The Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) is an independent agency of the government of Canada empowered to oversee and review the operations of Canada's security service, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and investigate complaints against CSIS. SIRC was established in 1984 as a result of the reorganization of Canadian intelligence that also saw the creation of CSIS. This reorganization was recommended by the McDonald Commission investigating the former security service of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police which was found to have engaged in illegal activities.
SIRC's role is to review the activities of CSIS to ensure that the extraordinary powers granted the security service are ":used legally and appropriately, in order to protect Canadians’ rights and freedoms." [1]
In 2005, SIRC came under criticism for allegedly not giving close enough scrutiny to CSIS' activities around the Air India bombing where crucial wiretap evidence was destroyed putting the legal case against the alleged Air India bombers into jeopordy.
SIRC is made up of five members appointed by the federal government. The committee meets monthly with its day-to-day operations being handled by an executive director.
The current members of SIRC are:
Due to the sensitive material SIRC members are required to handle members of the committee are sworn into the Queen's Privy Council of Canada if they are not already members in order to put them under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act
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