Canada's spy agency needs to share more information with the Department of Foreign Affairs so the department is better prepared for negative reactions to Canadian intelligence work overseas, a report says.

The Security Intelligence Review Committee, which reports to Parliament on the work of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, found the organization had "limited exchanges" with Canada's diplomats on its operations.

"SIRC recommended that CSIS adopt a broader interpretation of its disclosure commitments to DFAIT, to allow the department to prepare itself in the event of an adverse development arising from CSIS's foreign operations," according to the latest report, released Wednesday.

It also asks for "retooled" powers to assess national security beyond CSIS, including related departments and agencies. It would take a slight adjustment to its mandate, the report says. SIRC could also take on a review of other agencies at the request of the public safety minister if there was a minor amendment to the CSIS Act.

The SIRC report refers to its review of CSIS's role in interviewing Afghan detainees, arguing it could have reviewed the actions of other involved departments, meaning a "more comprehensive examination," it says.

In terms of the work of Canadian spies in Afghanistan, SIRC said it took almost five years before CSIS added proper caveats to information it shared to warn partners that the information could have been learned through torture.

The report also notes operatives didn't keep thorough records of their interviews with Afghan detainees.

The report also says CSIS should be more cautious in how much information operatives collect and keep about youth and their online activities.

Terrorist groups like Somalia's al-Shabaab is known to use the internet to recruit young people, including Canadians.

"SIRC believes CSIS should impress upon its employees the need to exercise added caution when collecting and retaining information related to youth," the report says.

The report also looked at administrative issues, including the need to create a lessons learned database for intelligence officers to share experiences on human sources. It says CSIS itself identified a need to cope with demographic pressures and employee training.

SIRC recommends CSIS stop using "disclosure letters," which are meant to tip off investigators, but not to be used by police for a warrant. The report says, given that intelligence could eventually be used as evidence, the agency should stick with the more formal advisory letter that incorporates standards of rigorous legal review.