays collaboreraient au dispositif : la Grande-Bretagne, l'Allemagne, le Canada et l'Australie.
HTML | Published: 2005-07-04 | Added: 2006-10-02

Canada and Peru unite intelligence in fight against terrorism
FINTRAC has entered into an agreement with its counterpart agency in Peru for the sharing of financial intelligence on suspected money laundering and terrorist activity financing and the protection of personal information.
HTML | Published: 2006-08-29 | Added: 2006-08-30

ASEAN To Enter Counterterrorism Declaration With Canada
The declaration details the commitment to exchange intelligence on terrorist organizations, their attack methods, weapons, financing and movement along with sharing of counter terrorism measures and experiences in each country, according to a draft of  [...]
HTML | Published: 2006-07-25 | Added: 2006-07-30

Toronto to be home of top intelligence group
Ottawa is spending $5 million over five years to make Toronto the permanent headquarters of an organization made up of 101 financial intelligence units around the world.
HTML | Published: 2006-07-08 | Added: 2006-07-14

Inside Canadian Intelligence
For the first time in history, a concise exposé of every government organization in the Canadian national security sector is available to the general public.
HTML | Published: 2006-06-10 | Added: 2006-06-10

Wake-up call for Canada
A Toronto author says his just released book -- Inside Canadian Intelligence -- was written as a wake-up call. One day after Dwight Hamilton released his book Torontonians found out there may have been a homegrown terror ring in their midst.
HTML | Published: 2006-06-09 | Added: 2006-06-10

Where do the Conservatives stand on national security?
The back pages of the Conservative Party's election platform included the creation of a foreign intelligence service, the establishment of a national security commissioner and the launching of a judicial inquiry into the 20-year-old Air-India  [...]
HTML | Published: 2006-03-28 | Added: 2006-04-18

Investigator, Preventative Security & Intelligence, XO3
Reporting to the Manager of the Preventative Security and Intelligence Unit, the incumbent is responsible for the collection, evaluation, analysis and distribution of preventive security intelligence information for the Corrections Division; conducts  [...]
HTML | Published: 2005-11-30 | Added: 2005-11-30

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

Alliance Base: Michèle Alliot-Marie évoque une coopération très poussée avec les Etats-Unis
Alliance Base, financée en majeure partie par la CIA, a pour objectif de lutter contre le terrorisme islamiste et notamment Al-Qaïda, et regrouperait des agents français, britanniques, allemands, canadiens, australiens et américains.
HTML | Published: 2005-07-04 | Added: 2005-07-29

Une structure antiterroriste unit Paris et Washington
Utilisant les services d'agents canadiens, allemands, britanniques et australiens, Alliance Base choisit méticuleusement ses cas, détermine un pays comme théâtre d'opération et remet entre les mains des agents de ce pays la tâche d'exécuter  [...]
HTML | Published: 2005-07-04 | Added: 2005-07-29

Czar is a non-starter
Taking a break from the backyard grills of the nation, Harper announced that a Conservative government would create the office of a commissioner of national security to co-ordinate Canada's security agencies.
HTML | Published: 2005-07-20 | Added: 2005-07-28

Tories would create security czar post
Canada needs an arm's-length security czar to fend off terrorist threats. The commissioner would draw on resources of police and intelligence agencies to develop "overarching" plans to strengthen and better integrate Canada's security network.
HTML | Published: 2005-07-20 | Added: 2005-07-28

Help from France key in covert operations
The Alliance Base organisation is unique in the world because it is multinational and actually plans operations instead of sharing information among countries. It has case officers from Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Australia and the United  [...]
HTML | Published: 2005-07-02 | Added: 2005-07-03

Senior Investigator
Security investigation and security intelligence services involving criminal allegations/incidents and breaches of federal and departmental security regulations and policies; personal security and emergency response services for the manager and senior  [...]
HTML | Published: 2005-06-29 | Added: 2005-06-29

Deputy Prime Minister releases progress report on implementation of National Security Policy
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Anne McLellan today tabled in Parliament Securing an Open Society: One Year Later, a progress report on the implementation of the National Security Policy.
HTML | Published: 2005-05-11 | Added: 2005-05-12

Securing an Open Society: One Year Later
This report describes progress in implementing a number of initiatives identified in the National Security Policy, as well as several other national security enhancements.
PDF | Published: 2005-04-01 | Added: 2005-05-12

Government lax in response to security threats: report
Intelligence agencies still do not have enough staff and scope to thwart threats to the security of Canadians and Canada's allies. The Canadian intelligence community is understaffed for the post 9/11 security environment. It needs more people.
HTML | Published: 2004-12-08 | Added: 2004-12-12

G8 protesters face travel ban
Security experts and intelligence officers from the eight countries represented at the summit are to meet at a secret location in Scotland early next year to draw up a list of troublemakers.
HTML | Published: 2004-10-17 | Added: 2004-10-19

