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Brief Overview

Executive Summary

The report is divided into two parts. The first examines the broader purpose and operations of an espionage agency, addressing questions such as how espionage works, why people become spies, and the serious risks and ethical dilemmas involved. The second focuses on factors specific to Canada that should be carefully evaluated when considering the creation of a Canadian espionage agency. These include potential diplomatic risks and damage to relationships with foreign countries, as well as national sovereignty and intelligence independence, which could allow Canada to become less reliant on other countries. Overall, the report is structured in two parts to explain what effective espionage requires and assess whether Canada is willing and able to meet those requirements.

About the Author

Colonel (Ret’d) Geoffrey St. John served in intelligence and general staff positions at the brigade, command, and national levels. He later served as a CAF exchange officer at Global Affairs Canada and as Canadian Defence Attaché to Italy, Greece, and Albania, and subsequently to Israel. He is currently the Director of the National Security Studies Program at the Policy Insights Forum. Alan Barnes worked as an analyst and manager of analysts in the Canadian intelligence community for over 25 years. He served as a military intelligence officer and played a key role in the Intelligence Assessment Secretariat’s (IAS) efforts to improve analytical tradecraft and train new analysts. Since his retirement, Mr. Barnes has continued to work on issues related to intelligence assessment. He is a Senior Fellow at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.