OTTAWA, November 04, 2022 — The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ (NSICOP) Special Report on the National Security and Intelligence Activities of Global Affairs Canada (GAC, or the Department) was tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2022.

The report provides an overview of the nature and scope of the Department’s national security and intelligence activities. It examines the authorities under which the Department conducts those activities and how it governs them to support the accountability of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It also describes the structures the Department has in place to try to ensure that the activities and policies of other organizations with security and intelligence responsibilities align with Canada’s foreign policy objectives. Finally, the report highlights areas where the Department plays a leadership role in the government, including two recent case studies of terrorist hostage takings abroad.

The unanimous report includes five findings and four recommendations. The government agreed with all of NSICOP’s recommendations.

The Honourable David McGuinty, Chair of NSICOP, stated that: “This is the first external independent review of Global Affairs Canada’s national security and intelligence activities. The Committee believes that its recommendations will strengthen the Department’s role in the national security and intelligence community, enhance consultations with the Department of National Defence, and improve ministerial accountability. The Committee also hopes that its recommendations lead to the development of a whole of government approach to better respond to terrorist hostage takings abroad.”

The classified version of the report was delivered to the Prime Minister on June 27, 2022.

The report is available on the NSICOP website at https://www.nsicop-cpsnr.ca/reports/rp-2022-11-04/intro-en.html.