Question Period Note: Report from the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) re: infiltration of public sector by IMVE and OC groups

A 2022 report published by CISC, recently obtained by Global News, reported that organized crime and extremist groups are attempting to infiltrate government agencies and departments.

• The Global News article incorrectly states that CISC’s 2022 report indicates that “at least 369 OCGs are believed to be trying to gain a toehold in government”. Instead, the 2022 report mentions that CISC has insufficient information and intelligence on the efforts to infiltrate the public sector of the 369 of the 647 OCGs that it has assessed. In other words, CISC does not have enough information or intelligence to determine the involvement, if any, for these 369 groups.
• The report does speak to a very small number (4%) of OCGs to have influence or access within Canadian public sector agencies or departments. Primarily at the local / regional levels, OCGs may be using the benefits of this access for interprovincial or international criminal activities. This is not akin to having a toehold into Canadian institutions or government.
• On a separate note, the article also indicates that extremist and white nationalist groups have been attempting to join both law enforcement and the Canadian Armed Forces.

Specific to law enforcement:
• The RCMP is aware of attempts by extremist actors to infiltrate Canadian law enforcement. Extremist views are incompatible with law enforcement’s role of protecting and serving the public, and have no place in law enforcement.
• As the risk and threat landscape evolves, the RCMP is committed to the continuous review and strengthening of security practices to protect information, assets and employees.

CISC supports efforts to reduce the harm caused by criminal organizations through the delivery of intelligence products and services, with nearly 400 member agencies that collect and share information and intelligence. The 2022 Public Report on Organized Crime in Canada is an overview of the organized crime groups (OCGs) operating in Canada, the serious threats they pose, and the impacts they have on our communities. CISC released the assessment to the public in order to raise awareness about the nature and extent of organized crime threats in Canada.

The Report on Organized Crime in Canada is produced annually by CISC in collaboration with its network of ten Provincial Criminal Intelligence Bureaus, member agencies and other federal and provincial partners, and explores existing and emerging threats to Canada. This Report is an assessment of data from federal, provincial and municipal law enforcement reporting; open source reporting; and intelligence from other domestic and international government and law enforcement agencies. The 2023 Report is expected to be released in December 2023.

Today’s media report says that CISC reported in 2022 that 29 organized crime groups reportedly have “influence and access” within the public sector, while at least 369 groups are believed to be trying to gain a foothold in government. This is incorrect; the 2022 report mentions that CISC has insufficient information and intelligence on the efforts to infiltrate the public sector of the 369 of the 647 OCGs that it has assessed. In other words, CISC does not have enough information or intelligence to determine the involvement, if any, for these 369 groups.

The report further notes that Canada ranks low for public sector corruption, but also notes the risk of criminal “infiltration,” capable of boosting the cost of government projects by up to 50 per cent, while also damaging public confidence in institutions. “Infiltration” is said to be primarily taking place within local and “regional” governments, and groups “may be using the benefits of this access for interprovincial or international criminal activities.” These reports build on media reports of IMVE presence in law enforcement and national defence institutions in the United States, with comparatively little published on Canada.

In November 2023, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) noted that criminal and extremist groups have attempted to join Canadian law enforcement and security agencies, and suggested some have been successful. The report notes that the RCMP considers 14 organized crime groups operating in Canada to be a serious threat, who commit a “range of serious crimes” including infiltrating “police and security agencies.” According to the publication, 14 threats are operating in four provinces: Ontario (6), Quebec (3), British Columbia (4) and Alberta (1). The RCMP is aware that extremist actors may look to infiltrate law enforcement for a number of reasons, including to gain access to training, tactics, equipment and weaponry, and to recruit others who may also have access to these tools.

Background - RCMP Insider Risk Program

An RCMP Insider Risk Program continues to be developed to ensure the best position to proactively mitigate these risks. This Program will ensure the RCMP’s various security functions are aligned, innovative and agile. In addition, an Information Technology Security internal governance model with short, medium and long-term considerations is being created. Where possible, the RCMP is consolidating and limiting the number of high security zones with classified networks to a strict minimum based on operational requirements across the country. Aligned with the Government of Canada security posture, the RCMP has confidence in its current security screening process. This multi-step process includes education and employment verification, credit checks, criminal record checks, law enforcement record checks, open-source investigations, interviews and field investigations. As the risk and threat landscape evolves, the RCMP is committed to the continuous review and strengthening of security practices, and will continue to operate a security-conscious environment while managing risk and balancing police modernization.

Background - IMVE

The Government of Canada has adopted the term IMVE to more accurately describe threat actors who are motivated by a range of grievances and ideas from across the political and ideological spectrums. This terminology replaces the traditional terminology of “left wing” and “right wing” extremism because IMVE is more accurate in describing the individualized grievances that have motivated IMVE attackers. During the last several years, Canada has experienced a number of attacks by (alleged) IMVE threat actors: the 2014 Moncton shooting (anti-authority violence), the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting (ethno-nationalist/xenophobic violence), the 2018 Toronto van attack (allegedly gender-driven violence, specifically related to “incel” ideology), the 2020 Toronto massage parlour attack (allegedly gender-driven violence, specifically related to the “incel” ideology), and the 2021 London, Ontario vehicle ramming attack (ethno-nationalist/xenophobic violence).

The RCMP’s Federal Policing Program has a mandate to investigate and prevent IMVE-related criminal activity that rises to the level of a national security threat. If evidence is uncovered during an investigation that suggests a national security nexus, police of jurisdiction are instructed to contact the applicable RCMP Integrated National Security Enforcement Team or National Security Enforcement Section to assume the lead on an investigation. Where applicable, the RCMP and its law enforcement partners can lay charges for terrorism offences under the Criminal Code.

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