Canada gives 1st-ever peek into priorities for intelligence work

Canada’s intelligence priorities centre on the pressing issues of climate change and food security alongside violent extremism, Arctic security and espionage, a newly released document shows.

The government said Thursday it was publishing its list of intelligence priorities for the first time in a bid for greater transparency with the public.

The document also attempts to walk Canadians through how the intelligence community works and gathers information, and the processes it goes through to keep the government and the public informed on emerging threats.

“While this work often includes sensitive and classified information, it is critical that we are transparent about how we do this work and why it is necessary, so that Canadians better understand the national security issues that impact them the most,” Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in a joint statement with Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Defence Minister Bill Blair.

Ottawa has been under pressure to better explain the intelligence community’s priorities and methods after growing revelations about attempts at foreign interference in Canada’s institutions, including its elections.

A public inquiry into the issue of foreign interference resumed Monday after holding a series of public hearings this year. The latest round of hearings are focused on how the country can spot and thwart attempts to undermine democracy.

The new document breaks down Canada’s intelligence priorities into four categories: counter, advance, defend and protect.

Among the priorities are the security of global health, food, water and biodiversity, as well as the issues of climate change and global sustainability.

The new list also includes foreign interference and malign influence,