Canadian Foreign Intelligence Service | Policy Insights Forum

In this final installment of the podcast, BGen (Ret'd) Dr. James Cox, Chair of the Canadian Intelligence Network shares his views on implementing a Foreign Intelligence Service in Canada, and its affiliations. Geoffrey St. John, who leads the National Security Studies Program (NSSP) at the Policy Insights Forum, brings a wealth of experience from his extensive career with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Department of National Defence (DND). Before retiring, he held significant positions within the Canadian Armed Forces Intelligence Branch, including overseeing the CAF's imagery intelligence directorate, managing transnational intelligence issues, and leading the Middle East / North Africa sections at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ). The Policy Insights Forum (PIF), under the umbrella of the Samuel Group of Companies, is a non-partisan, non-profit entity committed to fostering discussions on pivotal public policy issues. Despite its influential role, the PIF maintains a neutral stance on the establishment of a Canadian foreign intelligence service, emphasizing instead the importance of stimulating dialogue on strategic concerns that impact Canada and the global community. For more information on the Policy Insights Forum, visit https://www.policysinsights.ca

Ward Elcock, the former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, provides unique insight in the latest installment of the Canadian Foreign Intelligence Service Podcast. Elcock discusses the power held by such a service, its integration with CSIS, and the amount of time it would take to craft such a service. Geoffrey St. John, who leads the National Security Studies Program (NSSP) at the Policy Insights Forum, brings a wealth of experience from his extensive career with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Department of National Defence (DND). Before retiring, he held significant positions within the Canadian Armed Forces Intelligence Branch, including overseeing the CAF's imagery intelligence directorate, managing transnational intelligence issues, and leading the Middle East / North Africa sections at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ). The Policy Insights Forum (PIF), under the umbrella of the Samuel Group of Companies, is a non-partisan, non-profit entity committed to fostering discussions on pivotal public policy issues. Despite its influential role, the PIF maintains a neutral stance on the establishment of a Canadian foreign intelligence service, emphasizing instead the importance of stimulating dialogue on strategic concerns that impact Canada and the global community. For more information on the Policy Insights Forum, visit https://www.policysinsights.ca

In the latest installment of the Canadian Foreign Intelligence Service podcast series, host Geoffrey St. John is joined by former National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, Vincent Rigby, who will argue that Canada should consider carefully the creation of a foreign intelligence service. Geoffrey St. John, who leads the National Security Studies Program (NSSP) at the Policy Insights Forum, brings a wealth of experience from his extensive career with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Department of National Defence (DND). Before retiring, he held significant positions within the Canadian Armed Forces Intelligence Branch, including overseeing the CAF's imagery intelligence directorate, managing transnational intelligence issues, and leading the Middle East / North Africa sections at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ). The Policy Insights Forum (PIF), under the umbrella of the Samuel Group of Companies, is a non-partisan, non-profit entity committed to fostering discussions on pivotal public policy issues. Despite its influential role, the PIF maintains a neutral stance on the establishment of a Canadian foreign intelligence service, emphasizing instead the importance of stimulating dialogue on strategic concerns that impact Canada and the global community. For more information on the Policy Insights Forum, visit https://www.policysinsights.ca

In the latest episode of the Canadian Foreign Intelligence Service Podcast, the host, Geoffrey St. John, welcomes Christian Leuprecht, a distinguished author, professor, and expert in national security, to explore the nuanced debates surrounding the functions and loyalties of intelligence services. They delve into both supporting and opposing views, addressing the common misconceptions about the roles of intelligence agencies. Geoffrey St. John, who leads the National Security Studies Program (NSSP) at the Policy Insights Forum, brings a wealth of experience from his extensive career with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Department of National Defence (DND). Before retiring, he held significant positions within the Canadian Armed Forces Intelligence Branch, including overseeing the CAF's imagery intelligence directorate, managing transnational intelligence issues, and leading the Middle East / North Africa sections at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ). The Policy Insights Forum (PIF), under the umbrella of the Samuel Group of Companies, is a non-partisan, non-profit entity committed to fostering discussions on pivotal public policy issues. Despite its influential role, the PIF maintains a neutral stance on the establishment of a Canadian foreign intelligence service, emphasizing instead the importance of stimulating dialogue on strategic concerns that impact Canada and the global community. For more information on the Policy Insights Forum, visit https://www.policysinsights.ca

Geoffrey St. John is joined by Professor Wesley Wark, a Canadian Intelligence Historian, in the second installment of the Canadian Foreign Intelligence Service Podcast. Professor Wark discusses reasonings for having a Foreign Intelligence Service, the debates behind it, and government proposals surrounding the topic. Geoffrey St. John is Program Director for the National Security Studies Program (NSSP) at the Policy Insights Forum. Geoffrey served for nearly forty years in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Department of National Defence (DND). Prior to his retirement from the military, he served as a senior member of the Canadian Armed Forces Intelligence Branch. He was responsible for the CAF imagery intelligence directorate, was director of transnational intelligence issues, and he was Chief of the Middle East / North Africa sections at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ). The PIF is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization of the Samuel Group of Companies, which engages Canada's best minds on public policy issues. The PIF will not take a position on whether Canada should or should not have a foreign intelligence service. This initiative aims to engage public policy discussion on strategic issues that affect Canada and the world. Policy Insights Forum: ⁠https://www.policysinsights.ca

This podcast is a primer on Espionage, presented by the Policy Insights Forum (PIF). It aims to clear up misconceptions about the art of Espionage. This podcast is the first of seven episodes to discuss creating a Canadian Foreign Intelligence Service, presenting the Pros and Cons in a balanced manner. The moderator, Geoff St. John is a retired Canadian Armed Forces Intelligence Branch officer and the PIF Director of the National Security Studies Program. The PIF is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization of the Samuel Group of Companies, which engages Canada's best minds on public policy issues. The PIF will not take a position on whether Canada should or should not have a foreign intelligence service. This initiative aims to engage public policy discussion on strategic issues that affect Canada and the world. Policy Insights Forum: https://www.policysinsights.ca