Spy Watchdog’s Foreign Meddling Review Finds ‘Unacceptable Gaps’ in Accountability

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service and Public Safety Canada lacked a system for tracking who received and read specific intelligence on foreign interference, creating “unacceptable gaps in accountability,” the national spy watchdog has found. In a report made public on May 27, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency also said CSIS’s dissemination of intelligence on political foreign interference was inconsistent during the last two general elections. In addition, those who received the intelligence did not always understand its significance or how to integrate the findings into their policy analysis and decision-making. The watchdog also said there was disagreement between intelligence units and senior public servants as to whether activities described in intelligence briefs amounted to foreign interference or legitimate diplomatic activity....