Canada’s Spy Agency Head Says Chinese Regime’s Threat Coming on ‘All Fronts’
CSIS Act limits agency’s capabilities, says Vigneault
The head of Canada’s spy agency said the greatest threat to Canada’s national security comes from China and Russia, while bemoaning the outdated legislation that is limiting the agency’s capabilities.
Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) director David Vigneault also called for greater overall collaboration and awareness to deal with a higher threat level amid the pandemic, speaking at a webinar hosted by the Centre for International Governance Innovation on Feb. 9.
CSIS has previously warned about the theft of COVID-19 vaccine research and attempts by China and Russia to gain access themselves or recruit insiders and former employees to do so.
Background
formally designated the Proud Boys as a terrorist group under the
Criminal Code’s Entity List (Entity List). Canada’s designation is a step toward denouncing and combatting ideologically motivated extremist group by being the first nation to label the Proud Boys as a terrorist entity.
The Proud Boys joins several other terrorist groups on the Entity List, which includes terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda, ISIS and al-Shabab. In addition to the Proud Boys, the Government of Canada added an additional 12 other entities.
Proud Boys is a far-right, all male organization established in 2016. Since then, it has opened many chapters across Canada, the US and internationally. At protests, members of the Proud Boys often carry the red ensign, a flag containing the Union Jack in one corner that was Canada’s official banner until it adopted its maple leaf flag in 1965. The Government of Canada has
Using terrorist list to label white supremacists risks repeating errors of 9/11 era, civil rights groups say
Civil liberties advocates are urging the Canadian government to find a more transparent way of tackling white supremacy and neo-fascism after 13 groups including the Proud Boys were designated as terrorist entities last week.
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Relying on same process that targeted Muslims after 9/11 won t solve problem of extremism, say advocates
Posted: Feb 08, 2021 10:05 PM ET | Last Updated: February 9
The federal government announced on Feb. 3 that it was adding 13 groups to its list of terrorist entities, including the neo-fascist Proud Boys. A majority of the groups on the list are Islamist extremists such as al-Qaeda.(Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
China poses a serious strategic threat to Canada, both through attempts to steal secrets and a campaign to intimidate the Chinese community, the head of Canada's spy agency said on Tuesday in a rare public appearance.