NSICOP welcomes appointment of new member

Ottawa, February 7, 2019 — Today, the Prime Minister announced the appointment of the Honourable Rob Nicholson to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, effective February 5, 2019. Mr. Nicholson‘s appointment ensures that NSICOP will continue to benefit from representation from the Official Opposition in the House of Commons.

The Chair of NSICOP, the Honourable David McGuinty, welcomes the appointment of Mr. Nicholson. “On behalf of all members of the Committee, I extend a warm welcome to The Hon. Rob Nicholson. The credibility of the Committee rests in part on its multipartite, bicameral membership, allowing it to review sensitive national security and intelligence issues from a non-partisan perspective. With his experience as a Parliamentarian and as a former Minister, Mr. Nicholson will add an informed voice to the Committee’s deliberations,” added Mr. McGuinty.

Background: NSICOP was established under the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act on June 22, 2017. NSICOP serves as an independent, high-level review body of Canada’s national security and intelligence organizations. It may review:

• the legislative, regulatory, policy, administrative and financial framework for national security and intelligence;
• any activity carried out by a department that relates to national security or intelligence, unless the activity is an ongoing operation and the appropriate Minister determines that the review would be injurious to national security;
• any matter relating to national security or intelligence that a minister of the Crown refers to NSICOP.

NSICOP members hold the highest level of security clearance, are permanently bound to secrecy under the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act and meet in private.

The NSICOP is composed of lawmakers from both houses of Canada’s Parliament and representing all major political parties and groups. They have a range of experience, including from government, academia and the private sector, and represent perspectives from across Canada. The Committee works on a collegial and non-partisan basis.

NSICOP must submit an annual report to the Prime Minister that includes the reviews conducted in the preceding year. It may also complete a Special Report on any matter related to its mandate, at any time. The Prime Minister causes NSICOP’s reports to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament, which are then referred to the appropriate Senate and House of Commons committees.