The head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service told employees he stood by the spy agency害羞草研究所檚 handling of sensitive information following a 害羞草研究所渢roubling害羞草研究所� leak of classified material, a newly released memo shows.

In a Feb. 24 message to staff, CSIS director David Vigneault expressed continuing faith in employees害羞草研究所� dedication and adherence to the law after a newspaper story cited secret spy service documents on foreign interference.

害羞草研究所淭he source of this leak is troubling for the Canadian government and, of course, for us here at CSIS,害羞草研究所� Vigneault said in the memo, obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act.

害羞草研究所淚n order for us to gather and share classified information as necessitated by our mandate and by the CSIS Act, we must have full confidence in the measures taken to adhere to the legal obligations surrounding its security, to ensure the full protection of our techniques, sources and employees.害羞草研究所�

The memo came a week after the Globe and Mail newspaper, quoting classified CSIS records, said China worked to help ensure a Liberal minority victory in the 2021 general election as well as defeat Conservative politicians considered unfriendly to Beijing.

In March, the federal government appointed a special rapporteur to look into foreign interference, one of several measures to counter meddling and strengthen confidence in the electoral process.

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The same month, the Globe and Mail published an open letter from an unnamed national security official who wrote that they went to the media because senior public officials were failing to take serious action against foreign interference.

Amid additional leaks to the media and pressure from opposition parties, the government announced in September that a Quebec judge would lead a public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference and the federal capacity to address the issue.

In the memo, portions of which were considered too sensitive to release, Vigneault noted the secret documents the Globe was able to view had been shared among senior government officials, as well as a number of allies.

He said that while there had been public expressions of concern about security within CSIS, 害羞草研究所淚 have full confidence in our people and our management of the information gathered in support of our mandate. We fulfil our mission with rigour and adherence to the law, and I stand by the security of the intelligence produced by our employees, on this subject or any other.害羞草研究所�

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Under Canada害羞草研究所檚 Security of Information Act, people bound to secrecy include current and former members of CSIS, as well as many other federal officials involved in security and intelligence.

On behalf of the spy service害羞草研究所檚 entire executive committee, Vigneault told CSIS employees: 害羞草研究所淚 want to assure every one of you that our faith in your tireless dedication and adherence to the Security of Information Act and your oath remains unbroken. We firmly believe that the reputation of our employees害羞草研究所� commitment to our mission is well earned.害羞草研究所�

The director also said he was 害羞草研究所減roud of the work that you do,害羞草研究所� including efforts to uncover evidence of foreign influence.

Vigneault reminded personnel that CSIS害羞草研究所檚 employee assistance program 害羞草研究所渞emains available to support you with any concerns of a personal nature.害羞草研究所�

CSIS and the RCMP said in March that they were investigating leaks to the media about foreign interference.

An April message to CSIS personnel from the spy service害羞草研究所檚 director general of internal security provided an update, saying all employees 害羞草研究所渁re encouraged to come forward should they wish to share information害羞草研究所� relevant to the service害羞草研究所檚 investigation of leaks to the media.

害羞草研究所淎ny information shared will be treated with the utmost confidentiality,害羞草研究所� said the message, released under the access law in heavily censored form.

害羞草研究所淭his situation serves to remind us of the necessity to safeguard and protect our information, investigations and sources. As always, the safety and security of our employees is our top priority.害羞草研究所�

CSIS spokesman Eric Balsam said this week that the compromise of information can threaten the integrity of the agency害羞草研究所檚 operations, the physical safety and security of its human sources and employees and the trust of international partners.

CSIS continues to investigate 害羞草研究所渢hese concerning activities, in parallel and in co-ordination with the RCMP criminal investigation,害羞草研究所� Balsam added, declining to comment further given the ongoing probe.

RCMP Sgt. Kim Chamberland also said the police force continues to investigate violations of the Security of Information Act associated with media reports.

害羞草研究所淭his investigation is not focused on any one security agency. As the RCMP investigation is ongoing, there will be no further comment on this matter at this time.害羞草研究所�

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press

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