Canadian Security Clearance Lapses a U.S. Concern

According to an article (registration may be required) in the December 2007 edition of Military and Aerospace Electronics, Canada’s Auditor General has discovered “security deficiencies in issuing and verifying the security clearances given to domestic and foreign contractors.” It is possible that U.S. intelligence shared with Canada could be compromised.

We found serious problems in the system that is supposed to ensure the security of government information and assets entrusted to industry, said the Auditor General.

...sensitive contracts have been awarded before contractors have met all the security requirements…and contracts were awarded on average about 11 months before the clearances were completed.

...I don’t believe [Canada has been unknowingly giving away U.S. secrets], but it’s impossible to know,” admits the Auditor General. [But] Clearly we are not protecting our sensitive information.

Also see this related article.

Filed Under: Procedures