Anti-terror allies set to mount biggest exercise
London will be the centre for the British part of the exercise, which will also test transatlantic liaison on intelligence and coordinated reaction to attacks in large cities.
TEXT | Published: 2004-08-23 | Added: 2004-08-23

Agencies with Security and Intelligence Roles (2004)
2004 chart of Canadian agencies with security and intelligence roles.
PDF | Published: 2004-06-14 | Added: 2004-08-16

Intelligence Officer (Anticipatory Staffing)
Provides intelligence analysis on operational, tactical and strategic enforcement issues within the national office. Produces intelligence analysis from the operational, tactical and strategic information obtained from regional intelligence  [...]
TEXT | Published: 2004-05-27 | Added: 2004-06-12

Canada gets a military 'free ride': Clarke
"I think there's always been a perception for the last several years in the United States that Canada, while it is well-meaning, has not given the resources necessary to its law enforcement and intelligence agencies," he said.
HTML | Published: 2004-04-27 | Added: 2004-05-01

Government of Canada releases comprehensive National Security Policy
McLellan today tabled in Parliament Canada's first comprehensive statement on national security. Securing An Open Society: Canada's National Security Policy, sets out an integrated strategy and action plan designed to address current and future  [...]
LINK | Published: 2004-04-27 | Added: 2004-05-01

New funding initiatives
The Government of Canada will invest $137 million to support intelligence enhancement as part of the National Security Policy.
LINK | Published: 2004-04-27 | Added: 2004-05-01

Securing An Open Society: Canada's National Security Policy
Further investments will be made to enhance Canada's intelligence collection capacity, with a focus on Security Intelligence.
PDF | Published: 2004-04-27 | Added: 2004-04-27

Budget 2004 - The Importance of Canada's Relationship to the World
To continue to meet current needs and provide for new security priorities, Budget 2004 provides an additional $605 million over five years to the security contingency reserve. These funds will be used to address security priorities such as intelligence,  [...]
LINK | Published: 2004-03-23 | Added: 2004-04-16

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

Liberals face new crisis over security flaws
With her unerring ability to target administrative failures that infuriate taxpayers and grab headlines, Fraser will not only question the efficiency of Canada's intelligence-sharing apparatus, she will reveal today that this country's airports aren't  [...]
HTML | Published: 2004-03-30 | Added: 2004-04-14

National Security in Canada - The 2001 Anti-Terrorism Initiative
We examined the co-ordination of intelligence among departments and agencies and their ability to provide adequate information to enforcement personnel. We examined in greater detail the interoperability of security and intelligence information  [...]
LINK | Published: 2004-03-30 | Added: 2004-04-14

Principal organizations involved in national security program delivery
National security programs include national defence, policing and federal law enforcement, intelligence, border control, transportation security, critical asset protection, and disaster and emergency management.
LINK | Published: 2004-03-30 | Added: 2004-04-02

Regional Pollution Intelligence Officer
The position is located within the Department of the Environment. Experience in collecting, processing and analyzing intelligence data. Experience in conducting intelligence activities and recommending enforcement action.
HTML | Published: 2004-03-11 | Added: 2004-03-11

Goodale details extra spending
Ottawa's supplementary estimates - spending outside the regular budget - included $5.2 million for intelligence-gathering and prosecution of organized crime.
HTML | Published: 2004-02-19 | Added: 2004-02-21

Security analysts issue wake-up call
Jolted out of naïve complacency by terrorist attacks on the U.S., Canada should hold a full and independent analysis of its intelligence and security apparatus, says Stuart Farson, an executive member of the Canadian Association for Security and  [...]
JPG | Published: 2001-10-04 | Added: 2004-02-21

Les services secrets canadiens auront plus d'argent
Le premier ministre Paul Martin souhaite accroître le budget consacré aux opérations de renseignements à l'étranger. M. Martin songe à confier au SCRS ou à une nouvelle agence le mandat de recueillir des renseignements outre-mer.
HTML | Published: 2004-02-07 | Added: 2004-02-11

Ottawa envisage la création d'une agence de renseignement international
Le ministre canadien des Affaires étrangères, John Manley, estime que le Canada aura besoin d'un financement accru pour sa Défense nationale, ses Services du renseignement, et l'aide internationale.
HTML | Published: 2001-10-05 | Added: 2004-02-11

Speech from the Throne 2004
The Government will develop, with its domestic partners, Canada's first national security policy. This will publicly set forth the principles that will guide the Government's actions and serve as a blueprint for effectively securing Canada.
LINK | Published: 2004-02-02 | Added: 2004-02-02

The real problem with our spies
CSIS and its sister agencies in the United States are still largely populated by intelligence officers who were reared in, and remain wedded to Cold War targets and techniques.
TEXT | Published: 2001-09-24 | Added: 2004-01-31

Nstein's Solution Partners with Health Canada
Nstein Technologies Inc. has signed an agreement with Health Canada to spearhead a new Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN) platform for monitoring potential public health risks and threats around the world.
HTML | Published: 2004-01-09 | Added: 2004-01-11

