Security Intelligence Review Committee

The Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) is an independent agency of the government of Canada empowered to oversee and review the operations of Canada's security service, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and investigate complaints against CSIS. SIRC was established in 1984 as a result of the reorganization of Canadian intelligence that also saw the creation of CSIS. This reorganization was recommended by the McDonald Commission investigating the former security service of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police which was found to have engaged in illegal activities.

SIRC's role is to review the activities of CSIS to ensure that the extraordinary powers granted the security service are "used legally and appropriately, in order to protect Canadians’ rights and freedoms." [http://www.sirc-csars.gc.ca/index_e.html]

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.

SIRC is made up of five members appointed by the federal government. The committee meets monthly with its day-to-day operations being handled by an executive director.

The current members of SIRC are:
* Gary Filmon (Chair)
* Baljit Singh Chadha
* Aldéa Landry
* Roy Romanow
* Raymond Speaker

Due to the sensitive material SIRC members are required to handle, members of the committee are sworn into the Queen's Privy Council of Canada, if they are not already members, in order to put them under the provisions of the "Security of Information Act".

Chairs of SIRC

*Ron Atkey (1984-1989)
*John Bassett (1989-1992)
*Jacques Courtois (1992-1996)
*Paule Gauthier (1996-2005)
*Gary Filmon (2005-present)

Historical membership of SIRC

Source: [http://www.sirc-csars.gc.ca/members_e.html SIRC]

Appointed November 30, 1984

Chair:

Hon. Ronald G. Atkey, P.C., Q.C. (five years)

Members:

Hon. Frank Charles McGee, P.C.(five years)

Hon. Jean Jacques Blais, P.C., Q.C. (five years)

Hon. Saul M. Cherniack, P.C., Q.C.(five years)

Hon. Paule Gauthier, P.C., O.C., O.Q., Q.C.(five years)

Appointed November 30, 1989

Chair:

Hon. John W.H. Bassett, P.C., O.C. (three years)

Members:

Hon. Stewart D. McInnes, P.C., Q.C. (three years)

Hon. Jean Jacques Blais, P.C., Q.C.(two years)

Hon. Saul M. Cherniack, P.C., Q.C. (two years)

Hon. Paule Gauthier, P.C., O.C., O.Q., Q.C. (two years)

Appointed November 30, 1991

Member:

Hon. Saul M. Cherniack, P.C., Q.C. (one year)

Appointed December 5, 1991

Members:

Hon. Michel Robert, P.C., Q.C. (five years)* *Appointed to the Bench, May 1995

Hon. Jacques Courtois, P.C., Q.C. (five years)

Appointed November 30, 1992

Member:

Hon. Edwin A. Goodman, P.C., O.C., Q.C. (five years)

Appointed December 23, 1992

Chair:

Hon. Jacques Courtois, P.C., Q.C. (five years)

Member:

Hon. George Vari, P.C., O.C., C.L.H. (five years)

Appointed April 20, 1993

Member:

Hon. Rosemary Brown, P.C., O.C. (five years)

Appointed June 8, 1995

Member:

Hon. Paule Gauthier, P.C., O.C., O.Q., Q.C. (five years)

Appointed September 30, 1996

Chair:

Hon. Paule Gauthier, P.C., O.C., O.Q., Q.C. (to June 7, 2000)

Member:

Hon. James Andrews Grant, P.C., Q.C.(five years)

Appointed April 30, 1998

Member:

Hon. Bob Rae, P.C., Q.C. (five years)

Appointed June 9, 1999

Members:

Hon. Raymond Speaker, P.C., O.C. (five years)

Hon. Frank McKenna, P.C., Q.C. (five years)

Appointed June 8, 2000

Chair:

Hon. Paule Gauthier, P.C., O.C., O.Q., Q.C. (five years)

Appointed October 4, 2001

Member:

Hon. Gary Filmon, P.C., O.M. (five years)

Appointed February 20, 2003

Member:

Hon. Baljit S. Chadha, P.C. (five years)

November 13, 2003

Member:

Hon. Roy Romanow, P.C., O.C., Q.C. (five years)

Appointed September 16, 2004

Member:

Hon. Raymond Speaker, P.C., O.C. (five years)

Appointed June 24, 2005

Chair:

Gary Filmon(five years)

Member:

Aldea Landry(five years)

Appointed September 3, 2008

Hon. Arthur T. Porter MD, P.C.(five years)

External links

* [http://www.sirc-csars.gc.ca Official site]