Security Intelligence Review Committee
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The Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) is an independent agency of the government of Canada empowered to oversee and review the operations of Canada's security service, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and investigate complaints against CSIS. SIRC was established in 1984 as a result of the reorganization of Canadian intelligence that also saw the creation of CSIS. This reorganization was recommended by the McDonald Commission investigating the former security service of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police which was found to have engaged in illegal activities.
SIRC's role is to review the activities of CSIS to ensure that the extraordinary powers granted the security service are "used legally and appropriately, in order to protect Canadians’ rights and freedoms." [1]
In 2005, SIRC came under criticism for allegedly not giving close enough scrutiny to the activities of CSIS regarding the Air India bombing, where crucial wiretap evidence was destroyed putting the legal case against the alleged Air India bombers into jeopardy.
SIRC is made up of five members appointed by the federal government. The committee meets monthly with its day-to-day operations being handled by an executive director.
The current members of SIRC are:
Due to the sensitive material SIRC members are required to handle, members of the committee are sworn into the Queen's Privy Council of Canada, if they are not already members, in order to put them under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act.
[edit] Chairs of SIRC
- Ron Atkey (1984-1989)
- John Bassett (1989-1992)
- Jacques Courtois (1992-1996)
- Paule Gauthier (1996-2005)
- Gary Filmon (2005-present)
[edit] Historical membership of SIRC
Source: SIRC
[edit] Appointed November 30, 1984
Chair:
Hon. Ronald G. Atkey, P.C., Q.C. (five years)
Members:
Hon. Frank Charles McGee, P.C. (five years)
Hon. Jean Jacques Blais, P.C., Q.C. (five years)
Hon. Saul M. Cherniack, P.C., Q.C. (five years)
Hon. Paule Gauthier, P.C., O.C., O.Q., Q.C. (five years)
[edit] Appointed November 30, 1989
Chair:
Hon. John W.H. Bassett, P.C., O.C. (three years)
Members:
Hon. Stewart D. McInnes, P.C., Q.C. (three years)
Hon. Jean Jacques Blais, P.C., Q.C. (two years)
Hon. Saul M. Cherniack, P.C., Q.C. (two years)
Hon. Paule Gauthier, P.C., O.C., O.Q., Q.C. (two years)
[edit] Appointed November 30, 1991
Member:
Hon. Saul M. Cherniack, P.C., Q.C. (one year)
[edit] Appointed December 5, 1991
Members:
Hon. Michel Robert, P.C., Q.C. (five years)* *Appointed to the Bench, May 1995
Hon. Jacques Courtois, P.C., Q.C. (five years)
[edit] Appointed November 30, 1992
Member:
Hon. Edwin A. Goodman, P.C., O.C., Q.C. (five years)
[edit] Appointed December 23, 1992
Chair:
Hon. Jacques Courtois, P.C., Q.C. (five years)
Member:
Hon. George Vari, P.C., O.C., C.L.H. (five years)
[edit] Appointed April 20, 1993
Member:
Hon. Rosemary Brown, P.C., O.C. (five years)
[edit] Appointed June 8, 1995
Member:
Hon. Paule Gauthier, P.C., O.C., O.Q., Q.C. (five years)
[edit] Appointed September 30, 1996
Chair:
Hon. Paule Gauthier, P.C., O.C., O.Q., Q.C. (to June 7, 2000)
Member:
Hon. James Andrews Grant, P.C., Q.C. (five years)
[edit] Appointed April 30, 1998
Member:
Hon. Bob Rae, P.C., Q.C. (five years)
[edit] Appointed June 9, 1999
Members:
Hon. Raymond Speaker, P.C., O.C. (five years)
Hon. Frank McKenna, P.C., Q.C. (five years)
[edit] Appointed June 8, 2000
Chair:
Hon. Paule Gauthier, P.C., O.C., O.Q., Q.C. (five years)
[edit] Appointed October 4, 2001
Member:
Hon. Gary Filmon, P.C., O.M. (five years)
[edit] Appointed February 20, 2003
Member:
Hon. Baljit S. Chadha, P.C. (five years)
[edit] November 13, 2003
Member:
Hon. Roy Romanow, P.C., O.C., Q.C. (five years)
[edit] Appointed September 16, 2004
Member:
Hon. Raymond Speaker, P.C., O.C. (five years)
[edit] Appointed June 24, 2005
Chair:
Gary Filmon (five years)
Member:
Aldea Landry (five years)
