Security bill limits CSIS disruption powers, boosts review of spy services
OTTAWA — The Liberal government’s sweeping new security legislation would limit — but not eliminate — controversial powers that allow Canada’s spy agency to actively disrupt terror plots.
The long-awaited bill introduced Tuesday pulls back on other elements of legislation ushered in by the Conservatives, charts new paths for Canada’s security services in data-crunching and cyberwarfare, and bolsters accountability and review in the often murky world of intelligence.
The 150-page bill, unassumingly entitled, “An act respecting national security matters,” follows federal consultations that attracted input from tens of thousands of Canadians.
The government’s primary goal with the legislation is to strike a balance between keeping Canadians safe and respecting their rights and freedoms, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told a news conference.