‘Created unnecessary danger’: Canada’s spy watchdog slams sudden halt to CSIS overseas operation

The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) said it found no documentation showing that the decision to pause the CSIS operation was made by either the spy agency’s director or the minister of public safety.

In contrast to routine operational matters, the case reportedly involved high-level political actors across the federal government.

While the nature and location of the mission remain classified in the heavily redacted report, the agency made clear that halting the mission mid-course had consequences.

The abrupt decision harmed Canada’s international reputation, put intelligence officers at avoidable risk, and “raises serious concerns regarding CSIS’s accountability mechanisms,” the review said.

The situation unfolded in September 2022, when then-public safety minister Marco Mendicino requested that NSIRA assess whether CSIS and the Public Safety Department were adequately supporting ministerial responsibility.

Though the sensitive operation was eventually allowed to continue, the report describes a chaotic and confused chain of decision-making during the delay.

Senior CSIS officials reportedly struggled to manage the fallout from the interruption.

At one point, the CSIS director wrote to top officials within key security and intelligence portfolios: “Time is quickly running out and the situation is getting much more tense on the ground. We need a decision tomorrow.”

The review also noted uncertainty around who held the authority to restart the mission, compounding internal confusion.

NSIRA concluded that both CSIS and the Public Safety Department failed in their duty to provide “timely and accurate information” to the minister regarding key aspects of the operation.

The agency warned that the current system of ministerial oversight and accountability for CSIS “is in need of serious attention.”

To prevent such failures in future, NSIRA recommends that any decision affecting an ongoing CSIS operation—if not made by the director or authorised delegates—must come directly from the public safety minister and must be documented in writing.

It also called on the minister to ensure that the department’s deputy minister has access to all necessary information to offer independent, informed advice on intelligence activities.

“Building a stronger system now will help prepare for future operations and reduce the likelihood of a repeat of past confusion and risk,” the report said.