U.S. spied at G20 summit in Toronto in 2010, and Canada knew: CBC

OTTAWA – The defence minister is standing by the national eavesdropping agency amid new allegations of spying on world leaders on Canadian soil.

Rob Nicholson says Communications Security Establishment Canada, known as CSEC, complies with Canadian law.

Documents leaked by a former spy contractor indicate the United States conducted widespread surveillance at the Toronto G20 summit in 2010 — and CSEC knew about it.

CBC’s The National reported Wednesday the briefing notes show Canada allowed the U.S. National Security Agency to conduct the operation from its Ottawa embassy during the 2010 G8 and G20 summits.

The report cited documents obtained by Brazil-based journalist Glenn Greenwald, who got them from Edward Snowden, a former contractor with the NSA turned whistleblower.

One briefing note describes the NSA plans as being “closely co-ordinated with the Canadian partner” — an apparent reference to CSEC.