REMINDER FOR TONIGHT'S VICS - THREATS TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF CANADA
Ladies and gentlemen,
The next VICS will be held tonight Thursday, 25 September 2025, at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern), on Zoom. The VICS format is outlined in the "More" menu on the website homepage.
To begin our fall program, you are invited to sit down with a hot coffee, or any other preferred drink, and join others in a discussion about the threats to the national security of Canada. Prime Minister Carney has describe the current Canadian circumstance as a "rupture" from our traditional middle power status and relationship with the United States. There are a number of other world events and developments that must be recognized for the danger they pose to our country.
We would like to hear what you think are the imminent threats to the national security of Canada, and what you see as being their practical impact on Canada and Canadians. Sure, maybe climate change is a threat, but what does that actually mean in practice? We could discuss which of the threats facing us are truly existential, which are troublesome, and which might only be a nuisance.
For your information, our later VICS will be held on Thursday, 23 October and Thursday 27 November 2025. Topics will be announced in due course. Send us your ideas for VICS topics in the meantime.
THURSDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2025
The Zoom link is
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88049653647?pwd=S0EOg4NGHSBg3Wf8UIiVbmaba6Nyv4.1
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Meeting ID: 880 4965 3647
Passcode: 538147
Best regards,
Jim
I'm sorry I won't be able to make it - but hope those who can attend have fun. To add to this prompt I inted to start speaking and writing some about the threat Canada faces by not having a true foreign intelligence service beyond CSE, and how having something akin to MI-6 could be a game changer. Why? We know Canada gets a large amount of intelligence through 60+ year exchagne with the US. In todays climate, echoing PM Carney's "rupture" comment, ask yourself what happens when:
The US stops providing intelligence
The US is more selective in the intelligence it shares, intentionally trying to deceive, manipulate or coerce Canada
The US provides intentionally false information
While the strong minds of the Canadian Intelligence Community will appreciate these things, over time the ability to obtain this information will degrade, and rapidly. What measures can be taken now to defend against this, while remaiing true to the multicultural, democracy and privacy loving people of Canada? Part of the answer is a foreign intelligence service. Hopefully this provides grist for the mill Cheers Gus