Commissioner's message

It is an honour and a privilege to be appointed as the Intelligence Commissioner.

As Intelligence Commissioner, I am responsible for performing an independent, quasi-judicial review of the conclusions reached by Ministers in issuing certain ministerial authorizations and determinations for both the Communications Security Establishment and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, concerning intelligence activities before they can be carried out. I will determine whether the respective Minister’s conclusions to authorize these activities were reasonable and if so to approve them. This is a new and important role in Canadian law.

To accomplish that task, I am advised and assisted by persons having technical or specialized knowledge in the field of national security. I am supported by the Office of the Intelligence Commissioner, a separate agency established by the Parliament of Canada under the Intelligence Commissioner Act.

I will submit an annual report to the Prime Minister who will, in turn, table it in Parliament. This report will contain statistics on activities conducted in the preceding year.

I am confident the Intelligence Commissioner Act creates a robust oversight process, aimed at achieving greater transparency, bettering accountability and bolstering public confidence.

The Honourable Jean-Pierre Plouffe, CD