Old Sweat said:
Don't forget that it seems politicians, especially if they are appointed to cabinet (and maybe their entourage), get security clearances much more quickly than we mere peons. Perhaps corners are cut; I don't know.
It's a conundrum: when the people of Canada elect one of their own to represent them in Parliament they give that person a vote of confidence that is very, very, very difficult for the security services to overturn. When the prime minister then selects one of those most trusted Canadians to serve in the cabinet he joins the people in saying "this fellow (or gal) can be trusted."
I think the PMO gives the PCO a list of potential new ministers almost as soon as the names are known and,
as far as I know an appropriate security clearance - sometimes
waaaaay beyond TS - is always in place just as soon as the oath is sworn.
I wonder if, late in the process, the Clerk has ever gone to the PM and said, "Sir, you must not appoint M.
Xxxxx to the cabinet; it would gravely endanger national security because ..."
That being said, several years ago I briefed more than one minister on quite sensitive matters. I worked very, very hard to avoid highly classified specifics - my military superiors were able to assure the minister involved that my presentation was supported by reams of solid but complex evidence which was available for review, if necessary. I was never asked for the details.
