Is CSIS targeting its counter-terrorism activities on particular racial groups?
CSIS targets individuals and groups based on their activities-which must be in support of a threat as defined in section 2 of the CSIS Act-and not on their ethnic origin or country of birth. on their ethnic origin or country of birth. In recent years, certain Canadian minority groups have felt singled out by security and law enforcement agencies. This is a legitimate perception but it is only a perception. CSIS’ operational activities are subject to review by SIRC and the OIG on a yearly basis. In its more than 20 years of existence, CSIS has never been accused of inappropriate targeting by SIRC nor by the OIG. As a federal government agency, CSIS is sensitive to Canada’s multicultural society. The Service makes a concerted effort to have a workforce that represents Canadians from all backgrounds. In fact, cultural diversity is an essential component of CSIS’ operational effectiveness.
