Looking to the Future

Internationally

Since assuming my responsibilities as the CSE Commissioner almost three years ago, terrorism has continued to be a dominant issue on the international political and security scene. Since my last report, the global war on terrorism has continued unabated. There have been numerous attacks around the globe, including the bombings in London, England in July 2005 and the subsequent arrest of alleged terrorists. International concerns have also increased sharply over the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, with a particular focus on North Korea and the nuclear ambitions and intentions of Iran.

In Afghanistan, Canada accepted a lead role in providing security and helping to re-build the area in and around Kandahar. This undertaking has been made all the more important and dangerous with Osama bin Laden's exhortation to his extremist followers to prepare for a protracted war with the West.

At home

In Canada, terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and military deployments are not our only concerns. Canada is an integral part of an economically interdependent world and must continue both to protect and promote its national interests in that context.

With no foreseeable diminution in perceived threats to the security of Canada and Canadians, or of the need to provide the Government of Canada with the foreign intelligence it requires to pursue and to protect Canada's interests around the world, CSE's role will continue to be important. By extension, I believe that the work of my office in reviewing CSE's activities, in assessing their compliance with the law, and in making recommendations to ensure that such compliance is based on sound policies, procedures and practices, has a useful role to play.

Many government initiatives and activities do not fit neatly into the artificial construct of a particular fiscal year. As a result, there are several matters that will carry forward, and that I hope to see completed or otherwise resolved early in 2006–2007. These include, for example, the three-year review of the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Bills that died on the order paper when the 38^th Parliament was dissolved, and the report of the Arar Commission, as discussed earlier in this report.

In terms of the work of my office, a major, two-phased review of CSE's activities in support of the RCMP is nearing completion. My 2004–2005 Annual Report included a general outline of the Phase 1 findings and recommendations. I am hopeful that outstanding issues arising from the Phase 2 work will be expeditiously resolved, and I plan to report the Phase 2 findings and recommendations to the Minister early in 2006–2007.

Finally, to ensure that the watcher is indeed watched, I have recently commissioned two independent management reviews of my own office. One will focus on administration, including the management and control of financial, human and information resources. The other will deal with operations, by assessing whether the office carries out the Commissioner's mandated responsibilities efficiently and effectively. The reviews will address those aspects of administration and operations that pose potential risks for this office and that are important to get right. As such, I expect that they will provide evidence-based assurance in relation to some matters, as well as recommendations for action where improvements are necessary. Both reviews are scheduled to be completed in summer 2006.