National Security Advisor (Canada)

National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister
Conseiller à la sécurité nationale et au renseignement auprès du premier ministre
since January 27, 2024
Government of Canada
AbbreviationNSIA
Member ofPrivy Council
Cabinet
Reports toPrime Minister of Canada
SeatOffice of the Prime Minister and Privy Council building
AppointerGovernor General of Canada
on the advice of the prime minister
Inaugural holderMarie-Lucie Morin
DeputyDeputy National Security and Intelligence Advisor

The national security and intelligence advisor (French: conseiller à la sécurité nationale et au renseignement) is a public servant who advises the prime minister of Canada on security and intelligence matters. The position is supported by the Security and Intelligence Secretariat and the Intelligence Assessment Staff and holds the rank of associate secretary in the Privy Council Office (PCO).[1]

Responsibilities

The National Security and Intelligence Advisor has four main responsibilities:

  • providing information, advice and recommendations on security and intelligence policy matters to the prime minister;
  • co-ordinating members of the security and intelligence community;
  • along with the deputy minister for the Department of National Defence, is accountable to the minister of national defence for the Communications Security Establishment; and
  • overseeing the intelligence assessment function, specifically the production and co-ordination of intelligence assessments for the prime minister, other Cabinet members and senior government officials.

History

The position was created in 2005 by Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan and had been tasked by Prime Minister Paul Martin to reorganize of Canada's national security scheme. She released a policy document called Securing an Open Society: Canada's National Security Policy.

Daniel Jean resigned after he suggested that Justin Trudeau's trip to India was sabotaged.[2][3][4]

On November 8, 2019, Greta Bossenmaier retired from the Public Service of Canada.[5] Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor David Morrison acted in the role while the Prime Minister's Office sought a permanent replacement.[5]

On January 22, 2020, Vince Rigby took up the post, which had been filled in the interim since Bossenmaier's departure by David Morrison[6]

Former National Defence Deputy Minister Jody Thomas took over the role on January 11, 2022.[7]

In June 2023 Thomas reached into the Titan submersible implosion file, as the hysteria over the missing adventure tourists reached its peak.[8]

List of National Security Advisors

Prime Minister Officeholder Tenure start Tenure end
Stephen Harper Marie-Lucie Morin 2008 2010
Stephen Rigby 2010 2015
Stephen Harper
Justin Trudeau 		Richard Fadden 2015 2016
Justin Trudeau Daniel Jean 2016 2018
Greta Bossenmaier 2018 2019
David Morrison 2019 2020
Vince Rigby 2020 2021
Jody Thomas 2022 2024
Nathalie G. Drouin 2024 –present

References

  1. ^ "Organizational structure". Privy Council Office. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  2. ^ "Daniel Jean, adviser who suggested Trudeau's India trip was sabotaged, retiring". Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  3. ^ "Head of Canada's cyber spy agency to become PM's new national security adviser | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  4. ^ Glavin, Terry (27 February 2018). "How Trudeau's top national security advisor lost the plot in India". MacLean's.
  5. ^ a b Trudeau, Justin (8 November 2019). "Statement by the Prime Minister on the retirement of Greta Bossenmaier". Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.
  6. ^ "Trudeau names third national security adviser in as many years". CBC. The Canadian Press. 22 January 2020.
  7. ^ "The Prime Minister announces changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service". Prime Minister of Canada. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  8. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-search-titan-submersible-banging-sounds-1.7290441. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Privy Council Office (2009). [1]. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  • Privy Council Office (2005). Organization Chart. Retrieved July 8, 2005.


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