Senators call for increased parliamentary oversight of spy agencies

OTTAWA – Liberal Sen. Romeo Dallaire says a fear of sensitive leaks is not a good reason to scrap the idea of a full-fledged national security committee of parliamentarians.

Dallaire, an advocate of subjecting the spy world to greater parliamentary scrutiny, told a gathering of senators today that an all-party committee could be entrusted to put partisan politics aside and safeguard intelligence secrets.

Some MPs and senators with an interest in national security say they cannot hold intelligence services fully to account because they lack clearance to see secret information.

Both Dallaire and Conservative Sen. Hugh Segal — another voice for stronger intelligence oversight — have announced plans to retire soon, but clearly hope their desire to give parliamentarians a bigger role lives on.

Segal is sponsor of a private bill to create an all-party committee privy to spy secrets.

Dallaire suggests it’s not the spy chiefs — but certain politicians — that have trouble with the idea.

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