Does Canada Need a Foreign Intelligence Agency?

"Rising international instability and the increasing unreliability of the United States as an ally raise the question of whether Canada needs an independent foreign intelligence agency. Former intelligence analyst Alan Barnes reviews past debates within the Canadian government on this topic, drawing on recently released records. Former foreign service officer Daniel Livermore provides a critical assessment of arguments for such a Canadian capability."

 

 

Speakers: Alan Barnes worked for over two decades in the Canadian intelligence community and is currently a senior fellow of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. He served as a military intelligence officer, in the Political Intelligence Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and as director of the Middle East and Africa Division of the Intelligence Assessment Secretariat in the Privy Council Office. He is now a co-leader of the Canadian Foreign Intelligence History Project, which seeks to encourage the study of historical Canadian records on intelligence.

 

 

Daniel Livermore holds a Ph.D. from Queen’s University and was a foreign service officer in Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade for more than 30 years, prior to his retirement in 2007. He served as Ambassador to Guatemala and El Salvador, as s Canada’s ambassador for the international landmine campaign, and as director general for security and intelligence.