History of CSIS

In the Beginning

In 1984, the Government of Canada passed an Act of Parliament for the creation of a civilian security intelligence service. This legislation not only gave birth to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), it also clarified the differences between security intelligence activities and law-enforcement work, bringing to an end the 120-year interlocking of Canada's security intelligence service with the federal police force.

The evolution that led to the formation of CSIS began when Sir John A. Macdonald created the Western Frontier Constabulary in 1864. This was to be a "...detective and preventive police force, for the purpose of watching and patrolling the whole frontier from Toronto to Sarnia." The Constabulary operated along the Upper Canada borders and rail lines, reporting on activities related first to the American Civil War, then to Fenians whose goal was to overthrow English rule in Ireland. Eastern Canada was looked after by the Montreal Water Police, a federal agency like the Constabulary. Both forces reported to Macdonald.

In 1868 the government set up a 12-member Dominion Police force that was in charge of guarding public buildings and carrying out the previous responsibilities of the Western Frontier Constabulary. This force, under Gilbert McMicken and Joseph Coursol, assigned people to a security intelligence function when it was necessary, returning them to regular duties afterwards. By the beginning of the First World War, the Dominion Police comprised 140 members.