Canada's top civil servant has invited his provincial and territorial colleagues to apply for secret-level security clearances as a way to encourage “healthy and transparent dialogue” about foreign interference and other threats.
In a July 11 letter to civil service chiefs across the country, John Hannaford, clerk of the Privy Council, said that obtaining the clearance would allow the Privy Council Office and other federal security agencies to provide regular briefings based on intelligence information.
The briefing will support public service leaders' efforts to advise provincial and territorial governments on their policy development and responses to “acute security events,” Hannaford wrote.
Daniel Savoie, a PCO spokesman, said that as a result of the offer, “some security clearances have been granted and other checks are underway.”
Similar offers have been made to the prime minister specifically to meet specific security briefing needs, Savoie said. “The prime minister is welcome to request security clearance.”
The Privy Council Office provided the letter to The Canadian Press upon request.
In the letter, Hannaford said it has been clear over the past year that Canada remains a target of foreign interference, terrorism and cyber threat activity.
“Addressing the growing threats posed by the rapidly evolving global security environment will require a whole-of-society response, which is why it is more important than ever for our governments to begin building a healthy, transparent dialogue informed by intelligence,” he wrote.
Meetings such as the annual gathering of officials and cabinet secretaries can be a forum for “open and confidential conversations and two-way exchange of information” on topics including foreign interference and espionage, violent extremism, economic security and research security, the letter said.
“I invite you to go through the necessary security clearance process to enable this important conversation.”
Extending security briefing
Hannaford also offered his colleagues the option of designating other high-level senior officials in their administrations to obtain clearance to ensure timely sharing of intelligence information.
The effort to expand the flow of intelligence follows a spate of ransomware attacks on public institutions across the country as well as heightened awareness of the long-standing threat of foreign interference.
A bill that was swiftly passed through Parliament earlier this year would allow the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to disclose sensitive information outside government buildings to build resilience against foreign interference.
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Leader Elizabeth May have received top-level secret security clearances, allowing them to review a classified version of the spy watchdog's latest report on foreign interference that flagged concerns about the activities of several MPs.
New Democrat Rep. Jenny Kwan, who has been identified as a target of Chinese influence activity, told a federal inquiry Wednesday that she hopes to get top-secret clearance so she can read the secret spy watchdog report.
However, Kwan said the government refused to allow him to go through the process and said even though he had top-level confidentiality clearance, he would not be allowed to see the report because he did not need to know the information.
When asked at the inquiry why he needed to see the report, Kwan said: “Well, because I was a target, and because I am a member of parliament.”