Strained Relationship and Resistance Between Canadian Intelligence Community and Watchdog
Released documents show a tense relationship between Canadian Intelligence agencies and their government-appointed watchdog organization.
According to recently disclosed documents, there has been a notable strain in the relationship between the intelligence community and its primary oversight body over the past year, resulting from significant resistance to scrutiny.
The findings were revealed in briefing materials that were prepared for Canada’s highest-ranking public servant ahead of a late January meeting with the chair of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA).
These documents were made available to The Canadian Press in response to a request submitted to the Privy Council Office under the Access to Information Act.
This latest revelation serves as yet another indication of the serious tensions that have emerged between the spy watchdog and the federal intelligence agencies that it monitors. It comes on the heels of the recent release of records by the intelligence review agency, which expressed concerns about a prevailing culture within the Communications Security Establishment. This culture is…