Should Canada build a foreign intelligence service focused on humans?

Should Canada build a spy service to collect foreign intelligence through human sources?

It is a question that deserves to be asked while the country is increasingly unstable with its neighboring neighbor, which Canada has long been relied upon on key intelligence.

It is “something to think about”, or at least a discussion about it – and it is. Not alone In calling to Canada to assess how it can Reinforce.

However, the development of such a service requires large resources and a political purchase to move forward.

“This is not a thing that Welilly does,” said Carvin, associate professor of international affairs at the University of Carlton in Ottawa.

Why do we want this?

Given the inability to predict the intentions of US President Donald Trump towards Canada, it is fair to be concerned about the impact that could have the information that Washington shares with Ottawa.

Separately, it will not necessarily be that any foreign intelligence collected by other parties taking into account the interests of Canada.

Therefore, there are already limits to what Canada controls when it comes to foreign intelligence.

Does Canada not gather intelligence?

Yes, but not necessarily the way in which the service of foreign and human enlargement can be.

The current Canadian security intelligence service (CSIS) brings together the intelligence, but its efforts At directed to security threats Canada faces. The Canadian army, likewise, brings intelligence on defense threats.

There is also the CSE Security Corporation, which is the country’s electronic agency, which It brings together foreign intelligence But through electronic means, instead of human resources.

Opeonsains Canada has a small program known as the Global Security Reporting Program (GSRP), which includes diplomats to collect information, but publicly. It is a relatively small program, Involving approximately 30 people. It is not an intelligence agency.

What about the five eyes?

Canada was part of the Five Eyes Intelligence-alongside the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand- For decades.

It was a useful arrangement for these members – including Canada.

“We are consumed more than we produce,” said Phil Gorsky, a former CSIS and Cse analyst.

After the financial Times It was mentioned in February Peter Navarro, Trump’s chief adviser, put forward the idea of ​​expelling Canada from the network – though He later denied this claim.

“We will never be at risk of our national security – with allies like Canada.” Navarro told reporters.

However, the story has sparked fears that Americans’ willingness to share vital information may be less guaranteed in the future – although some say it is unlikely that Canada is operated from the five eyes.

Jessica Davis, a former CSIS analyst, said that the Intel participation between the five eyes is usually driven by “operational interests and exchanges”, as the United States and Canada are more intertwined with more intertwined concerns than some issues, such as common threats on the border.

“The United States cannot really expel us,” she told CBC Radio’s Radio’s CBC Radio’s. Current last monthNoting that doing this will be harmful to the broader group.

While Gurski agrees that there is no “mechanism” to remove the Five Eyes partner, it admits that if Canada loses access, “we must fill this gap one way or another.”

Do our allies do this?

Yes, as Gurski indicates, Canada is the only member of the five eyes without foreign service for foreign cracking.

UK secret intelligence service, also known as MI6 It works for more than a century.

In the United States, the Central Intelligence Agency became, after World War II.

Below, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) “calmly protect Australia and its way of life” Since 1952. The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) has been created, which has both security and foreign intelligence role A few years later.

both of them Germany and France They have their foreign intelligence services, while the European Union has been urged To create its own.

Did this idea appear before?

Yes, but she did not hold.

“This is an issue that appears every 10 years or so,” Carvin said.

For example, conservatives suggested developing such a service as part of Their election platform In 2006.

However, the proposed Canadian Foreign Intelligence Agency was not yet winning these elections and Stephen Harper became prime minister, nor during his subsequent mandate.

Such a service has not been developed under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as well. In 2023, then National Security Adviser, Judy Thomas, said he was “not on the agenda of politics.” at that time.

Isn’t this difficult?

It is likely that it takes years to exist, given the tasks of creating a legal framework for that, building an organization from the zero point and training spies that will be served.

In 2006, former CSIS director Red Mordan estimated that she would work Take nearly 10 years To get enough employees trained to meet the needs of such a service. And the price, at the time, was placed in a neighborhood of $ 200 million.

Gurski and Carvin agree that it will not happen quickly.

Gorsky said: “Creating one of the zero point is simply an ongoing, because it will take a long time,” Gorsky said.

Are there other options?

Gorsky says he believes this – and for him, the answer expands the arrival of CSIS outside the borders of Canada through legislation.

This also means converting CSIS into an organization that would do both foreign and security intelligence. Gurski notes that other organizations in the world do both, with NZSIS in New Zealand as an example. The Netherlands also has a double service.

CSIS will need more resources, and as a result, he says.

Likewise, Carvin says he believes that Canada can do more with the tools it has now.

Is there a political will?

CBC News asked five major political parties whether Canada would support the development of its human foreign tile service.

Bloc Québécois said the concept is worth studying, although it cannot say whether this step will be necessary. He suggested that Canada could look to deepen its partnerships with France and other allies who are not part of the five eyes.

The party also raised the point that spying carries various risks, including harmful relations with other countries.

Elizabeth May, Green’s colleague, said the party does not support the launch of a new service, saying that the “current intelligence collection” and our diplomatic ties are sufficient. But the party says it is important to maintain the Live Eyes partnership, “despite the recent threats of the American president.”

“CSIS is doing the support of CSIS today.

“CSIS and its delegation are present to maintain the Canadian safe from international threats, including foreign interference in our democracy,” McGrath said in a statement. “New Democrats also supports stronger foreign service, which will build Canada’s ties and awareness of issues around the world.”

The Conservative Party did not respond to e -mail questions about the issue of human foreign tile service.

The liberals also did not comment, although the liberal leader Mark Carney recently said, “We have to search for ourselves”, ” Amid the changing security priorities From us neighboring