http://www.canada.com/national/story.asp?id={39FFD9D5-CFF1-4299-91CD-D9327A525FCD} The national spy service has quietly acknowledged the likelihood of damage to Canadian interests from the treachery of an American who spied for Moscow. The admission by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, contained in newly obtained briefing memos, represents the strongest indication to date that FBI agent Robert Hanssen's sale of secret U.S. government documents to the Russians for cash and diamonds also harmed Canada. Mr. Hanssen, 58, was sentenced to life in prison in May for espionage committed during 25 years as an employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In one of the gravest betrayals in American intelligence history, Mr. Hanssen disclosed more than 6,000 pages of classified papers. American officials claimed his misdeeds contributed to the deaths of at least two spies, including a Russian army general. CSIS actively exchanges information with the FBI and other U.S. law-enforcement and intelligence agencies, which raises the question of whether Mr. Hanssen had access to sensitive Canadian data. Notes prepared earlier this year for Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay state the FBI and CSIS were in the process of "assessing the extent of the damage" caused by Mr. Hanssen, who was arrested in February 2001. The briefing memo, released to the Citizen under the Access to Information Act, indicates the Canadian spy service's primary roles of countering espionage and terrorism -- as opposed to mounting offensive intelligence operations -- had helped limit the fallout for Canada. "U.S. officials have already commented publicly that the damage is extensive. As CSIS is a defensive intelligence service, the damage will be less in Canada." Additional notes, apparently assembled for use by CSIS director Ward Elcock, say the case against Mr. Hanssen "has had a serious impact" on U.S. intelligence operations. "By extrapolation, any time a close ally of the service is affected by such an event, there are repercussions for Canadian equities." Though the service "takes this matter very seriously," the Hanssen case remained before the courts at the time and "as such it would be inappropriate" to discuss specific details. The notes add CSIS would, in co-operation with the FBI, "do everything necessary to assess the potential damage to Canadian assets as a result of this case and take appropriate measures to protect Canadian national security." CSIS exempted some material from disclosure under provisions of the access law concerning personal information, data obtained in confidence or "the detection, prevention or suppression of subversive or hostile activities." Following Mr. Hanssen's sentencing this spring, CSIS declined to comment on the status of the damage assessment. In August of last year, CSIS employees were reminded, through an internal newsletter, about the importance of keeping sensitive materials under lock and key. "Unauthorized disclosure is a serious matter," the article said. "By forgetting to lock our office doors or workstations when we leave our office during the day, or by leaving our file cabinet open or sensitive documents on our desks, we are creating the potential for an unauthorized disclosure to take place." CSIS advised forgetful staff to post a reminder checklist by their office door, or to implement a "buddy system" in shared offices, with the last person out checking to ensure all sensitive information is stowed away.
