Preparing to retire from the House of Commons June 23, former Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has warned MPs to avoid polarizing “performance politics” and focus on national unity. “Too many of us are often chasing algorithms down a sinkhole of diversion and division,” he told the House. “We are becoming elected officials who judge our self-worth by how many ‘likes” we get on social media, but not how many lives we change in the real world.”
BRIAN LEE CROWLEY
Chinese election interference is a hot topic in Canada today. Yet, while it is indeed a matter of enormous importance, it is one that must be placed in the context of the new Cold War against the West.
(FrontLine News)
Thousands of homes under evacuation order as wildfire burns out of control in the Tantallon suburb about 25 km northwest of Halifax. Several homes and buildings have been lost as the fire continues to spread.
Oct 31
(Ken Pole)
The Federal Court has dismissed six applications for a judicial review of the federal government’s 2020 move to reclassify certain types of rifles as “assault” weapons.
Sep 07
(Ken Pole)
The Business Council of Canada, formerly the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, wants the government to give the Canadian Security Intelligence Service the legal authority to "proactively" work with the private sector in countering the growing cyberthreats by hostile foreign interests.
Jun 29
(Ken Pole)
Security issues at home and abroad continued to escalate as the Communications Security Establishment and its partners deal with an array of threats.
 DRDC Valcartier Research |
 Polar Knowledge Canada |
 EZ Raider |
30 May 2023 –
Chinese election interference is a hot topic in Canada today. Yet, while it is indeed a matter of enormous importance, it is one that must be placed in the context of the new Cold War against the West.
27 April 2023 –
The CAF is in crisis mode, attempting to deal with a lack of personnel and equipment, efforts to change its culture, operational pressures and reputational challenges. This huge machine cannot rapidly ramp up from dereliction when needed – it's time for Canadians to begin to recognize service to country as important, and give it the priority it deserves.
18 August 2022 –
Interference is typically an extremely valid and indisputable concern, but in the case of the NS shooting spree, that argument is being used to obfuscate the real issue of communication negligence which resulted in deaths that could have been avoided.
10 August 2022 –
Alberta awarded third prize of “Her Vision Inspires” contest to an essayist who argues that women should pick babies over careers, writing that importing "foreigners to replace ourselves is a sickly mentality that amounts to a drive for cultural suicide.”
2 December 2023
(CBC)
David Vigneault, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, has launched a third-party assessment of its B.C. office in response to complaints about on-the-job sexual assaults by an officer. Vigneault said in a December 1 statement that action was taken immediately when the accusations were brought to his attention, including removal of the accused officer from the workplace.
1 December 2023
(CBC)
Against the backdrop of a landmark deal to address climate change damage, agreed to at the global climate change summit in Dubai, Canada’s minister of environment and climate change today announced an initial $16-million pledge to the fund. “Canada has been arguing now more than a year that we should have a serious conversation about loss and damage after ignoring it for almost 30 years,” Steven Guilbeault said.
1 December 2023
(Defense News)
Faced with cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and interference with government agencies, NATO plans to upgrade its 2021 artificial intelligence strategy to include generative AI to clarify what is expected from members’ industries, institutions and operational end-users. David van Wheel, the alliance’s assistant secretary general for emerging security challenges, says the review will begin in 2024.
30 November 2023
(CP)
Two female surveillance officers in the Canadian Security Intelligence Service say that they were repeatedly sexually assaulted by a senior officer while on duty in B.C., but that nothing was done about it. They are among four officers who say it was a toxic workplace where bullying, harassment and worse went unchecked, and where young female officers were victimized.
29 November 2023
(CBC)
Ending a long-running dispute with the federal government, California-based Google has agreed to share Canadian news online in return for paying domestic media companies about $100 million annually. The breakthrough was confirmed today by Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge.
29 November 2023
(Guardian)
The wife of Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov has been hospitalized after eating food officials say was laced with “heavy metals” not found in “ordinary civilian or military life.” Budanov has been the target of 10 failed assassinations and this latest incident evokes reports over the years about Russian assets targetting critics this way.
29 November 2023
(Politico)
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said today that Turkey has promised to ratify his country’s bid to join NATO “within weeks.” He said his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, had told him of the forthcoming support, which would leave only Hungary as the sole NATO member blocking unanimous approval by the alliance.
29 November 2023
(CBC)
Reports that U.S. Customs & Border Protection officers facilitated migrants’ entry into Canada at a now-closed crossing into Quebec are unfounded, the CPB’s professional services oversight office said November 28. Its investigation into “allegations involving CBP employees transporting migrants to the Roxham Road area […] found no wrongdoing.”
29 November 2023
(CBC)
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland gave notice in the House of Commons November 28 of the government’s plan to legislate a digital services tax. However, while enabling legislation would pave the way for the tax, it does not specify when it will come into effect because the government has been awaiting a treaty with other members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
29 November 2023
(Al Jazeera)
NATO states showing some reluctance to continue backing Ukraine’s battle against Russia are being urged by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to stand firm. “This is also about our security interests,” he pointed out during a meeting of alliance foreign November 29.
