Security briefing for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
Security briefing overview
- Responsibilities
- Departmental assistance
- Security screening
- Sensitive information
- Information Technology
- Information management and security
- Personal safety & travel
- Foreign intelligence
- Summary
Security responsibilities
- Ministers are personally accountable for the security of their staff, offices and sensitive information in their custody
- Deputy Ministers are responsible for security in the Department through the Chief Security Officer (CSO) Dominic Laporte and the Deputy Chief Security Officer (DCSO) Dawn Pearcey
Departmental assistance
- The CSO is a critical contact for supporting security needs of the Minister and his office
- Designate a senior officer to act as a point of contact with the CSO and DCSO
- Engage early to identify needs and build relationship
Security screening
- Ministers do not receive a security clearance; they undergo a comprehensive vetting prior to appointment
- Secret security clearance, at minimum, required for all ministerial staff before they start work, including interpreters travelling with Ministers
- The DCSO will process clearances and brief your staff
Sensitive information
- Classified Information (e.g. intelligence, national defence, international affairs)
- Injury to national interest if disclosed
- Levels — Confidential, secret and top secret
- Protected Information (e.g. tax returns, medical records, trade secrets, witness protection information)
- Injury to non-national interests if disclosed
- Levels — Protected A, Protected B and Protected C
Cabinet confidences
- Cabinet confidences refer to information in relation to matters discussed or to be discussed in Cabinet or committees of Cabinet (e.g. memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board Submissions, Cabinet decisions)
- Cabinet confidences are sensitive (generally marked secret) and require special handling
- “Cabinet Documents” administered by PCO are tightly controlled
- Bar-coded
- Not to be reproduced under any circumstance
- Loss or compromise of Cabinet confidences must be immediately reported to PCO
Protection of sensitive information
- Avoid sensitive discussions and exposing sensitive information where unauthorized people may overhear or see it
- Only share sensitive information with those with a valid “need to know” and who are authorized to access the information
- Use security approved equipment (filing cabinets, shredders, briefcases, secure phone/fax) for storage and transmittal
Use of technology
- The DFO network is suitable for storing Protected A information, or Protected B information that has been encrypted
- The network is not authorized for storage of Secret documents
- Many technologies are not secure and cannot be used to discuss sensitive issues
- House of Commons IT systems
- Internet and wireless devices (e.g. iPad, mobile phone)
- Social media (e.g. Facebook, BBM)
- PIN-to-PIN messaging
- Use secure phone/fax when discussing sensitive information, landline phone for other discussions
Information management and security
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard often deal with information pertaining to trade, research and development, and national security
- In order to ensure that this information only remains accessible to individuals with the requisite security clearance and the need to know, internal information management and security requirements are enforced
- The Information Management Branch is available to provide information and training on recordkeeping practices and legislative requirements related to ministerial records
- In terms of information security, the Chief Information Officer is tasked with implementing IT risk mitigation initiatives for the Department
Personal safety and travel
- RCMP will support your personal safety based on threat assessment
- RCMP & Department of Foreign Affairs should be informed of your foreign travel plans
- CSIS will provide information on foreign threats
- Check with DCSO on use of mobile devices
- Travel BlackBerry should be used for foreign travel
- Driver should attend security awareness session for Ministers’ drivers
Foreign intelligence
- Ministers and their staff and family may be targeted for intelligence gathering
- Be familiar with techniques to elicit sensitive information
- Consider security implications of receiving foreign dignitaries in your office
- [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act.]
Summary
- Build a culture of security awareness within your organization from the onset
- Always be aware of and adhere to security procedures and guidelines
- Always be aware of surroundings and threats
- Always report suspicious activities or incidents at the earliest opportunity
- Threats are real and will continue to evolve but can be effectively mitigated
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