Former justice Marie Deschamps named to panel overseeing spy agencies
OTTAWA — A former Supreme Court justice has been named to a panel overseeing the country’s security agencies.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Marie Deschamps will become a member of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency.
Her appointment takes effect at the end of September.
Deschamps served on the Supreme Court for a decade in a long legal career, retiring from the judiciary in August 2012.
Since then, she has conducted a high-profile review of sexual assault and misconduct in the Canadian military, done similar work for the United Nations and chaired a panel advising the government on medically-assisted death.
In her new role, Deschamps will be part of a group tasked with ensuring that more than a dozen federal bodies that have national-security responsibilities are complying with the law.
Among the agencies are the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS; the Communications Security Establishment, charged with protecting cyber systems; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Global Affairs Canada and the Justice Department.
Outgoing New Democrat MP Murray Rankin was named chairman of the new super-agency in July after the legislation to create the body received royal assent in late June.
The body is required to provide the prime minister with an annual report.