Intel oversight

Goodale to host UK terror watchdog, national security committee

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale will host the U.K.’s terrorism legislation watchdog and members of its Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) next week in Ottawa for a meeting that will include discussion about the government’s new national security committee of parliamentarians.

The meeting will come as Parliament resumes from its summer sitting and is expected to dive into debate on Bill C-22, which was tabled on June 16 and announced the framework for the government’s nine-member committee of appointed parliamentarians who will “review and scrutinize” the activities of national security agencies.

The committee brings Canada more in-line with other G7 countries’ democratic review and oversight bodies, including congressional intelligence committees in the US, and while a government official speaking on background said it likely will not be debated next week, the goal is to do so sooner rather than later and have the bill sent to committee for examination before the end of the fall sitting.