National Security and Intelligence Review Agency – Estimates and Budget
Supplementary Estimates A
- The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) is an independent and external review body, which reports to Parliament.
- NSIRA replaces the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC), which reviewed CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service), and the Office of the CSE Commissioner (OCSEC), which reviewed the CSE (Communications Security Establishment).
- NSIRA also has a statutory mandate to review national security and intelligence activities of all other federal departments and agencies to ensure that they are lawful, reasonable and necessary.
- NSIRA was established on July 12, 2019 as part of Bill C-59 that received royal assent on June 21, 2019.
- NSIRA is requesting $19.5 million in these Estimates, including $0.7 million in Statutory authorities, to establish the agency.
- The amount includes funding for additional personnel and construction of a second site to support expanded mandate.
- Monies are expected to go towards hiring of researchers, lawyers and corporate services employees to meet NSIRA's mandate, as well as additional space to accommodate new staff.
- NSIRA is comprised of seven Members appointed by the Governor in Council, led by a Chair, Murray Rankin. The Review Agency is supported by the Secretariat of NSIRA, which is led by the Executive Director, John Davies.
Key Facts
- NSIRA is requesting $19.5 million in these Estimates.
- In its TB Submission total requested funding was $24.7 M but that number assumed NSIRA would come in existence on April 1, 2019
- NSIRA was required to use the SIRC roll-over funding of $3.7 million
- Total proposed authorities to date are $23.2 million
Version 5: 2019-12-09
Source: NSIRA