The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security is a House of Commons committee made of Parliamentarians who are regularly briefed on national security issues.
Click here to visit the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security official website.
Arar inquiry urges more scrutiny of Canada's intelligence activities
The Maher Arar inquiry has unfurled blueprints for a stronger, more co-ordinated family of watchdogs to keep an eye on the RCMP and other federal security organizations. Justice Dennis O'Connor suggests better scrutiny of the intelligence community.
HTML | Published: 2006-12-12 | Added: 2007-01-03
Can we trust MPs to oversee the overseers?
Mr. Justice Dennis O'Connor's second report on the Arar affair proposes the creation of one powerful new agency and the expansion of another with broad mandates and real powers to watch over the national security apparatus.
HTML | Published: 2006-12-13 | Added: 2007-01-03
O'Connor recommends more oversight of RCMP, CSIS
The report stopped short of recommending a review super agency, as some experts expected, instead opting for a pair of bodies that will monitor the RCMP, CSIS and five other agencies involved with national security.
HTML | Published: 2006-12-13 | Added: 2007-01-03
Day sees role for MPs in holding RCMP, CSIS to account on security issues
Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day suggested an all-party committee of Parliament could keep tabs on both the RCMP and CSIS, and said that a watchdog group of MPs could help ensure the Mounties and CSIS don't go off the rails.
HTML | Published: 2006-10-02 | Added: 2006-10-05
Minister Day favours role for Parliament in overseeing security operations
Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said he thinks MPs have a role to play in monitoring both the RCMP and CSIS. But he says the members of any oversight committee would have to be sworn to secrecy on the operational details of security matters.
HTML | Published: 2006-10-01 | Added: 2006-10-02
MPS May Oversee CSIS
Veteran Ontario Liberal MP Derek Lee has strongly hinted that Prime Minister Paul Martin will follow through on a 15-month-old promise to create a parliamentary committee to oversee the country's security and intelligence services.
HTML | Published: 2005-03-31 | Added: 2005-04-24
Parliament needs access to classified info: AG
A day after exposing "serious weaknesses" in Canada's air-transport safety and passport system, Auditor General Sheila Fraser told Canada AM that Parliament needs better access to important classified security information.
HTML | Published: 2005-04-06 | Added: 2005-04-07
Security and intelligence activities pose a new challenge for Parliament
The Auditor General suggests that Parliament needs to find a way to receive reports containing classified information from security and intelligence agencies and from organizations like SIRC and the Office of the Auditor General.
HTML | Published: 2005-04-05 | Added: 2005-04-06
Deputy Prime Minister Details Proposed Model for National Security Committee of Parliamentarians
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness the Honourable Anne McLellan tabled in Parliament details of a proposed National Security Committee of Parliamentarians.
HTML | Published: 2005-04-04 | Added: 2005-04-05
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
A National Security Committee of Parliamentarians
Consultation Paper to Help Inform the Creation of a Committee of Parliamentarians to Review National Security
LINK | Published: 2004-04-07 | Added: 2004-04-21
Deputy Prime Minister tables consultation paper on National Security Committee of Parliamentarians
The Committee's creation is part of the Government's Action Plan on Democratic Reform, announced by the Prime Minister on December 12. It will provide a broader role for Parliament in guiding and reviewing Canada's national security activities.
LINK | Published: 2004-03-31 | Added: 2004-04-21
Ottawa laying ground work for special Joint Parliamentary National Security Committee: Minister McLellan
In a wide-ranging interview, Ms. McLellan, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, spoke at length about the challenges she faces in her new portfolio.
PDF | Published: 2004-03-08 | Added: 2004-03-18
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