HOUSE OF COMMONS

CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES

August 6, 2014

Hon. Robert Nicholson, P.C., M.P.
Minister of National Defence
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

Dear Minister,

It is with great concern that we learn through media reports of the Communications and
Security Establishment of Canadas (CSEC) refusal to disclose how long it retains Canadian
citizens personal data. This lack of transparency is yet another alarming example of
Canadas intelligence and security institutions encroaching on citizens private information,
and it is cause for deep concern.

Other jurisdictions, including the United States and New Zealand, have long been forthright
with their domestic data retention policies. Canadian citizens have the right to know the
retention policies surrounding the collection of their private communications acquired
without their consent.

We would note that these are not the first or the only problems that have recently been
associated with CSEC. For example, I have previously referred to the 2012-2013 Annual
Report of the CSE Commissioner whose mandate is to provide oversight of CSEC. On page
20 of that report, the Commissioner stated the following with respect to the issue of CSEC
operating within the law:

"I had no concern with respect to the majority of the CSEC activities. However, a small
number of records suggested the possibility that some activities may have been directed at
Canadians, contrary to law [...] I was unable to reach a definitive conclusion about
compliance or non-compliance with the law."
This only reinforces what the Liberal Party has been calling for in the House of Commons
namely new mechanisms by which CSEC and all federal intelligence and security agencies
could be effectively monitored. We are specifically referring to two pieces of legislation
tabled in the House of Commons by our Party which would create a committee of
Parliamentarians to provide critical oversight of Canadas intelligence and security
apparatus, would strengthen protection of Canadians personal communications, including
their metadata, and establishes clear timelines for how long that data can be retained.

What is concerning is that the Minister of National Defence has denied this in the House of
Commons, claiming that, all CSEC activities were authorized and carried out in accordance
with the law.

As recently as July 31st we have seen reports that CSEC, in its efforts to combat serious
cyber threats, has once again been found to intercept the private information of Canadians
without the acquisition of judicial warrants. Recent reports of unsupervised retention of
Canadians personal data by CSEC suggest the need for additional and more robust
oversight.

The federal government must be forthcoming with our citizens in regards to their right to
privacy. It is imperative that the both the government and the Minister of National Defence
come clean about how long it retains Canadians personal and private communications. It is
a Canadians right to know.

Sincerely,



Wayne Easter Joyce Murray
Liberal Party Critic for Public Safety Liberal Party Critic for National Defence