https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/7dd0c10c439d7efe855055f4ce068759.pdf 3fafb9169b7926e3d3721213f43999cd PDF Text Text Canadian Foreign Intelligence History Project GAC ATIP A-2023-03407 GAC Special Registry File 9500-00 File Pocket DFAIT Ouellet "Memorandum to Cabinet: Foreign Intelligence Collection" September 1994 �GAC - Released under the Access to Informations Act/ AMC - Divulgue en vertu de la loi sur l'acces a !'information TOP SECRET CANADIAN EYES ONLY TRES SECRET ENTRB CANADIENS SEOLEMENT Memorandum to Cabinet Memoire au Cabinet FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION COLLECTE DE RENSEIGNEMENTS ETRANGERS September , 1994 Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Le septembre, 1994 Ministere des Affaires etrangeres et du commerce interna.tional 000230., 0 ��GAC - Released under the Access to Informations Act/ AMC - Divulgue en vertu de la loi sur l'acces a !'information s.15(1) - International s.15(1) - Security 5 TOP SECRET CANADIAN EYES ONLY e given o a legislative basis and a review mechanism. precise 5. Resource Implications: The establishment of this capacity would be initiated with no new resources. PROBLEMS AND STRATEGIES 7. Strategy: is attached. An appropriate communications strategy POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS 10. <To be added by Minister's office> DEPARTMENTAL POSITIONS 11. The Department consulted with the Canadian security community. The proposal and and intelligence recommendation are supported by CSIS, DND, PCO and SOLGEN. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade I) ?...LI 000234 �GAC- Released under the Access to Informations Act/ AMC- Divulgue en vertu de la loi sur l'acces a !'information 7 TOP SECRET CANADIAN EYES ONLY COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY 1. Consultation CSE PCO 3. CSIS DND SOLGEN 2. Date Drafted September, 1994 Goals To provide the Government with a defensive response should information about the proposed initiative become public and to remind the media that the government does not comment on security and intelligence matters. 4. Impact It is not intended that the project of reference be acknowledged publicly at least for the initial years of its existence. The possibility of its inadvertent disclosure is real but the impact can be managed effectively and plausibly in keeping with existing legislation and mandates. 5. Possible Headlines A positive headline is unlikely. speculation would start with "Government Creates Canadian CIA". 6. Negative media variants of: \ Response The Minister for Foreign Affairs and international Trade would be the most likely spokesperson. "It is not the practice of the government to comment on security and intelligence issues, nor would it be appropriate to do it. The Government of Canada, like those of other states, has a responsibility to acquire all information necessary for the protection and promotion of Canada's national interests. It is not in the public interest to indicate how or where such information is collected, except to note that the Government of Canada collects such information in accordance with Canadian law." 00023s & �GAC - Released under the Access to Informations Act/ AMC - Divulgue en vertu de la loi sur l'acces !'information a s.13(1)(a) 9 s.15(1) - International TOP SECRET CANADIAN EYES ONLY s.15(1) - Security ANALYSIS BACKGROUND 1. The issue is whether Canada should capacity to collect foreign intelligence its 2. During the Cold War Canada's unique geographic position enabled the government to play a disproportionate 1 y important ro 1 e Ic::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: on Soviet military. This crucf~l contribution was reciprocated by providing access to the "ntelligence products, principally SIGINT of our closest allies (UK, USA and Aus of this acquired intelligence 3. the 1990s the intelligence relationship with our has changed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!III!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!III The Russi an threat has u getary pressures, .............................................................................................................................. are orc1ng difficult choices, wnere excna.n es areas of mutual such short, economics is increas collection activities and 6. Potential for further expansion also exists ;re a:t:i:;::::::::~:~h~~;~:::::::ii1:~::::::::,i~:~~:;i£V:::::i~::::::::~~~~~ ~t:~~~' w~~ for specific information on matters that other ;i~i in !~ 000238 8 �GAC- Released under the Access to Informations Act/ AMC- Divulgue en vertu de la loi sur l'acces !'information a s.15(1) - International s.15(1)- Security 11 TOP SECRET CANADIAN EYES ONLY or anizations These wou :~::~===················=········=~~:~(e;ove~~m:~~~o~~ ca:1i~ i;u~:r!arpt~~~h ::~~~:~:~:~~:~:::::::: or might involve Canadian peacekeepers and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Examples of questions ~~~~;~a~ha~o ot~~~a1~~:~::;:;~:~~:::::::;~:~:~;::::::;~~:;~d~~uld 8. The answer foreign intelligence would be timely, logical and cost-effective on of existing programs. It would: allow intelligence to play an essential, strategic role in determining Canada's future foreign, economic and international security policies; act as collateral and a force multiplier for by obtaining more effective access to foreign decisions and communications; provide more intelliqence product which PROPOSAL 9. It is therefore proposed that Canada establish a capacity to Details of this proposal are set out 10. Framework: key elements: A successful proposal would have five 000240 L.