Giving Advice, Spurning Advice

"As it seeks to modernize the accountability regime, we believe the government [of Canada] is presented with a timely opportunity to consider a thorough assessment of our national security structure -- from the perspective of both review and capability."
"Canada stands alone among its allies in not having the ability to monitor outbound movements [of foreign fighters and the problems] associated with using intelligence for evidentiary purposes."
"Meaningful change, therefore, should not simply involve tweaking Bill C-51 [controversial bill introduced by the previous Conservative government on public security] or introducing parliamentary review. At this critical juncture, and in the face of complex international security challenges, it must consider the modernization of all critical institutions -- but particularly those engaged in national security."
Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from Luc Portelance and Ray Boisvert

Peter Power for Postmedia News     Ray Boisvert is the head of I-Sec Integrated Strategies (ISECIS), after almost 30 years with CSIS in both operational and executive roles

The new Canadian Liberal government's foremost agenda is to reverse just about anything and everything that could be attributed to the former Conservative-led government. This new government is not short on vision, nor on arrogance. One thing the Liberal government is adamant about that it will not reverse is the equally controversial sale of armoured vehicles to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a human-rights-abusing regime able to pay the Canadian manufacturing costs of military products with ease.

Brent Lewin for National Post    Luc Portelance, then president of the Canada Border Services Agency, speaks during a press conference Aug. 18, 2011

Until recently Mr. Portelance had been president of the Canada Border Services Agency. Ray Boisvert had been deputy director of operations at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Both of these men who were previously tasked at the highest level of Canadian intelligence and security have grave objections to the Liberal government's plan to neutralize much of the strength of purpose of the bill they criticized while in government opposition.

Parts of Bill C-51, which civil libertarians screech outrage at, such as revoking citizenship of anyone with dual nationality engaged in terrorist action, are to be scrapped. The rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and murderous attacks against two Canadian military personnel by people inspired by the jihadi ideology of ISIL, propelled the Conservative government to  put together the counter-terrorism law that the Liberals are set on dismantling.

The two men's letter of cautionary advice to the new government argued that, "although discomforting to some", a discussion is required relating to the requirement of lawful access to intercepted communications, at a time when federal investigators struggle with difficulties caused by encryption technology. This is apt advice coming directly from senior officials whose familiarity with counter-terrorism needn't be questioned.

This, however, is a government that lauds itself as a direct reversal of the previous government, and is unlikely to take advice from any source that might find the previous government had done anything to the benefit of the country's security, particularly since, during the election, the-then Liberal party leader, now Prime Minister of Canada, repeatedly asserted that the Conservatives were over-zealous in the field of national security.

Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia News   RCMP tactical officers cross the road heading towards the Langevin Block as police respond to a terrorist attack in Ottawa Oct. 22, 2014.