The FAN TAN file: Quebec separatism and security service resistance to politicization 1971-72

• Published in: Intelligence and national security 2024-01, Vol.39 (1), p.1-18
• Main Authors: Molinaro, Dennis G., Davies, Philip H.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dissolution; Federal government; Government; Information gathering; Intelligence; Legality; Machinery; National security; Political action; Politicization; Prime ministers; Scandals; Security services; Separatism; Surveillance
• ISSN: 0268-4527; 1743-9019
• DOI: 10.1080/02684527.2023.2246235

This article examines an interval during 1970-1971 during which the Canadian Federal government established a clandestine body codenamed FAN TAN within the Prime Minister's Office to conduct surveillance of, and 'political action' against, the Quebec separatist movement. This organization, led by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Marc Lalonde, sought to persuade the Security Service of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to provide intelligence in support of what was a party political entity based in the Prime Minister's Office and not in the actual national security machinery of the Privy Council Office. We examine how John Starnes, Director General of the Security Service, went to considerable lengths to resist this effort to politicize his agency, and to warn the government of the potential scandal should FAN TAN become publicly known. We conclude that the FAN TAN affair leaves a number of serious questions to be answered such as: who actually originated the scheme, its legality as well as propriety, what intelligence was used or continued to be collected after the RCMP sought to end its involvement, and why the matter was ignored by the subsequent McDonald Commission that prompted the dissolution of the Security Service. 1