Question Period Note: Revocation of contractor security clearances by Public Services and Procurement Canada

On April 5, 2023, the Hills Times published an article on the number of federal public servants whose security clearances were revoked for cause since 2016. The article states that Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) revoked the security clearance of 120 officials between 2016 and 2023 when, in reality, 110 of these revocations involved contractor personnel, not PSPC officials or employees.

• Public Services and Procurement Canada grants security clearances to trusted private sector organizations and individuals who are contractually required to access protected or classified information, assets or work sites
  • The screening process is triggered based on contract security requirements identified by federal departments and agencies
  • Since 2016, Public Services and Procurement Canada revoked the security status or clearance of 110 private sector individuals, following the receipt of adverse information and the completion of a review for cause process
  • During the same time period, Public Services and Procurement Canada has revoked the security clearance of 10 Public Services and Procurement Canada officials or employees

If pressed on the cause for these revocations:

• A review for cause is a formal reassessment of an individual's eligibility to hold a security status or clearance previously granted when new information that may affect such status or clearance is uncovered or reported about an individual
• If revoked, the contractor is prohibited from accepting or working on any contracts or positions requiring a Public Services and Procurement Canada security status or clearance
• Due to privacy requirements, Public Services and Procurement Canada cannot publicly comment on matters involving private citizens, nor reasons or outcomes of investigations

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