Security Intelligence Review Committee


The Security Intelligence Review Committee was a committee of Privy Councillors that was empowered to serve as an independent oversight and review body for the operations of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. The SIRC was established in 1984 as a result of the reorganization of Canadian intelligence agencies recommended by the McDonald Commission investigating the illegal activities of the former RCMP Security Service.
SIRC's role was to review the activities of CSIS to ensure that the extraordinary powers granted to the security service are "used legally and appropriately, in order to protect Canadians’ rights and freedoms." SIRC did not report to a minister but rather reported directly to the Parliament of Canada.
On July 19, 2019, SIRC was superseded by the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency, a super-agency mandated to review all Government of Canada national security and intelligence activities.

Chuck Strahl (2012–2014) lobbying activities

In January 2014, Chuck Strahl resigned his position as chair of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, the watchdog of Canada’s spy agency, after it was revealed by the press that he is also registered as a lobbyist over the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines.

Arthur Porter (2008–2011) criminal charges and arrest

and his wife Pamela Mattock Porter were detained by Interpol agents in Panama on May 27, 2013, after an investigation by the Sureté du Québec, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the International Criminal Police Organization. He faces charges in Canada of fraud, conspiracy to commit government fraud, abuse of trust, secret commissions and laundering the proceeds of a crime.
The fraud against the Quebec government is related to his alleged role in the handling of a $1.3-billion Montreal hospital construction and maintenance contract.
At the time of the alleged fraud, from 2008 to 2011, Porter director general of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Quebec, being in charge of one of Canada’s largest health-care providers. He was appointed to the position in 2004. He was also a member of Air Canada’s board of directors.
Porter claimed diplomatic immunity on the basis that he was travelling via Panama on a diplomatic mission to Antigua and Barbuda, on behalf of the government of Sierra Leone, according to his lawyer Ricardo Bilonick Paredes, a convicted cocaine smuggler with ties to Panama's former dictator, Manuel Noriega and Colombian drug cartels. However, the Sierra Leone government says he is a goodwill ambassador and thus has no diplomatic immunity.

Air India bombing

In 2005, SIRC came under criticism for allegedly not giving close enough scrutiny to the activities of CSIS regarding the Air India bombing, where crucial wiretap evidence was destroyed putting the legal case against the alleged Air India bombers into jeopardy.
The Security Intelligence Review Committee cleared CSIS of any wrongdoing. The report remains secret to this day.

Past Chairs of SIRC

Source:

Appointed November 30, 1984

Chair:
Hon. Ronald G. Atkey, PC, QC
Members:
Hon. Frank Charles McGee, PC
Hon. Jean Jacques Blais, PC, QC
Hon. Saul M. Cherniack, PC, QC
Hon. Paule Gauthier, PC, OC, OQ, QC

Appointed November 30, 1989

Chair:
Hon. John W.H. Bassett, PC, OC
Members:
Hon. Stewart D. McInnes, PC, QC
Hon. Jean Jacques Blais, PC, QC
Hon. Saul M. Cherniack, PC, QC
Hon. Paule Gauthier, PC, OC, OQ, QC

Appointed November 30, 1991

Member:
Hon. Saul M. Cherniack, PC, QC

Appointed December 5, 1991

Members:
Hon. Michel Robert, PC, QC
Hon. Jacques Courtois, PC, QC

Appointed November 30, 1992

Member:
Hon. Edwin A. Goodman, PC, OC, QC

Appointed December 23, 1992

Chair:
Hon. Jacques Courtois, PC, QC
Member:
Hon. George Vari, PC, OC

Appointed April 20, 1993

Member:
Hon. Rosemary Brown, PC, OC

Appointed June 8, 1995

Member:
Hon. Paule Gauthier, PC, OC, OQ, QC

Appointed September 30, 1996

Chair:
Hon. Paule Gauthier, PC, OC, OQ, QC
Member:
Hon. James Andrews Grant, PC, QC

Appointed April 30, 1998

Member:
Hon. Bob Rae, PC, OC, O.Ont, QC

Appointed June 9, 1999

Members:
Hon. Raymond Speaker, PC, OC
Hon. Frank McKenna, PC, OC, QC, ONB

Appointed June 8, 2000

Chair:
Hon. Paule Gauthier, PC, OC, OQ, QC

Appointed October 4, 2001

Member:
Hon. Gary Filmon, PC, OM

Appointed February 20, 2003

Member:
Hon. Baljit S. Chadha, PC

November 13, 2003

Member:
Hon. Roy Romanow, PC, OC, SOM, QC

Appointed September 16, 2004

Member:
Hon. Raymond Speaker, PC, OC

Appointed June 24, 2005

Chair:
Gary Filmon, PC, OM
Member:
Aldea Landry, PC, CM, QC

Appointed September 3, 2008

Members:
Hon. Denis Losier, PC
Hon. Arthur Porter, PC,
It is noteworthy to remark that 8 months after the appointment of Arthur Porter, the CSIS Director Jim Judd announced his early resignation from his post.

Appointed January 23, 2009

Member:
Hon. Frances Lankin, PC

Appointed June 24, 2010

Chair:
Hon. Arthur Porter, PC
Members:
Hon. Philippe Couillard, PC
Hon. Carol Skelton, PC

Appointed June 14, 2012

Chair:
Hon. Chuck Strahl, PC

Appointed April 22, 2013

Member:
Hon. Deborah Grey, PC, OC

Appointed August 8, 2013

Member:
Hon. Yves Fortier, PC, CC, OQ, QC

Appointed March 7, 2014

Member:
Hon. Gene McLean, PC

Appointed January 30, 2015

Member:
Hon. Ian Carl Holloway, PC, CD, QC

Appointed May 1, 2015

Chair:
Hon. Pierre Blais, PC
Member:
Hon. Marie-Lucie Morin, PC