Royal Canadian Mounted Police
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Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do if I notice any suspicious activity or behaviour and want to notify the authorities?

  • If you would like to report information regarding suspicious activity that may pose a risk to national security, you can contact the National Security Information Network at 1-800-420-5805 (toll-free phone number; available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
  • Contact your local police service to voice your concerns.
  • If you have immediate concerns about a specific place (i.e.- school, place of workshop, shopping mall, etc.), you may also want to contact those authorities (teacher, guidance counselor, principal, religious leader, security officials at shopping mall, etc.)
  • If you have a concern about any aspect of the RCMP's National Security Criminal Investigations or wish to express concerns with respect to the behaviour of a member of the RCMP's National Security Criminal Investigations, please e-mail us immediately.

What is the RCMP’s national security mandate?

  • One of the RCMP’s strategic priorities is National Security . The RCMP works towards “reducing the threat of criminal terrorist activity in Canada and abroad.”
  • The RCMP’s role in national security is defined under Section 6 of the Security Offences Act .
  • To prevent and investigate offences that constitute a threat to the security of Canada and offences against internationally protected persons.
  • The RCMP is committed to working in partnership with both domestic and foreign agencies to enhance prevention measures against the threat of terrorism in North America and elsewhere.

What is “Terrorism”?

  • The Government of Canada defined terrorism in the Anti-Terrorism Act (2001). The Act spells out the definition of terrorism and terrorist activities. Furthermore, the Criminal Code of Canada spells out terrorism offences .
  • A terrorist group is an entity (a person, a group, a fund, an organization, etc.) that facilitates or carries out a terrorist activity or whose mission is to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity. A terrorist group can also be any entity that is on a list prepared by the Government of Canada. For further information on listed entities, please visit the Public Safety Canada (PS) web site.

Does the RCMP have a role with respect to Security Certificates?

  • The Security Certificate process is the responsibility of the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), Public Safety Canada (PS), Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
  • A carefully considered and rigorous process is undertaken when it comes to the issuance of certificates. The decision by the Ministers of PS and CIC to sign a certificate is based on a security intelligence report (SIR). SIRs are normally prepared by CSIS .
  • Security Certificates are issued under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) . The IRPA allows for a certificate to be signed by the Minister of Public Safety Canada (PS) and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) when a permanent resident or foreign national (the individual) is deemed to be inadmissible on grounds of security such as subversion or espionage, violating human or international rights, terrorism, serious criminality or organized criminality.