As Canada faces increasingly complex relations with its powerful neighbor, the United States, the question arises: should Canada establish its own human-based foreign intelligence service? This is a topic that has been brought up before but never fully realized.
Stephanie Carvin, a former national security analyst and associate professor at Carleton University, suggests that it’s worth considering or at least debating the establishment of such a service. However, developing this capability would require considerable resources, time, and political backing.
Why Would Canada Need Its Own Intelligence Service?
The rationale for such a move comes from concerns about the unpredictable nature of U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies and the potential risks to the intelligence-sharing relationship between the two countries. While Canada currently relies on its Five Eyes partnership for intelligence, there is a growing recognition that intelligence gathered by other countries may not always align with Canada’s interests.
Current Intelligence Gathering in Canada
Canada already gathers intelligence through various agencies, but these efforts are not necessarily focused on human-based intelligence. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) primarily handles security threats within the country, while the Canadian military is focused on defense intelligence. The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) is tasked with cyber-intelligence but does not rely on human sources. Additionally, the Global Security Reporting Program (GSRP) at Foreign Affairs Canada gathers information through diplomatic channels but is not an intelligence service.
The Five Eyes Network
Canada has been a part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network for decades, alongside the U.S., the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. This arrangement has been beneficial to Canada, but there are concerns that with shifting political landscapes, particularly under President Trump, the U.S. might reconsider its sharing of intelligence with Canada. Although experts believe it’s unlikely that Canada could be excluded from the network, the possibility raises questions about Canada’s future access to vital intelligence.
Intelligence Services in Other Countries
Canada is the only member of the Five Eyes that does not have its own human foreign intelligence service. Other countries, such as the U.K. with MI6, the U.S. with the CIA, and Australia with ASIS, have well-established intelligence agencies focusing on foreign intelligence. Even nations like Germany and France have their own intelligence services, prompting some to ask if Canada should follow suit.
Past Efforts to Establish a Foreign Intelligence Service
The idea of creating a Canadian Foreign Intelligence Agency has surfaced periodically, including in the 2006 Conservative election platform, but has never been fully realized. Even under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the concept has not been pursued, with his national security adviser in 2023 stating that it wasn’t on the policy agenda.
Challenges of Creating a New Service
Establishing a human foreign-intelligence service from scratch would be a massive undertaking, involving the creation of a legal framework, building the organization, and training personnel. Estimates from 2006 suggest it could take at least 10 years and cost up to $200 million to set up. Experts agree that such an endeavor would take significant time and resources.
Alternative Options
Some experts suggest that instead of creating a new agency, Canada could expand the reach of CSIS to gather foreign intelligence. This would require additional resources and legal changes but could provide a more feasible solution.
Political Support for the Idea
Political support for creating a new foreign intelligence service is mixed. The Bloc Québécois has expressed support for studying the concept, while the Green Party has rejected the idea, citing Canada’s existing intelligence infrastructure. The NDP has expressed support for strengthening CSIS’s capabilities, while the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party have yet to provide clear positions.