Federal Court calls out CSIS over how it handles warrants

The Federal Court is urging the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to «do better» after chastising the spy agency over concerns related to judicial warrants.

The ruling from Federal Court Chief Justice Paul Crampton is the court's latest expression of displeasure with CSIS over how it complies with the obligation to keep the court informed of problems in a timely way.

«CSIS's failure to live up to its obligation in this regard appears to have been an institutional failing, rather than a failing of any particular individual or individuals,» Crampton wrote.

«This failing goes to the heart of CSIS's relationship with the court. It is a matter of institutional trust. It is incumbent upon CSIS to continue its recent efforts to do better.»

A public version of the top secret October 2023 decision was released Tuesday.

The ruling describes how CSIS relied on the Communications Security Establishment, Canada's cyberspy agency, to execute warrants approved by the court.

It later emerged, through a spy watchdog report, that the CSE had disclosed information about Canadians in a way that contradicted key principles CSIS had previously outlined to the court.

In his ruling, Crampton said CSIS must ensure that such third parties, such as the CSE, live up to the same standards that apply to the intelligence service itself.