Such actions have been used in an attempt to force particular Hostage-taking, bomb threats and assassinationĪttempts are examples of acts of serious violence that endanger the lives ofĬanadians. That cause grave bodily harm or death to persons, or serious damage to or theĭestruction of public or private property and are contrary to Canadian law or The threat or use of acts of serious violence may be attempted to compel theĬanadian government to act in a certain way. Threats may also be made against relatives living abroad. State or organization, their agents or others working on their behalf.įor example: Foreign governments or groups which interfere with orĭirect the affairs of ethnic communities within Canada by pressuring members of Foreign-influenced ActivitiesĪctivities which are detrimental to the interests of Canada, and which areĭirected, controlled, financed or otherwise significantly affected by a foreign Installations, structures, equipment or systems. Safety, security or defence of vital public or private property, such as Sabotage: Activities conducted for the purpose of endangering the Unauthorized communication to a foreign state or foreign political organization. Political, economic, scientific or military matters, or for the purpose of their Unlawful or unauthorized means information or assets relating to sensitive The CSIS Act, only on those individuals or organizations suspected ofĮngaging in one of the following types of activity that threaten the security ofĮspionage: Activities conducted for the purpose of acquiring by Information may be gathered, primarily under the authority of section 12 of Provides many controls to ensure adherence to these conditions. That information can be collected and who may view the information. To ensure this balanced approach, the CSISĪct strictly limits the type of activity that may be investigated, the ways

CSIS carries out its role of protecting that way of The Canadian way of life is founded upon a recognition of the rights andįreedoms of the individual. The work, but CSIS is anything but a secret organization. There are some limits on what the Service can discuss that is the nature of Nowadays, it also means being more open and transparent to the people it serves. Government as well as respect for the law and the protection of human rights. This occurs within a framework of accountability to The Service's main purpose is to investigate and report on threats to the CSIS has alsoĪssigned more of its counter-intelligence resources to investigate theĪctivities of foreign governments that decide to conduct economic espionage inĬanada in order to gain an economic advantage or try to acquire technology inĬanada that can be used for the development of weapons of mass destruction. High proportion of resources devoted to counter-terrorism. War, CSIS has made public safety its first priority. In response to the rise of terrorism worldwide and the demise of the Cold However, and as the world has changed, so has CSIS. To countering the spying activities of foreign governments. In its early years, much of the Service's energy and resources were devoted That CSIS remains under the close control of the federal government. The splitting ofįunctions, combined with comprehensive legislated review mechanisms, ensures Other governmentĭepartments and agencies, not CSIS, have the responsibility to take directĬSIS does not have law enforcement powers, therefore, all law enforcementįunctions are the responsibility of police authorities. Suspected of constituting threats to the country's security. Government departments and agencies about activities which may reasonably be In meeting its mandated commitments, CSIS provides advance warning to The Act created CSIS as a domestic serviceįulfilling a uniquely defensive role investigating threats to Canada's national The CSIS ActĮstablished a clear mandate for the Service and, for the first time, legislatedĪ framework of democratic control and accountability for a civilian Canadian Parliament in 1984, following the McDonald Commission of Inquiry of the lateġ970s and the MacKenzie Commission of the 1960s. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) was created by an Act of MAIN MENU: SECURITY & DEFENCE: CANADIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE

In its first years of existence, its priority was the investigation of terrorist groups because of a number of violent crimes with political overtones, including the bombing of an Air India jet on a flight from Montréal and the armed takeover of the Turkish embassy in Ottawa.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service's purpose is to conduct security investigations within Canada related to suspected subversion, terrorism and foreign espionage and sabotage. CanadaInfo: Security & Defence: Canadian Security Intelligence Service

Political espionage definition