Announcement of 2001-2002 Annual Report

News Release —  Communiqué

NR–02.040
June 12, 2002

Minister of National Defence Tables CSE Commissioner's Annual Report

OTTAWA – The Honourable John McCallum, Minister of National Defence, today tabled in the House of Commons the 2001-2002 Annual Report of the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) Commissioner.

The CSE Commissioner, the Honourable Claude Bisson O.C., is mandated to review and to report to the Minister of National Defence on the lawfulness of CSE's activities. In this report, Mr. Bisson refers to the passage of the omnibus Anti-terrorism Act, known as Bill C-36, and pays particular attention to the new Part V.I of the National Defence Act which provided legislation for both the Communications Security Establishment, and the CSE Commissioner. "Suddenly and unexpectedly, what had been discussed for many years became a reality." Mr. Bisson also expressed his satisfaction that those activities of CSE that he examined during the year complied with the law and existing policy.

"CSE has an important role in Government, and provides services that support the safety and security of the nation", Mr. McCallum said. "I thank the Commissioner for his report that clearly states that CSE continues to meet the foreign intelligence priorities of the Government in a lawful manner during these critical times."

CSE, an agency of the Department of National Defence, provides foreign intelligence to its Canadian Government clients. CSE also provides technical advice and service to the Government of Canada to preserve the security of its telecommunications and automated systems.

This is Commissioner Bisson's sixth report since his appointment in 1996. It is available on the Commissioner's website at www.ocsec-bccst.gc.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Joanne Weeks
Commission Secretary
Office of the Communications
Security Establishment Commissioner
(613) 992-3044

Randy Mylyk
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of National Defence
(613) 996-8342