Dates
November 6-17, 2023
March 6-17, 2023
Length of Course
10 days
9:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Prerequisites
Statement of Interest
Delivery Method
Online
with an in-person welcome session on November 6
Cost
$1,825 CAD
Cost includes a non-refundable $25 registration fee
Instructors
Wesley Wark
Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation
This online course will offer an intensive survey of the origins and history of national security and intelligence review in Canada, the current state of review practice, and the challenges ahead. Course participants will be made familiar with the legislative basis for the new review system created since 2017, the policy and political contexts of review work, and will study examples of current review reporting. The course will demonstrate best practices and objectives for national security and intelligence review.
The course is unique in Canada and has been offered in multiple sessions since 2019. It is taught by Dr. Wesley Wark, a leading expert in national security and intelligence review.
The course will be delivered online, with live sessions held in the mornings, from 9am-12pm. An in-person introductory session will be held in Ottawa on November 6, 9am-12pm. Details to follow.
Course Summary
The objective of the course is to deepen participants understanding of the fundamental changes impacting national security and intelligence review in Canada. The Canadian review system has been radically reshaped since 2017 through legislation that created the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency and the Intelligence Commissioner.
The course will feature a mix of presentations by the instructor, guest expert talks, case studies, and student-led discussion. An important facet of the course is the opportunity to discuss review practice and methodology with practitioners from across the NSI review community.
The online course will be delivered over a two-week period, 9am to 12pm. There will be asynchronous video presentations by the course instructor as well as live presentations by guest experts and scheduled online discussions. Registered students will be provided in advance with a detailed course agenda and schedule, and a recommended reading list. Students are welcome to join the instructor in an in-person introductory session to be held on November 6, 9am-12pm, in Ottawa, ON.
The language of instruction will be English and all course discussions will be held under the Chatham House rule.
Who Should Attend
The online course is designed for:
- Government officials seeking to better understand the new review system
- Officials whose duties include review, either within the review bodies or the security and intelligence community
- Parliamentary staff
- Government communications staff
The course is restricted to currently serving Government of Canada officials. Students who do not meet this criterion will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
Covered in this Course
- The objectives of national security and intelligence review
- The principles of review
- The history of review in Canada
- Major legislative changes
- The work of the current review bodies
- The role of the Federal court
- The role of the Auditor General
- Elements of review success and failure
- Public expectations of review
- Comparative perspectives—Review in the Five Eyes
To Register
Candidates will be admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Before registering, prospective candidates for the course are asked to send a brief statement of interest and a short bio detailing their career and educational background. This material should be sent electronically to: [email protected].
Selected candidates, once confirmed, can then register until November 1, 2023 at 11:59 pm on our website at:
Instructors
Wesley Wark
Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation