Security Intelligence Service (Canada)

The Security Intelligence Service (SIS) is the premier intelligence and agency of the Canadian federal government, with its primary responsibility being the protection of national security from all real and potential threats, both domestic and foreign. Unlike other nations' intelligence agencies, the Security Intelligence Service has full law enforcement jurisdiction within Canada and within the Canadian Armed Forces in addition to its foreign intelligence and domestic and foreign counterintelligence roles, even often assisting the military intelligence unites of the Canadian Forces. As a law enforcement agency first and foremost, agents of the SIS are referred to as "officers", with the term "agent" being reserved for individuals contracting with the service (generally foreign nationals), whether as informants or in other roles.

All officers of the Security Intelligence Service have full powers of a peace officer within Canada and a military provost within the armed forces, whether stationed in Canada or abroad. However, the SIS only investigates law enforcement incidents domestically which are bound to affect the national security of Canada, and leaves regular policing up to regular police agencies at the federal (RCMP), provincial (provincial police) and county/municipal (county constabulary) level.

The official title of the chief officer of the SIS is the Director of Intelligence and National Security, who is a senior member of the Cabinet of Canada and thus reports directly to the Prime Minister of Canada. The SIS is headquartered in the Gloucester borough of Ottawa.