His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, pursuant to section 33 of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act a, makes the annexed National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Regulations. S.C. 2017, c. 15
Interpretation
The following definitions apply in these Regulations.
Act means the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act. (Loi)
member means a member of the Committee. (membre)
restricted area means an area
that is indicated by a perimeter and monitored continuously;
to which access is limited to persons who hold the proper authorization and to escorted visitors; and
for which records detailing the access to the area are maintained and audited. (zone d’accès restreint)
sensitive information means information or documents
that a member obtains, creates or has access to in the course of exercising their powers or performing their duties and functions under the Act; and
that a department is taking measures to protect. (renseignements sensibles)
Security Clearances
For the purpose of paragraph 10(a) of the Act, the necessary security clearance is a Top Secret security clearance that is issued by the Clerk of the Privy Council.
A member must, without delay, provide the Clerk of the Privy Council with a report of any change in their personal circumstances that may affect their security clearance, including
a criminal conviction;
being the subject of a law enforcement action;
association with criminals; and
a significant change in their personal financial situation.
A member must attend a security briefing provided by the Secretariat
before accessing sensitive information for the first time; and
before accessing sensitive information that is in a category for which they have not already received a security briefing.
Procedures and Practices for Protecting Sensitive Information
A member may handle sensitive information only when they are inside a restricted area.
A member may discuss sensitive information only when they are inside a restricted area.
A member must ensure that they do not indirectly disclose sensitive information when discussing their powers, duties and functions under the Act outside of a restricted area.
A member may transport sensitive information only directly from one restricted area to another.
When a member transports sensitive information, they must use equipment that has been provided to them by the Secretariat for that purpose and must maintain physical control of that equipment for the duration of the transport.
A member may electronically produce, store or transmit sensitive information only using electronic equipment that is provided to them by the Secretariat for that purpose.
If a member receives sensitive information using electronic equipment that is not provided to them by the Secretariat, the member must report the occurrence to the Secretariat as soon as the circumstances permit.
If a member takes custody of sensitive information from the Secretariat, the member must ensure that the information is returned to the custody of the Secretariat.
A member must, as soon as the circumstances permit, remit to the custody of the Secretariat
all information and documents created by the member that are derived from sensitive information; and
all information that they receive from a source other than a department and that is related to the exercise of their powers or the performance of their duties and functions under the Act.
Before entering a restricted area, a member must store outside of the area all electronic devices on their person that were not provided to them by the Secretariat.
A member must, without delay, provide the Executive Director of the Secretariat with a report of
every act, event or omission that they believe could result in
an unauthorized access to sensitive information or a restricted area, or
an unauthorized disclosure, destruction, removal, modification or use of sensitive information; and
any contact with an individual that they believe may constitute an attempt to access sensitive information.
In the event of an emergency situation at the premises in which a member is exercising their powers or performing their duties and functions under the Act, the member must take all measures that can be safely taken in the circumstances to protect the sensitive information that is in their custody.
Coming into Force
These Regulations come into force on the day on which the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act, chapter 15 of the Statutes of Canada, 2017 comes into force, but if they are registered after that day, they come into force on the day on which they are registered.[Note: Regulations in force October 6, 2017, see SI/2017-63.]