Kootenay-Columbia MP Rob Morrison was June 15 named to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP).

Chaired by the Honourable David J. McGuinty since its launch in 2017, this multi-party committee includes representatives from both the House of Commons and the Senate. It provides a non-partisan approach to the review of national security and intelligence activities carried out across the Government of Canada. This includes activities undertaken by the Canada Border Services Agency, the Communications Security Establishment, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, among many others.

The committee provides the Prime Minister with an annual report, and special reports when needed. The reports, which include findings and recommendations, are tabled in both the House of Commons and the Senate.

The committee was first created under the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act, which received Royal Assent on June 22, 2017. It is dissolved at the end of each session of Parliament, and new members are appointed after the new session of Parliament opens.

The Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians assists the Committee in fulfilling its review mandate.

Former Mountie Morrison’s addition to the committee is the highest appointment provided to an Opposition Member of Parliament from Kootenay-Columbia.

The path there began when Morrison (pictured above) was first designated the role of Shadow Minister for National Security by Opposition Leader, Erin O’Toole. Then it was at the sole discretion of the Prime Minister to appoint him to the NSICOP.

“Security and intelligence must be synonymous with transparency and accountability. Together, parliamentarians on the Committee will continue to play an essential role in ensuring that our national security and intelligence community is held accountable for its practices, and that it has the tools needed to keep Canadians safe,” stated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The new appointees of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians are:

Rob Morrison, Conservative;

Leona Alleslev, Conservative;

Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc Québécois;

Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal;

Iqra Khalid, Liberal.

The new appointees will join the existing members of the Committee:

Don Davies, NDP;

Dennis Dawson, Senate;

The Honourable Frances Lankin, P.C., C.M., Senate;

The Honourable David J. McGuinty, P.C., Liberal (Chair);

Brenda Shanahan, Liberal;

Vernon White, Senate.

Learn more about the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians.

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