Criminality is the police clearances - i.e. FBI, PGR, etc. Meaning clean criminal record.
Security is the deeper background checks to ensure that the applicant poses no security threat to Canada. This involves CSIS and other "partners" who are responsible for ruling out similar name/DOB situations; organized crime; military service; travel history, etc. and who knows what else. Our case has been in queue for a long time due to being flagged for more in depth security screens (likely due to the tattoo thing combined with prior undocumented status in the U.S.) In any case, we know for certain that the CSIS checks have been done for some time and the MP was able to confirm our file was/is stuck awaiting completion of checks from another "partner". So that's why its freaking me out that Security now says "not started" - especially since we have been feeling so optimistic that the security checks are finally over !!! Now what ????
Well, at least we know that CIC has matched up the medical as that part now says "in progress."