CSIS help to RCMP 'very limited' in extremist case

OTTAWA - A new security watchdog report says long-standing, systemic problems hampered co-operation between Canada's spy service and national police force on the investigation of an extremist threat.

The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency points to chronic information-sharing challenges for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the RCMP.

The review agency looked at how CSIS and the Mounties worked together on investigating certain extremists based in Canada, though details of the specific threat were stripped from the report.

A key sticking point is the perennial concern that use of CSIS information in a criminal prosecution could endanger the spy service's secret sources and methods.

The newly public version of the agency's February 2021 review says CSIS's formal disclosures of information to the RCMP on the extremist case were very limited and not always useful.

In a response to the review, CSIS and the RCMP say they support ongoing efforts to make needed changes to improve collaboration and information-sharing.