This project will compile information on criminal and scandalous activities of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) from its founding in 1984 to the present. It will attempt to track the consequences for CSIS of each scandal which has come to light. Finally, it will analyse the data according to a set of questions developed in collaboration with the People’s Commission Network in the course of this project.

Part A. Scandalous activities and consequences for CSIS.

Drawing on a wide variety of public sources (literature review; media coverage; SIRC reports; internal Public Safety audits; court decisions and transcripts; interviews with activists and lawyers; reports by human rights and community organizations), information on CSIS misdemeanors will be gathered, synthesized, and categorized.

We are interested not only in illegal activities but any “”shocking”" behaviour: actions that are broadly held to be incompatible with justice and freedom. To narrow the scope of the research, we have categorized the kinds of activities that have in the past provoked public scandals. The following ten categories can be refined and modified in the course of the research, but serve as an initial basis:

- destruction of evidence;

- misleading/lying to the court;

- manipulation of media and public perception;

- break and entry;

- failure to obtain warrant;

- harassment, intimidation and disruption activities (including unannounced visits);

- racism and racial profiling;

- political profiling;

- incitement to criminal activity;

- involvement in torture and repression.

As far as possible, the immediate consequences for CSIS of each scandal will be traced: was anyone held responsible?; was there an internal inquiry (and if so, what were the results)?; was there a police (RCMP) inquiry?; negative publicity?; was the issue discussed in Parliament or a Parliamentary committee?; any changes in policy or legal framework?; was information withdrawn from court proceedings as a result? etc.

Finally, the incident and its consequences for CSIS will be catalogued, with each entry including the following information: date; summary of incident; profile/community targeted; category; consequences for CSIS; sources.

Part B. Analysis

After the preliminary information gathering stage, the researcher will analyse the data according to the following questions and others developed in the course of the research and in consultation with the People’s Commission:

* To what extent can the various misdemeanours be considered systematic rather than isolated incidents?

* How have the various oversight mechanisms worked (or not) to hold CSIS in check? What are the main factors creating a culture of impunity around CSIS misdemeanours?

* Whose security and what kind of security does CSIS tend to privilege?

* Which political viewpoints are privileged and which seemed to be viewed as suspect or dangerous by CSIS?

* Which communities are privileged and which seem to be viewed as suspect or dangerous by CSIS?”

This project will be used to support the People’s Commission CSIS Watch campaign, and particularly our work to convince organizations and individuals – directly and through media – to adopt a policy of complete non-collaboration with CSIS. The larger goal is to break some of the fear and secrecy surrounding CSIS, particularly in immigrant communities; challenging the way in which “national security” is used to privilege white, male-heterosexual, middle class identities and to protect capitalist systems.

The People’s Commission network includes a broad variety of individuals and community associations who are racialized or immigrant and have been targeted by “national security” measures. The list of organizations who are supporting our CSIS Watch project, for example, can be found at: www.peoplescommission.org/en/csis/endorsers.php. (Though this represents only a part of the community groups we work with.)

Many of the community groups and individuals the People’s Commission work with are currently facing CSIS intimidation tactics. CSIS intimidation and harassment plays a role in our political, social and economic marginalization. This project will hopefully help to challenge CSIS’s ability to continue such activities with impunity.

Duration of Project:

Smaller (One Semester), Minimum of 5 hours per week for 12 weeks minimum
Final Product:

Difficult to assess, but an estimate would be that the database would have around fifty entries and the analysis would be twenty pages. This depends on what information is uncovered and the number of students that work on the project. We are available to meet up to a couple of hours every two weeks, (to be set with student(s)). The first meeting will be to review the project and decide on an initial direction. We will suggest sources and put student(s) in contact with lawyers, activists and community leaders for interviews. We can also provide some reports and court documents. Subsequent meetings will be to discuss results and questions, evaluate need for further research and identify new sources, re-formulate categories and analysis, etc.

Skills desired in Student Researcher:

English and French, Student should have good research and analytical skills and have a strong grasp of issues relating to racial profiling, political oppression, and familiarity with the history of the state as a way of organizing power. Knowledge of history of state oppression of popular movements in North America (COINTELPRO, Mccarthyism, etc) would be useful. A background in law could also be helpful but not essential.

http://www.peoplescommission.org/en/csis