Canada urged to approach new spy service with realism, study warns

A new study by former Canadian intelligence officials warns that policymakers must approach the potential creation of a foreign spy service with realistic expectations rather than fictionalized notions. The paper, authored by Alan Barnes and Geoff St. John, argues that most Canadians lack an accurate understanding of how espionage is actually conducted, often being misled by romanticized depictions in popular media.

The study is being released through the Policy Insights Forum as the Canadian federal government prepares an update to its national security strategy. Simultaneously, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians is reviewing the country’s foreign intelligence gathering capabilities. The authors urge leaders to consider the practical realities and full range of factors involved in operating an espionage agency.