Staying Left of Bang: Reforming Canada's Approach to Anti-Terrorism Investigations

Abstract

This article examines Canada’s approach to anti-terrorism investigations. Specifically, it critiques the tradition of “parallel” investigations run, respectively, by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. The article examines how this approach places a premium on bureaucratic “deconfliction” that is potentially unwieldy in a dynamic security environment. It examines the legal and operational impetus for “parallel” investigations, and specifically the “intelligence-to-evidence” conundrum. The article then describes how the United Kingdom has addressed similar concerns and reformed its terrorism investigations. Drawing on this UK experience, the article concludes with several suggestions for reform in Canada.

Keywords: Terrorism, Investigations, Police, Intelligence, Law, Evidence, Canada, United Kingdom, CSIS, RCMP, MI5