Question Period Note: Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) 2024 Public Report

• Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)’ 2024 Annual Report was tabled in Parliament on June 13, 2025.
• The report provides details on CSIS’ intelligence operations, engagement efforts, and workforce and culture.

• Protecting the safety, security, and prosperity of Canada amid the increasingly complex national security threat environment is a top priority for this government.

• CSIS’ annual public report outlines how CSIS has been working tirelessly over the last year to continue combatting threats to Canada’s national security. CSIS’ collection and dissemination of bespoke intelligence has resulted in robust advice, strong partnerships, and importantly, significant national security actions that pre-empted violent attacks and mitigated other high-harm threats.

• The report also details how CSIS has been using new tools, acquired through Bill C-70, to facilitate these efforts. Amendments allow CSIS to better equip a broader range of national security stakeholders to be resilient to threats, operate in a digital era, and respond to changes in the threat environment, while remaining accountable to all Canadians.

• Through modernized authorities and capabilities, and by focusing on strong partnerships and increased transparency, I am confident that CSIS will continue to keep pace with the threat environment and maintain the confidence of Canadians.

Increase in religiously motivated violent extremism (RMVE) and ideologically motivated violent extremism (IMVE)
• The report states that the collective threat posed by RMVE and IMVE grew during 2024.
• It notes that the overall violent extremist threat to Canada has remained at a heightened level, as online radicalization has contributed to an increased number of extremists mobilizing to violence, some of whom are youth.
• In 2024, multiple RMVE adherents were arrested in Canada for terrorism-related offences. They were mainly motivated by the conflicts in the Middle East, inspired by Daesh, and planned to carry out an attack either alone or as part of a small group.

Youth Radicalization
• The report notes that in recent years, Canada has seen a growing trend of youth (some as young as 13) involved in counter-terrorism investigations.
• In February 2024, an Ottawa youth was arrested and charged with three terrorism-related offences, including knowingly facilitating terrorist activity by seeking to acquire a prohibited firearm. The youth is the co-conspirator of another Ottawa youth arrested in December 2023 on terrorism-related offences and who was subsequently charged in February 2024 with two additional terrorism-related offences in relation to their planning of a terrorist attack in Ottawa.
• In December 2024, Five Eyes security intelligence and law enforcement partners, including CSIS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), released a joint report titled Young People and Violent Extremism: A Call for Collective Action. The report highlights real world examples from Five Eyes countries concerning the radicalization of young people to shed light on the severity of this increasing threat.

Announcement of Ombudsperson
• CSIS’ Ombudsperson officially began their role on May 8, 2025.
• The Ombuds will report directly to the Director of CSIS, and the Office will be independent and separate from all other CSIS business lines and reporting structures. The Ombuds Office will adhere to the four key principles of all ombuds: informality, independence, impartiality and confidentiality.
• The CSIS Ombuds Office will also include the delivery and monitoring of internal conflict management services, and will undertake employee exit interviews.

If Pressed
Q1- Increase in religiously motivated violent extremism (RMVE) and ideologically motivated violent extremism (IMVE)
• CSIS has assessed that the collective threat posed by RMVE and IMVE grew during 2024, and that online radicalization has contributed to an increased number of extremists mobilizing to violence.
• Social media and global connectivity have accelerated the speed and reach of extremist narratives, amplifying false and misleading messages.
• We must work together to target underlying causes, drivers, and enablers of violent extremism by targeting root causes of radicalization and fractures in social cohesion.
• That is why this government is committed addressing issues like mis-and-disinformation, and combatting the spread of violent content and hateful rhetoric.

Q2- Youth Radicalization
• Canada has seen a growing trend of youth involved in counter-terrorism investigations. Threat actors are seeking to radicalize younger Canadians, largely through online echo chambers that promote hateful rhetoric and incite others to commit violent acts.
• Last December, CSIS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) issued a joint public statement with Five Eyes partners on youth radicalization, and the collective efforts required to disrupt and counter it.
• Identifying the threat posed by a minor at an early stage is critical to preventing escalation and potential law enforcement involvement.
• This government is committed to working with government agencies, the education sector, mental health and social wellbeing services, communities and technology companies as part of a collective effort to identify and counter radicalization of minors to violent extremism.

Q3- Announcement of Ombudsperson
• The Report updates Canadians on the critical work underway to ensure that CSIS is a workplace that is free of discrimination, bias, harassment, and aggression.
• CSIS has established an independent ombuds office to provide a trusted and confidential space for employees to openly discuss work-related issues.
• The CSIS ombuds officially began their role in early May.
• We look forward to the critical work that her office will be doing to foster a strong and healthy workforce at CSIS.