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).

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.

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

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

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

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

List of National Security Advisors

Prime MinisterOfficeholderTenure startTenure end
Stephen HarperMarie-Lucie Morin20082010
Stephen Rigby20102015
Stephen Harper Justin TrudeauRichard Fadden20152016
Justin TrudeauDaniel Jean20162018
Greta Bossenmaier20182019
David Morrison20192020
Vince Rigby20202021
Jody Thomas20222024
Justin Trudeau Mark CarneyNathalie Drouin20242026
Mark CarneyDavid Morrison2026
  • Privy Council Office (2009). . Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  • Privy Council Office (2005). . Retrieved July 8, 2005.

External links