The reviewing body has the legal right to access all information held by the department under review, including confidential and privileged materials, excluding cabinet secrets.
The letter, posted on the review body's website, says requests for information may include documents, written explanations, explanations, interviews, investigations and access to systems.
“This review may also include an independent examination of some technical systems,” Deschamps added.
The letter was sent to several ministers, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, Evan Solomon, Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Gary Anandasangary, Minister for Public Safety, David McGuinty, Minister for Defence, Anita Anand, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Melanie Joly, Minister for Industry.
It was also sent to heads of agencies with key security roles, including the Canadian Security Intelligence Agency, the RCMP, and the Communications Security Agency, Canada's cyber-espionage agency.
The letter was also sent to heads of agencies that might not immediately come to mind in a security context, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
In response to questions about the review, the RCMP said it encompasses an independent investigation into national security and intelligence.
“The RCMP believes that establishing a transparent and accountable external review process is critical to maintaining public trust and confidence,” it said in a media statement.
In 2024, a federal advisory report called on Canada's security agencies to publish a detailed description of the current and intended use of their artificial intelligence systems and software applications.
The National Security Transparency Advisory Group predicted an increased reliance on technology to analyze large amounts of text and images, recognize patterns, and interpret trends and behavior.
At the time, CSIS and CSE recognized the importance of transparency regarding AI, but added that there were limits to what could be disclosed, given security obligations.
Federal principles for the use of AI include promoting public disclosure of how, why, and when AI is employed, and early assessing and managing the risks AI poses to legal rights and democratic norms.
The principles also advocate training public officials who develop or use AI to understand legal, ethical, and operational issues, including privacy and security.
In its latest annual report, CSIS said it is implementing an agency-wide AI pilot program that aligns with the federal government's guiding principles.
The RCMP says on its website that several factors are involved in ensuring that AI is used legally, ethically and responsibly.
These factors include careful system design to avoid bias and discrimination, respect for privacy while analyzing information, transparency about how AI systems make decisions, and accountability measures to ensure proper functioning, Mounties said.
In its Artificial Intelligence Strategy, CSE says it is committed to developing new capabilities that solve critical problems through innovative use of AI and machine learning technologies, championing responsible and safe AI, and countering threats from AI-enabled adversaries.
CSE's strategy says that when deployed safely, reliably and effectively, these capabilities will improve the ability to analyze large amounts of data more quickly and accurately, improving the quality and speed of decision-making.
“We will always be thoughtful and rule-bound in our deployment of AI, keeping responsibility and accountability at the core of how we achieve our goals,” CSE director Caroline Xavier said in a message included in the strategy.
“We recognize that these technologies are flawed, and we will experiment and expand them in stages, with a focus on rigorous testing and evaluation to ensure our highly trained experts stay up-to-date.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2026.
Jim Bronskill, Canadian Press
