The Government of Canada introduced Securing an Open Society: Canada’s National Security Policy (NSP), in April 2004. All levels of government must work together to prevent and respond to the threat of terrorism.
The National Security Policy included measures to address terrorist threats. One such measure was the creation of the Integrated Threat Assessment Centre (ITAC), which entered into operation on October 15, 2004.
In June 2011, ITAC was renamed the Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre in order to renew its focus on the terrorist threats to Canadians and Canadian interests.
ITAC’s role is to help prevent and reduce the effects of terrorist incidents on Canadians and Canadian interests, both at home and abroad.
Various departments and agencies within the federal government are responsible for collecting information about threats to our national security. Such information is known as security intelligence. Participating departments include the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Canada Border Services Agency, Transport Canada, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
ITAC analyzes security intelligence from its various partner institutions and produces threat assessments – integrated analyses of the intent and capability of terrorists to carry out attacks. These threat assessments are then distributed to members of the Canadian security intelligence community, provincial emergency authorities, first responders, and the private sector.
Threat assessments produced by ITAC are related to possible terrorist attacks, terrorist trends and special events taking place in Canada and globally. ITAC assessments are also used in the development of international travel advisories and in the development of threat and risk assessments for Canadian missions, interests, and persons abroad.
The Centre’s team consists of employees from various security intelligence organizations from across Canada, and is a vital link in ensuring an integrated, security intelligence system to protect Canadians.
ITAC team members are able to access a number of open and classified sources of information across government to produce threat assessments. It allows the Centre to offer a broad and integrated analysis regarding a particular threat.
As needed, ITAC can draw upon the specialized knowledge of other federal government departments and agencies.
Relationship with CSIS
ITAC is housed in the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario. The Centre is subject to the CSIS Act, which governs the collection, use, and distribution of security information.
The Centre is also subject to review by the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC).
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