Photo: The Canadian Press

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Ralph Goodale

A super-watchdog to oversee the full array of federal intelligence services would be created under legislation introduced today.

The measure is part of a package of national security changes tabled by the Liberal government.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says the new expert body — the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency — would keep an eye on intelligence services across government.

Many have complained the current system doesn't work as well as it should because separate watchdogs review the activities of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the RCMP and the cyberspies of the Communications Security Establishment.

The existing watchdogs cannot always freely exchange information about complaints or collaborate on reviews — a problem the new body is intended to solve.

The 150-page bill also follows through on Liberal campaign promises to repeal some elements of omnibus security legislation brought in by the Conservatives after a gunman stormed Parliament Hill in 2014.

The Conservatives gave CSIS explicit authority to derail terrorist threats, not just gather information about them.

The legislation introduced today would require CSIS to seek a warrant for any threat reduction measure that would "limit" a right or freedom protected by the charter and it clarifies that a warrant can only be issued if a judge is satisfied the measure complies with the charter.