National Security Advisor (Canada)

The National Security Advisor (Full title: National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister (French: Conseiller en matière de sécurité nationale auprès du Premier ministre)) is an associate secretary in the Privy Council Office (PCO) responsible for Security and Intelligence. He or she is supported by the Security and Intelligence Secretariat and the International Assessment Staff.

The current National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet is Stephen Rigby. He was appointed on November 15, 2010, by Stephen Harper. Prior to this appointment, he was the President of the Canada Border Services Agency.

Responsibilities

The National Security Advisor has four main responsibilities:

• providing information, advice and recommendations on security and intelligence policy matters to the Prime Minister of Canada;
• co-ordinating members of the security and intelligence community;
• along with the Deputy Minister of National Defence, accountable to the Minister of National Defence for the Communications Security Establishment;
• overseeing the intelligence assessment function, specifically the production and co-ordination of intelligence assessments for the Prime Minister, other Ministers and senior government officials.

References

• Privy Council Office (2009). [1]. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
• Privy Council Office (2005). Organization Chart. Retrieved July 8, 2005.

External links

• Privy Council Office: Securing an Open Society: Canada’s National Security Policy.
• Privy Council Office: The Role and Structure of the Privy Council Office: Deputy Secretary, Security and Intelligence.
• GlobalSecurity.org: Privy Council Office (PCO) - Canadian Intelligence Agencies
• Canada School of Public Service: National Security Advisor's role in Canada-US Government Collaboration