Is It Time for Canada to Start Spying on the U.S.?

Canada is the only Five Eyes country without a foreign intelligence service like the CIA or MI6, but that might be about to change.

Last week’s federal budget gave CSIS $6 billion over ten years, and the Prime Minister’s top security adviser said the government plans to change the law so CSIS can spy abroad.

Managing editor Harrison Lowman talks to Phil Gurski, a 32-year veteran of Canadian intelligence, who has spent years arguing that Canada needs its own CIA. Do we even need a foreign intelligence service? What would spying abroad actually look like? And should Canada be tapping the phones of its allies?

Plus: a former Desjardins CEO runs to replace Steven Guilbeault, Carney skips Washington and COP31 for a global summit tour that ends in China, and Elizabeth May backs a petition to legalize non-sexual public nudity.

Host: Sam Konnert

Credits: Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and post production), Jesse Brown (Editor in Chief), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Phil Gurski

Background reading:

Canada’s military and spy agency are getting spending boosts in Budget 2026 (Global News)The Plan for a Stronger Canada: National Security for Canadians (Privy Council Office)Internal memo flags the promise and pitfalls of expanding CSIS’s foreign spy role (The Canadian Press)Debate over a foreign spy service for Canada influenced by allies, money: study (The Canadian Press, via CTV)Phil Gurski: Canada needs its own CIA (The Hub)

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