The federal public safety minister says Canada remains tight with its intelligence allies despite a naval spy scandal that is said to have done “irreparable damage” to the country’s interests. Vic Toews said Thursday he doesn’t believe Canada’s reputation with its closest collaborators has been hurt at all by navy Sub-Lt. Jeffery Paul Delisle’s actions. Toews noted he continues to work closely with Janet Napolitano, the Homeland Security secretary in the United States. and Eric Holder, the U.S. attorney general (via Macleans)
It is widely known that one important watchdog office has been eliminated upon its long-time servant being eliminated (see above).
In her final report as inspector general of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Eva Plunkett says CSIS’s reputation and effectiveness may suffer if the problems aren’t addressed. The “re-occurring and high rate of non-compliance with policy, and the ever increasing rate of errors in reporting identified in what is a relatively small review sample of CSIS activities is a concern to me and should be a serious concern of the Service,” Plunkett says in the annual report card. “Errors in intelligence reporting, as I have repeatedly stated over my tenure, are a serious matter and have the potential for far-reaching consequences.” (via)
- Plunkett retired last December and the Conservative government recently abolished her office, saying it would save money and eliminate duplication.
- As inspector general, she served as the public safety minister’s eyes and ears on the intelligence service for eight years. She had a staff of eight and a budget of about $1-million.
- The report also says inspector general’s office also worked to eliminate “any possible overlap” with the Security Intelligence Review Committee, the other federally appointed body that keeps an eye on CSIS.
- “Intelligence is a very important but also a very powerful weapon. Safeguards against its abuse are essential.”
