For immediate release

October 15, 2007

Derek Lee, M.P. Establishes Office for National Security Accountability

to Monitor the National Security Agenda

OTTAWA – Derek Lee, M.P. (Scarborough-Rouge River) today announced the creation of an Office for National Security Accountability (ONSAC) to immediately begin tackling the numerous unresolved issues facing Canada’s national security interests.

The Office for National Security Accountability will serve as a public, Parliament-focused window on issues in the national security portfolio that demand attention, either in Government policy or legislation. Mr. Lee has identified six recent national security issues on which the Government has yet to act.

“It is a matter of concern that this Government has failed to come forward and take corrective action to better protect Canadians. They’ve already had the benefit of informed recommendations from high profile court decisions, commissions of inquiry, and reports,” said Mr. Lee. “Creating ONSAC and shining a light on these important security issues is intended to prod the Government and Parliament to take more timely and meaningful action to improve our record on these security matters.”

There are at least six items which require immediate attention. As an example, in May of this year, Mr. Lee introduced a bill (C-447) to establish a National Security Committee of Parliamentarians to oversee security policies in Canada, as well as the activities of federal departments and agencies working on national security matters. It mirrored the Government bill (C-81) introduced in the previous parliament. Although Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day and the Cabinet were reported to have been considering reintroducing similar legislation, the Conservative Government has yet to do so.

Mr. Lee has over many years served as both Chair of the National Security Subcommittee and as Chair of the Interim Committee of Parliamentarians on National Security. He also served on the Special Committee reviewing the CSIS Act.

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Background information attached

For more information:

Office of Derek Lee, M.P.

(613) 996-9681

http://www.onsac.ca (Website under construction, to launch 18/10/07)