CSIS' Mandate, Duties and Functions

CSIS Act

CSIS collects information and intelligence on activities suspected of constituting threats to the security of Canada and advises the Government of Canada (GC). CSIS also supports other GC departments and agencies through security screening and foreign intelligence collection.

• Core Mandate
• Investigate Threats
• s.12: Collect, analyze and report to and advise GC on threats to the security of Canada
• Reduce Threats
• s.12.1: Take measures to reduce threats to the security of Canada
• Threats to the Security of Canada
• Espionage or sabotage
• Foreign influenced activities
• Terrorism
• Subversion
• Support to Other Government Departments and Agencies
• Security screening
• s.13: Provide security assessments to GC departments, provinces or foreign states
• s.14: Provide security advice on matters related to citizenship and immigration
• s.15: Conduct investigations for the purpose of providing security assessments or security advice
• Collect foreign intelligence
• s.16: At the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs or National Defence, collect (within Canada) information on the capabilities, intentions or activities or foreign states or persons
• Enabling Authorities: Authorities that contribute to CSIS effectively and efficiently fulfilling its mandate
• Warrants
• s.21: Authorities more intrusive investigative techniques (s.12 & s.16)
• s.21.1: Authorizes certain threat reduction measures
• s.22.3: Can order assistance to give effect to a warrant
• Datasets
• s.11.1: Authorizes the collection, retention and use of non-threat related datasets to support the mandate
• Information sharing / Disclosure
• s.17: Authorizes cooperation with GC departments, provinces, and provincial police forces
• s.19: Specifies when information may be disclosed
• Protection of human sources
• s.18.1: Ensures the identity of human sources is kept confidential
• Exemptions
• s.18.2: Provides exemptions for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a covert identity
• Justification framework
• s.20.1: Authorizes CSIS to undertake, or direct a person to commit, acts or omissions that would otherwise by illegal under Canadian law.

Review and oversight

All CSIS activities are subject to review by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. The Intelligence Commissioner provides oversight by examining and approving certain decisions of the Minister, including the classes of Canadian datasets that CSIS can collect and classes of otherwise illegal activity pursuant to the justification framework.