Canadian Security Intelligence Service and National Security Activities

Harper government response: The goal was to eliminate barriers that prevent spy watchdogs from talking to each other, according to Huffington Post Canada. It also pledged to create an internal mechanism to ensure accountability and compliance with the laws and policies governing national security information-sharing. In December 2010, the government promised to allow the review of national security activities involving multiple departments and agencies. The commitments were included in the Harper government response to a federal commission of inquiry into the 1985 Air India bombing that killed 329 people, most of them Canadians. For instance, the bill would enable a federal passport official to share information with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service about a terror suspect. Josee Sirois, a Public Safety Department spokeswoman, says the government is still developing options for inter-agency security review, adding she has no details on when it might be done. "The government of Canada recognizes the importance of independent review in maintaining Canadians' trust in our national security activities," Sirois said. "I don't have any more specific details in terms of a timeline." Opposition parties have criticized the government for not bolstering intelligence oversight in the anti-terrorism bill introduced last month — legislation that allows increased information sharing among federal security agencies. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.