Announcement of 2002-2003 Annual Report

News Release —  Communiqué

Minister of National Defence Announces Tabling of CSE Commissioner's Annual Report

NR–03.0064
June 13, 2003

OTTAWA - The Honourable John McCallum, Minister of National Defence, today announced the tabling in the House of Commons of the 2002-2003 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 his report, Mr. Bisson refers to the reviews undertaken by his office during 2002-2003, as well as the evolving role of the Commissioner since the position was created in 1996. In particular, he noted that the activities of CSE that were reviewed by his Office during the year complied with law and ministerial authority. In this, his final report , Mr. Bisson noted that "...serving Canada and Canadians during the past seven years has been a source of great and enduring satisfaction for me."

"CSE plays a vital role in support of the safety and security of Canada", Mr. McCallum said. "On behalf of all Canadians, I wish to express my appreciation to Mr Bisson, the inaugural Commissioner, for his assurance that CSE continues to meet the foreign intelligence priorities of the Government in a lawful manner during these critical times, and for his commitment and dedication over the past seven years."

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 seventh and final 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