Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. My name is Tricia Geddes, and I am the director general for policy and foreign relations at CSIS. Though my branch encompasses a wide range of functions, most relevant to the issue at hand is our role in the development of policy advice on strategic issues as well as the negotiation arrangements with our partners in support of CSIS's duties and functions. In support of these efforts, my branch has taken a leadership role in supporting the responsible implementation of SCISA.
SCISA, as you know, creates an explicit authority for federal institutions to share information with designated recipients. The sharing of this information must be relevant to activities that undermine the security of Canada. By virtue of CSIS's national security mandate, we are a designated recipient under SCISA.
SCISA sets the threshold for disclosing institutions; it does not change CSIS's mandate. We continue to undertake our duties and functions in accordance with the CSIS Act. Our collection authorities are clearly defined in our act. CSIS is authorized to collect information, to the extent that it is strictly necessary, on activities suspected of constituting a threat to the security of Canada. We may also conduct investigations in the exercise of our security screening mandate.
For the purpose of fulfilling our mandate, threats to the security of Canada are explicitly defined in section 2 of the CSIS Act and are limited to terrorism, espionage, sabotage, and foreign interference. These have remained constant since 1984. CSIS must ensure that any information it collects meets its own legislative requirements, irrespective of the authority relied upon by the disclosing institutions.
Effective and responsible sharing of information between government institutions is essential to the common goal of ensuring that Canadians remain safe. Timely access to reliable information is critical to the success of CSIS' lawful investigations. Not only is information essential to identifying and understanding the threats we face, but it also enhances our ability to advise government. CSIS intelligence provides the important insight, it provides situational awareness and informs decision making.
To exercise due diligence, CSIS has adopted a strategic and measured approach to implementing SCISA. CSIS presented its overall approach proactively to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in the fall of 2015 and has remained engaged with the office on this matter.
As part of its implementation approach, CSIS has worked with key partners to consider the particularities of each relationship and to determine how best to integrate SCISA into the overall relationship. This bilateral approach ensures that all relevant legal policy and operational considerations are assessed with other regimes. Engagement with partners in this regard has occurred on a priority basis that is determined by operational needs and requirements. CSIS and Global Affairs Canada, for example, has signed a new arrangement that governs the sharing of consular information. Whereas our former protocol relied exclusively on the Privacy Act, the new protocol integrates SCISA, filling an important gap, a gap that had been identified by SIRC.
I can confirm that we have received information under the authorities of SCISA in support of active investigations, as noted in the Office of the Privacy Commissioner's 2015-2016 annual report. Information shared during the first six months of SCISA respected the threshold set out in law.
This review is an example of how CSIS' activities can be, and are, reviewed within a broader framework of accountability. The Privacy Commissioner can review CSIS' information-sharing policies and practices and issue public recommendations. CSIS continues to co-operate with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in the context of its review of SCISA.
CSIS' activities are also reviewed by the Security Intelligence Review Committee, or SIRC, which reports to Parliament on our operations. SIRC's findings and recommendations provide valuable feedback and as a result often have a direct impact on policies and practices.
As you are aware, SCISA is also part of the range of issues being examined in the ongoing national security consultations. Though these issues are rightly a question for the public and Parliament to consider, we welcome the discussion and the opportunity to hear from Canadians on these important issues, many of which are at the very heart of what we do.
With that, Mr. Chair, I conclude my remarks.
I know that we all welcome to your comments, observations, and questions.