National Security, Intelligence and International Affairs – Organization and mandate 

Role of the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, National Security and Intelligence, and the Senior Diplomatic and International Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister

The Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, National Security and Intelligence and the Senior Diplomatic and International Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister play critical coordination roles, support Cabinet business and decision-making, and are the Prime Minister’s principal advisors on matters related to foreign and defence policy, intelligence, and national security.

The Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, National Security and Intelligence, provides leadership on domestic security priorities, including the resilience and effectiveness of Canada’s security and intelligence systems and governance, while ensuring the community is fit for purpose and is advancing the Government’s national security priorities. The Deputy Secretary is also responsible for developing the Government of Canada’s intelligence priorities for endorsement by Cabinet.

The Senior Diplomatic and International Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister provides leadership on international policy, foreign affairs, and defence issues, and plays a central role in advancing the international dimensions of Canada’s national security, while ensuring alignment with the Prime Minister’s mandate and the Government’s strategic priorities. In this capacity, he also serves as the Prime Minister’s Sherpa for the G7 and G20, engages closely with allies and partners, and supports the Prime Minister’s international agenda.

The two roles are distinct but complementary. Working closely with Deputy Ministers and Canada’s security and intelligence agencies from across government, they reinforce timely and coherent advice and support to the Prime Minister on matters of national security, intelligence, international affairs, and foreign and defence policy. They are also responsible for developing and advancing a National Security Strategy for Canada.

The Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, National Security and Intelligence, and the Senior Diplomatic and International Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister report to the Clerk of the Privy Council and the Prime Minister.

Role and Organization of the National Security, Intelligence and International Affairs (NSIIA) Branch

The Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, National Security and Intelligence, and the Senior Diplomatic and International Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister are supported by three secretariats:

• the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat (FDP)
• the Security and Intelligence Secretariat (S&I)
• the National Security Council Secretariat (NSC)

The National Security, Intelligence and International Affairs Branch provides policy support to the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, National Security and Intelligence, the Senior Diplomatic and International Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister, the Clerk of the Privy Council and the Prime Minister.

The Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat

The Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat (FDP) is led by the Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor (FDPA), who reports to the Senior Diplomatic and International Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister. FDP’s mandate is to serve Canada and Canadians by providing professional, non-partisan advice and support to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on foreign and defence policy.

The Security and Intelligence Secretariat

The Security and Intelligence Secretariat (S&I), reporting to the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, National Security and Intelligence, provides policy advice and support on national security and intelligence matters. The Secretariat coordinates and advises on strategic policy initiatives across the security and intelligence community, as well as on security and intelligence operations, events, and issues, and provides associated awareness to senior officials. The Security and Intelligence Secretariat is also responsible for the management of the Government’s Intelligence Priorities process, oversees the screening clearance process for Governor in Council (GIC) appointments, and houses the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE TF) and the Fentanyl Czar Secretariats.

The National Security Council Secretariat

The National Security Council Secretariat, reporting to the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, National Security and Intelligence, provides Secretariat support to the National Security Council (NSC) and produces intelligence assessments to assist decision-makers by providing tailored and timely insight into domestic and international developments of interest to Canada. The Secretariat provides overall strategic direction and management of the NSC agenda, engages extensively with the broader national security community on horizontal issues, and provides strategic advice on the associated policy considerations. The Secretariat also provides leadership for Canada’s intelligence assessment community, and its Assistant Secretary serves as Canada’s Head of Assessment.

The Secretariat also houses the Canadian Academy for Intelligence Analysis (CAIA) which provides analytical and tradecraft training to the entire Canadian Intelligence Community, as well as the Intelligence Analysis Community of Practice (IACOP).