National Security Advisor (Canada)
The national security and intelligence advisor (French: conseiller à la sécurité nationale et au renseignement) is a public servant who advises the prime minister of Canada on security and intelligence matters. The position is supported by the Security and Intelligence Secretariat and the Intelligence Assessment Staff and holds the rank of associate secretary in the Privy Council Office (PCO).[1]
National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister | |
---|---|
Conseiller à la sécurité nationale et au renseignement auprès du premier ministre | |
Government of Canada | |
Abbreviation | NSIA |
Member of | Privy Council Cabinet |
Reports to | Prime Minister of Canada |
Seat | Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council building |
Appointer | Governor-General of Canada on the advice of the prime minister |
Inaugural holder | Marie-Lucie Morin |
Deputy | Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence |
Responsibilities
The National Security and Intelligence Advisor has four main responsibilities:
- providing information, advice and recommendations on security and intelligence policy matters to the prime minister;
- co-ordinating members of the security and intelligence community;
- along with the deputy minister for the Department of National Defence, is accountable to the minister of national defence for the Communications Security Establishment; and
- overseeing the intelligence assessment function, specifically the production and co-ordination of intelligence assessments for the prime minister, other Cabinet members and senior government officials.
History
The position was created in 2005 by Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan and had been tasked by Prime Minister Paul Martin to reorganize of Canada's national security scheme. She released a policy document called Securing an Open Society: Canada's National Security Policy.
Daniel Jean resigned after he suggested that Justin Trudeau's trip to India was sabotaged.[2][3][4]
On November 8, 2019, Greta Bossenmaier retired from the Public Service of Canada.[5] Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor David Morrison acted in the role while the Prime Minister's Office sought a permanent replacement.[5]
On January 22, 2020, Vince Rigby took up the post, which had been filled in the interim since Bossenmaier's departure by David Morrison[6]
Former National Defence Deputy Minister Jody Thomas took over the role on January 11, 2022.[7]
List of National Security Advisors
Prime Minister | Officeholder | Tenure start | Tenure end |
---|---|---|---|
Stephen Harper | Marie-Lucie Morin | 2008 | 2010 |
Stephen Rigby | 2010 | 2015 | |
Stephen Harper Justin Trudeau |
Richard Fadden | 2015 | 2016 |
Justin Trudeau | Daniel Jean | 2016 | 2018 |
Greta Bossenmaier | 2018 | 2019 | |
David Morrison | 2019 | 2020 | |
Vince Rigby | 2020 | 2021 | |
Jody Thomas | 2022 | –present |
References
- "Organizational structure". Privy Council Office. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- "Daniel Jean, adviser who suggested Trudeau's India trip was sabotaged, retiring". Retrieved 2018-06-01.
- "Head of Canada's cyber spy agency to become PM's new national security adviser | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
- Glavin, Terry (27 February 2018). "How Trudeau's top national security advisor lost the plot in India". MacLean's.
- Trudeau, Justin (8 November 2019). "Statement by the Prime Minister on the retirement of Greta Bossenmaier". Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.
- "Trudeau names third national security adviser in as many years". CBC. The Canadian Press. 22 January 2020.
- "The Prime Minister announces changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service". Prime Minister of Canada. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- Privy Council Office (2009). . Retrieved February 20, 2009.
- Privy Council Office (2005). Organization Chart. Retrieved July 8, 2005.
External links
- Privy Council Office: Securing an Open Society: Canada’s National Security Policy.
- Privy Council Office: [http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/default.asp?Page=Publications&Language=E&doc=Role/role_e.htm#DSSI The Structure of the Privy Council Office:
- [https://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/corporate/organizational-structure.html
- Canada School of Public Service: National Security Advisor's role in Canada-US Government Collaboration