Canada: Espionage and Foreign Interference

"[We have] observed espionage and foreign interference activity at levels not seen since the Cold War."

"The key national security threats facing Canada, namely violent extremism, foreign interference, espionage and malicious cyber activity, accelerated, evolved and in many ways became much more serious for Canadians."

"An example of significant concern are activities by threat actors affiliated with the People's Republic of China that seek to leverage and exploit critical freedoms that are otherwise protected by Canadian society and the government in order to further the political interests of the Communist Party of China."

David Vigneault, Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)

"The threat from espionage and foreign interference is significant and continues to grow. Several states are responsible for conducting such activities in Canada, but intelligence shows that China and Russia remain the primary culprits."

"Neo-Nazi groups are active and growing. Violent attacks by Incel-inspired extremists also pose a growing threat. The Incel subculture is growing and increasingly overlapping with other types of violent extremism."

Report, National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP)

"We were surprised to see the continuation of the threats around science and technology, and research and development in this country, particularly around COVID science and COVID vaccines. That jumped out at us."

David McGuinty, Chair, (NSICOP)

"The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated xenophobic and anti-authority narratives."

"Some violent extremists view COVID-19 as a real but welcome crisis that could hasten the collapse of Western society."

"Other violent extremist entities have adopted conspiracy theories about the pandemic in an attempt to rationalize and justify violence."

"CSIS is aware of the serious threat posed by CETs [Canadian extremist travellers] who return from conflict zones."

"The range of training and operational experience they acquire while abroad and the unique environment to which they have been exposed make CETs an especially dangerous threat to the security of Canada."

Report, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)

Two reports have recently been made public by Canada's premier intelligence agencies. Alarming conclusions appeared in both separate reports, published by each; the Canadian Security Intelligence Service of Canada and the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians with their mandate to oversee security and intelligence agencies operating in Canada. Each of the reports point out a "sharp increase in the scope and scale of hostile activity toward Canada focusing on the nation's health care sector and research facilities".

"I'm afraid we can't actually tell  you what the numbers are, but they're certainly much higher than you would expect", Sean Jorgensen, NSICOP executive director stated, emphasizing the presence of a "dramatic increase in the first six months of 2020, primarily led by China and by Russia". The executive director was commenting at the huge question mark left in the minds of observers in the presence of redacted details in the report.

CSIS  states in its latest annual report that those two countries, along with other foreign states, continue to target not only the Canadian government in their efforts at purloining political, military and non-governmental organizations like universities and the private sector. "Non-traditional sources collectors of information and expertise, such as researchers, private entities and other third parties" are often engaged in providing information. Some countries such as China, the agency warns, attempt to "deceptively influence" the government of Canada to their benefit.

Foreign actors are interested in Canada's vaccine development and rollout, says a new report from one of Canada's key national security oversight committees. (Evan Mitsui/CBC

 

Harassing, manipulating or intimidating groups within Canada to increase support or to increase support for policies or to mute dissenters represents yet other tactics engaged in. Highlighted for the firs time as yet another threat, is the manner in which China and Russia continue to spy on the Canadian military for the purpose of developing weapons "specifically designed to counter our defences and exploit our vulnerabilities". And there is yet another insidious source within Canada itself, representing threats to national security in Canada growing within the country's borders.

CSIS and NSICOP both noted a trend of deep concern emerging, of growing ideologically motivated, violent extremism in Canada; where xenophobia, gender-based violence or anti-authority narratives and dangerous conspiracy theories thrive. Research suggests that the number of known white supremacist groups tripled in the period of the last five years, becoming close to 300 in number in 2020, from 2015's 100 groups. When members of the parliamentary committee began to understand the level of "proliferation and permeation" of extremist ideologies such as white supremacy within Canada, member of the parliamentary committee became "very, very concerned". 

And then, last but not to be overlooked, returning Canadian extremist travellers who had gone abroad to join the ISIL "caliphate" in their diabolical plans of violent Islamist supremacy, with the establishment of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant caliphate in Iraq and Syria. CSIS revealed that up to 200 Canadians were known to have left Canada to join ISIL or other terrorist groups operating with impunity n the regime-contested areas of Syria and Iraq. Intelligence agencies know that of the total number, 61 returned to Canada, while 122 remained in Turkey, Syria and Iraq.

"CSIS is aware of the serious threat posed by CETs who return from conflict ones."

"The range of training and operational experience they acquire while abroad and the unique environment to which they have been exposed make CETs an especially dangerous threat to the security of Canada."

CSIS Annual Report

Canada's spy agency said the pandemic had presented opportunities for 'threat actors' overseas