The Commissioner's Office

The reviews that my office conducts are in-depth and multi-faceted, taking months to complete. I place great importance on ensuring that they are carried out with methodological rigour and consistency. Last year, I requested an internal study of my office's own review processes and I am satisfied that it employs the full range of appropriate analytical and investigative review methodologies that are best practices in the public and private sectors. Briefings, multi-level interviews, the examination of a broad range of hard and soft copy records holdings, (including authorities, policies, legal opinions and operational files), legal research, inter-agency consultation and debriefing sessions are just some of the elements that constitute this process.

During the past year, my staff also upgraded its electronic record-keeping system, known as RDIMS (records / document information management system). It is designed to improve the security, retention and access to both non-electronic and electronic documents. This has enhanced my office's ability to track and manage its internal records.

In support of the review function, my office maintains a full-time working staff of eight, as well as a complement of contract professionals who bring a range of expertise and experience in a variety of related fields. For example, some of my staff have had considerable exposure to Canada's security and intelligence community; others have special expertise in information technology, research, policy development and communications. As a result of a multi-phase staffing initiative that was completed in June 2004, my office has been operating at full strength for almost a year. I do not anticipate further staffing requirements in the near future, provided the tempo of activity remains unchanged.

To ensure that my staff stays connected to and engaged in the broader issues facing the security and intelligence community, we host informal presentations by representatives of government and academia working in the security field. Last year, on five occasions, we invited presenters to speak about, and share in discussions on, Canadian intelligence priorities in such subject areas as terrorism, information technology and the law, and privacy.

As part of my efforts to ensure awareness of the role of the Commissioner, last year my staff – at CSE's invitation – began to give presentations to new CSE employees as part of their orientation course. This contributes directly to CSE's fulfillment of the Ministerial Directive on Accountability Framework, which is designed to ensure that CSE personnel are aware of the Commissioner's mandates of determining whether those activities (of CSE) are in compliance with the law and of investigating complaints by citizens, including CSE employees, or permanent residents of Canada concerning the lawfulness of such activities. The Chief of CSE is also directed to ensure CSE employees extend full support and cooperation to the Commissioner in carrying out his mandate.

In the interests of sharing expertise and learning about timely issues, my staff attended two conferences in October 2004: the International Intelligence Review Agencies Conference (IIRAC) in Washington D.C., and the annual Canadian Association for Security Intelligence Studies (CASIS) in Ottawa. In March 2005, I was invited to participate in a symposium on Counter-terrorism and the Law held at the University of Ottawa. While I declined to be a member of the panel, I took the opportunity offered me to address the participants, and I offered a few thoughts for their consideration. In addition, and for the second year, one of my staff will participate in the National Security Studies Seminar organized by the Canadian Forces College and planned for April. These events allow for the exchange of ideas and information on issues of mutual interest and concern, and help to keep us abreast of developments in the world that affect intelligence and review.

During the past year, my office's annual expenditures were $966,781. I am able to report that, once again, I discharged my mandated activities within budget. Annex B to this report provides a statement of my office's expenditures.