Procedure and House Affairs committee  As I mentioned—

Procedure and House Affairs committee  On that question, I think it's important to put it in context. The information that is in the public domain may or may not be coming from the service or from other agencies. Information has indeed been reported by media. It is not because the information is in the media that I'm at liberty to confirm or deny the specific nature of classified information.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I will be able to provide a consolidated response from the PCO of dates when the subject of foreign interference was discussed. However, I am not at liberty to disclose information, directly or indirectly, that would provide classified information in a public setting. There will be a limit to the specificity of the topic discussed, but as I said, it is important that people understand that foreign interference was indeed briefed on regularly.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  In the spirit of these hearings, we will absolutely endeavour to provide the most consolidated and thorough response possible to the committee.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The CSIS Act provides a number of tools for CSIS to investigate foreign interference activities, including when it comes to diplomats posted here in Canada. As an intelligence service, our professionals are looking at the best way possible to get intelligence, using all the techniques that are available to it.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I have been the director of CSIS since 2017. I have had many opportunities to brief the Prime Minister, cabinet and different ministers on the subject of national security, including specifically on foreign interference. I would not have a specific breakdown of the number of times since 2017, but this has been a topic of ongoing briefings.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I understand that the national security intelligence adviser was asked a similar request yesterday. My reaction to this would probably be to work with the Privy Council Office to have a consolidated response to the committee.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I think, as just mentioned, we will endeavour to collect as much of that information as possible and, barring any specific national security considerations, we will endeavour to provide as much as possible to the committee.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I will probably have to defer.... To the extent to which we know, we will provide the information, barring any other national security considerations. We'll probably have to also rely on the Privy Council Office for some of the attendants of these briefings. That consolidated piece will, hopefully, answer many of these questions.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  As I just indicated, we'll have to review the list and the dates of such briefings. It is important to remind this committee that I do not take the premise of the question at face value. I need to be able to provide information respecting the proper classification of the information.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. Members of the committee, thank you very much for welcoming us this morning. I would like to thank you for inviting CSIS and our colleagues to appear on foreign interference threats to Canada's democratic institutions. CSIS continues to view hostile activities by foreign-state actors as the most significant threat to Canada's national security community.

Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you for the question. Different scenarios are possible. If we're talking about threats to individuals, threats to physical integrity and an immediate risk, we will always work with the RCMP, no problem. If the threat is more diffuse and more long‑term, however, we can use some specialized authorities, such as threat reduction measures.

Canada-China Relations committee  As the minister said, the threat is evolving, and the tools need to evolve as well. So yes, absolutely: this would be another tool to improve transparency. But I wouldn't want people to think that this would be the only tool needed. By requiring people to declare their affiliation publicly, such a registry would effectively increase transparency.

Canada-China Relations committee  I never put pressure on the minister, but sometimes I have fairly direct conversations with him. This is indeed something we have said publicly. One of the things we've said is that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, which dates back to 1984, needs to be modernized.

Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you for the question. Ms. McPherson, I'm not an expert on the FIPA, but what I can tell you is that, over the last number of years, we have seen how effective the tools under the Investment Canada Act have been to counter investments in Canada that have been or could be detrimental to our national security.