Introduction

Since my last annual report was released in May 2001, the context in which Canada's security and intelligence community works has been transformed. Members of the Canadian Forces have gone into action in Afghanistan. Our closest neighbour is still recovering from the terrorist attacks of September 11. Police and intelligence officials are working across Canada and with their counterparts elsewhere to prevent further terrorist activity in this country and abroad.

This new environment has given Canadians a growing awareness of the contributions to our well-being that are made by the members of our security and intelligence community, as well as police, fire services, enforcement officials, and military forces. Canadians rely on them to detect threats to public safety and to stop those who want to harm us or our allies.

The agency I review – the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) – joined other security and intelligence organizations in responding to the events of the past nine months. CSE provides the government with foreign intelligence by collecting, analyzing and reporting on information such as electronic emissions and data it acquires from the global information infrastructure (signals intelligence). It also helps ensure that the Canadian government's electronic information and its infrastructure are secure from interception, disruption, manipulation or sabotage (information technology security).

In the immediate aftermath of September 11, CSE employees worked around the clock to contribute to the worldwide effort to identify those responsible for the attacks in the United States and to prevent additional attacks. Together with other members of Canada's security and intelligence community, CSE formed new partnerships in common cause against the threat of terrorism.

The Government of Canada quickly reaffirmed terrorism as a matter of national concern affecting the security of the nation. Noting that "the challenge of eradicating terrorism, with its sophisticated and trans-border nature, requires enhanced international cooperation and a strengthening of Canada's capacity to suppress, investigate and incapacitate terrorist activity,"¹ the government introduced into Parliament last October its omnibus Bill C-36, the Anti-terrorism Act.²

To strengthen Canada's ability to combat terrorism, and to respond to threats to Canadian lives and interests from terrorism, the Bill proposed several amendments to existing Acts. Of particular interest to me were the proposed amendments to the Official Secrets Act and the National Defence Act, the latter providing the legislative basis for both the activities of CSE and the role of the CSE Commissioner. Bill C-36, which was passed by Parliament and proclaimed on December 24, 2001, also introduced new elements to the roles of CSE and my Office.

In this year's annual report, I describe those parts of the legislation that affect CSE and the Commissioner and the implications of the legislation. As required by my mandate I also report on the 2001-2002 activities and findings of my Office.

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¹ From the preamble to Bill C-36, the Anti-terrorism Act, S.C. 2001, c. 41.
² The Anti-terrorism Act: An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Official Secrets Act, the Canada Evidence Act, the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) Act and other Acts, and to enact measures respecting the registration of charities, in order to combat terrorism.