Mr. Chair, thank you for the invitation to appear today to discuss the security screening process for government officials.
I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered here on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.
Joining me today is my assistant deputy minister for national security and cybersecurity, Richard Bilodeau. Here from Treasury Board Secretariat is the acting ADM for data and digital policy, Adam Hatfield. Also joining me today is senior leadership from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and RCMP, including deputy director of policy and strategic partnerships, Vanessa Lloyd; Don Halina, assistant commissioner of forensic science and identification services; and assistant commissioner Josianne Phénix, the chief security officer for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Our government's most fundamental duty is to keep Canadians safe. In an increasingly complex global threat environment, protecting the integrity of sensitive information and assets is a national security imperative. The Government of Canada's security screening process is mandated and guided by the Treasury Board's directive on security screening.
Public Safety's portfolio agencies have important roles in this process. They support deputy heads, who have accountability to make decisions on whether or not to grant a clearance in their department or agency. While deputy heads are accountable for granting, denying or revoking a security clearance for their respective organizations, CSIS is responsible for providing a security assessment based on available information that is relevant to the requested level of clearance. Depending on the level of clearance, such assessments would also look for potential indicators linked to national security threats such as foreign influence, espionage or radicalization. The requesting department or agency would then consider this assessment in its risk-based decision-making, along with the employment information it has gathered such as employment history, references and performance reports. For the RCMP, they perform criminal and law enforcement record checks and inform deputy heads of their findings to support decision-making.
The threat landscape is evolving, and our employment processes must evolve with it. As Minister of Public Safety, my responsibility is to work with my colleagues who are responsible for this policy to ensure security agencies have the tools and authorities they need.
Canadians must have absolute confidence in the integrity of their public institutions and the processes by which the government employs individuals for work on sensitive issues. They deserve to know that security-cleared government officials working on their behalf have an undivided loyalty to our country. The employees at Public Safety Canada, CSIS and the RCMP work hard every day to maintain that trust. I want to thank them for their ongoing dedication to protecting our public institutions and the integrity of our public service. I also want to thank this committee for undertaking this study.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I look forward to taking the committee's questions.
