On Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named Victoria MP Murray Rankin the new chair of Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA).
Rankin has worked as Victoria’s Member of Parliament since 2012, but in February he announced that he would not be running for re-election in the 2019 federal election.
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The NSIRA is an independent authority that reviews Canadian national security or intelligence-related activities to make sure they are reasonable, necessary, and legal.
The organization may also review complaints regarding the RCMP.
While Rankin has been named the chair of the NSIRA, Trudeau has also added University of Ottawa law professor Craig Forcese to the team, alongside the four current members of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, who will continue to serve in their positions.
“We have modernized our security and intelligence agencies to ensure we continue to keep our country and all Canadians safe and secure,” said Trudeau in a statement.
“The members of the new National Security and Intelligence Review Agency will play an important role protecting Canadians and their rights and freedoms, while keeping our country’s national security and intelligence agencies accountable to the citizens they protect.”
Before becoming Victoria’s MP, Rankin was a Professor of Law at the University of Victoria. He also had previous experience with the Security Intelligence Review Committee serving as a “special advocate” on the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
He currently lives in Victoria with his wife, Linda Hannah.