{,,( �AMC - Divulgue en vertu de la loi sur l'acces a l'informat1on s.15(1) - Security s.15(1) - International 13 TOP SECRET CANADIAN EYES ONLY 1. It should require no new resources but rather would depend on the redistribution and refocussing of existing resources within the Security and Intelligence sector. A modest, incremental approach is therefore proposed which would allow for a gradual transition, based on reallocation of existing resources, progressing as value is demonstrated over time. 2. The transfer of resources should ensure an immediate capability to exploit existing or emerging opportunities. Other resources would be transferred incrementally in response to our foreign intelligence requirements. 3. Future consideration more precise legislative a review mechanism. 4. The existing capability for collection in Canada (under S.16 CSIS Act) is working well and would not be affected. 13. Activities would relate directly to Canada's foreign intelligence priorities which are approved annually by Ministers. This is consistent with tasking given to other foreign intelligence collection programs. 000242 �GAC- Released under the Access to Informations Act/ AMC- Divulgue en vertu de la loi sur l'acces a !'information s.15(1) - International s.15(1) - Security s.23 s.16(1) 15 TOP SECRET CANADIAN EYES ONLY 15. This expanded capacity would duplicate, the existing collection Security and Intelligence sector. 16. strengthen, programs of not the Specifically, the new capacity would: supplement the foreign intelligence collected domestically under Section 16 CSIS Act provide to the intelligence assessment component of the Security and Intelligence sector a product collected in accordance with Canadian priorities that directly relate to Canadian analytical needs; and 17. Organization: After reviewing various options, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) was considered to be best suited to accommodate this capability. 18. DFAIT is recommended for the following reasons: 000244 '-{ �GAC - Released under the Access to Informations Act/ AMC- DivulguE' en vertu de la loi sur l'accE's a !'information s.16(1) s.15(1) - International s.15(1) - Security s.23 17 TOP SECRET CANADIAN EYES ONLY 20. Accountability: The head of this new capacity would be responsible to the Minister of Foreign Affairs through the Deputy Minister. The Minister will be accountable in accordance with statutory responsibilities. In addition, to assist the Minister, the Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council, as Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Foreign Intelligence of the Interdepartmental Committee on Security and Intelligence (ICSI), will coordinate an annual performance review of • 'hat flow from this capacity. e resu1 s an recommen ions of that review will be communicated to the Minister by the Deputy Minister who is a member of the ICSI sub-Committee. The capacity 21. Functions: government with r·················································1mm:: areas critical to Canada's security intere will provide the 22. This will be accomplished by means of the following activities: 000246 Y,6 �GAC - Released under the Access to Informations Act/ AMC - Divulgue en vertu de la loi sur l'acces a !'information s.13(1 )(a) s.15(1) - International s.15(1) - Security s.16(1) 19 TOP SECRET CANADIAN EYES ONLY 23. Resources: Given the current fiscal and budgetary restraint, the establishment of this capacity would be initiated with Ini tiall CSIS, DND and DFAIT would 00024s v~ �GAC - Released under the Access to Informations Act/ AMC- DivulguE' en vertu de la loi sur l'accE's !'information a s.15(1) - Defence s.15(1) - Security s.16(1) TOP 21 SECRIT . CANADIM IDS ONLY 29. A communications strategy has been· deyeloped and i.s. attached. There i s no roposal would: be a cost effective and efficient means of collecting independent intelligence targeted specifically to Canadian interests; make intelligence a timely and relevant part of decision-making by the Government; ~nd provide Canada with the advantage 1t requires to compete successfully in the global environment. 000250 t> � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CDFI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CDFI00011 Title A name given to the resource Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Memorandum to Cabinet on Foreign Intelligence Collection, September 1994 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01-Sep-44 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived GAC Special Registry File 9500-00 File Pocket Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource GAC Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Canadian Crown Subject The topic of the resource Foreign Intelligence Service Description An account of the resource A-2023-03407 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Canada Declassified Type The nature or genre of the resource Access to Information Request Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English