OTTAWA — Canada's spy agency flatly denies it practises a controversial anti-terrorism tactic that got it a firm knuckle-rapping from a federal watchdog.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service's insistence that it does not employ the technique known as disruption is squarely at odds with the findings of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, which keeps an eye on CSIS.

The committee has recommended CSIS seek ministerial guidance on disruption -- letting suspected terrorists know they are under investigation with the aim -- or side-effect -- of prompting them to drop their plans.

It also called on the spy service to develop formal guidelines regarding its use of the tactic.

Newly declassified records only underscore the differences.

The review committee, which reports to Parliament, says the spy service "expressly set out to disrupt" a threat to Canada and did not inform the public safety minister it was doing so.