Canadian Wildlife Service - Intelligence
The intelligence service is, in fact, a support service for inspections and investigations. Wildlife officers who work with intelligence are responsible for gathering, evaluating, filing, analyzing and distributing information regarding real, alleged or  [...]
LINK | Published: 2003-07-24 | Added: 2003-12-28

Changes to Government
The Government of Canada must play a fundamental role in securing the public health and safety of Canadians, while ensuring that all Canadians continue to enjoy the benefits of an open society. The government will achieve these goals by making the  [...]
LINK | Published: 2003-12-12 | Added: 2003-12-12

Martin plans domestic security unit
Canada will develop a comprehensive national security policy to deal with the continuing threat of terrorism, says prime minister-to-be Paul Martin. The new approach will ensure greater co-ordination between the military, police, intelligence agencies,  [...]
HTML | Published: 2003-11-16 | Added: 2003-12-12

Time to consider need for national security agency, says solicitor general
It's time to consider the creation of a centralized national security agency, perhaps something like the American homeland security department, Solicitor General Wayne Easter said Thursday.
HTML | Published: 2003-12-04 | Added: 2003-12-04

Martin likely to dismantle HRDC
Government insiders also say Treasury Board officials are preparing a plan to create a new security department that would be in charge of Canada Customs, the Coast Guard, emergency preparedness, the RCMP and Canadian Security Intelligence Service.  [...]
HTML | Published: 2003-11-26 | Added: 2003-11-27

Paul Martin may dismantle HRDC: report
According to the Post, Martin is also expected to follow the lead of the United States and establish a new Homeland Security department. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was created in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New  [...]
HTML | Published: 2003-11-26 | Added: 2003-11-27

Spies, not Soothsayers: Canadian Intelligence After 9/11
Within Canada, intelligence is usually taken to mean security intelligence, which is designed to be preventive. Whether it is countering espionage, subversion, or terrorism, the structures, equipment and activities of intelligence organizations should  [...]
LINK | Published: 2003-11-26 | Added: 2003-11-27

Canadian Intelligence Agencies
Information on Canadian intelligence agencies by the Federation of American Scientists Intelligence Resource Program.
LINK | Published: 1901-01-01 | Added: 2003-09-09

Contemporary Threats, Future Tasks: Canadian Intelligence and the Challenges of Global Security
Canada’s intelligence community consists of a complex web of functionally differentiated agencies for the collection, assessment and protection of security-relevant knowledge on behalf of this country’s foreign policy, security and defence  [...]
PDF | Published: 2003-08-05 | Added: 2003-08-05

Summary Note from the Thinkers' Retreat on Security Challenges
Canada must improve its own intelligence capacity in order to better formulate its own security policy and reduce excessive dependence on intelligence from other countries.
LINK | Published: 2002-09-06 | Added: 2003-07-31

The Canadian Security and Intelligence Community: Helping Keep Canada and Canadians Safe and Secure
The Canadian security and intelligence community is a key asset in the government’s efforts to protect the interests of Canada and Canadians and to assure public safety. It also helps Canada contribute to global security. This brochure describes the  [...]
LINK | Published: 2001-05-01 | Added: 2003-07-08

Agencies with Security and Intelligence Roles (2002)
2002 chart of Canadian agencies with security and intelligence roles.
PDF | Published: 2002-11-15 | Added: 2002-11-15

9/11 and the Canadian Security & Intelligence Community
Canada is closer than any other country, both geographically and culturally, to the US. Here, the reverberations of 9/11 were powerful indeed, but Canada did not feel the impact in exactly the same way as the US did.
PDF | Published: 2002-09-26 | Added: 2002-11-13

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

National Interests, Security Policy and Intelligence
Coordinated threat analyses, advice and projected strategic options are fundamental to a sound and rapid government response to asymmetric threats. To provide this strategic orientation, the government needs the services of an independent National  [...]
LINK | Published: 2001-07-01 | Added: 2002-07-22

Canada’s Law Enforcement & Intelligence Capabilities
In light of the tragic and barbaric terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th, the Government of Canada has made national security our top priority. As part of our renewed focus on security, the federal government is currently reviewing  [...]
PDF | Published: 2002-07-18 | Added: 2002-07-18

Securing Our Future: National Security and the Economy
According to Tony Campbell, a Canadian security analyst, intelligence gathering and analysis are assuming greater importance. He believes that Canada’s analytical capability is underfunded (the Canadian Security intelligence Service (CSIS) has had its  [...]
LINK | Published: 2001-11-01 | Added: 2002-07-18

Risk and the Intelligence Community
At the heart of the problem of reforming intelligence is an understanding of risk. But in the world of intelligence, risk comes with a plethora of meanings and implications, some better understood than others. There are at least three different  [...]
LINK | Published: 2002-07-11 | Added: 2002-07-11

Intelligence Organizations: Canada
List of Internet links related to the Canadian intelligence community.
HTML | Published: 2001-06-23 | Added: 2002-05-04