Necessary evil

The Canadian government for a brief time discarded foreign intelligence if there was the slightest suspicion it was obtained through torture. It was a morally strong position, but also pathetically unrealistic and potentially negligent.

Two years ago, however, the policy was secretly changed to allow the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to use information that might have been obtained under torture, but only if it was necessary to protect "life and property." The new position is ethically challenging but more pragmatic.

The spy agency cannot always know when it receives information from abroad that it involved torture, but it must be suspicious when the intelligence comes from countries that are known to rely on violent interrogations. Such information is not reliable and morally repugnant, but it should not be summarily dismissed, particularly when it relates to a potentially serious risk to public safety.

Canadians would never forgive their leaders if information that could have prevented a disaster was ignored because it was tainted.

The problem is Canadians are also forced to trust that CSIS will exercise good judgment in separating vital information from malicious disinformation that could lead to the unjustified detention of Canadians or foreign visitors. Countries such as China, Syria and Iran, for example, have a vested interest in spreading lies about dissidents abroad, or in misleading intelligence officials.

Spy agencies have always operated in a grey zone between good and evil, but the government would be abandoning its duty if it refused to examine all the information it receives, even from loathsome sources.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 8, 2012 A10