Treason! Does Canada Have A Traitor Problem?

7 snips

Jan 27, 2025

Wesley Wark, a national security expert and senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, joins the conversation. They discuss the recent surge of foreign interference claims in Canadian politics and the implications for democracy. Wark explores the risks of public inquiries that lack legal protections, drawing parallels to the McCarthy era. The conversation highlights the need for accountability, the complexities surrounding accusations of treason, and the importance of investigative journalism in uncovering state-sponsored manipulation.

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INSIGHT

Treason Defined

Treason involves betraying state secrets without authorization, often within intelligence agencies.
This betrayal typically stems from motivations like financial gain or other unclear reasons.

INSIGHT

Naming Names in Inquiries

Public inquiries lack the legal authority of courts, making naming individuals unfair and potentially damaging to reputations.
Intelligence-based allegations require careful handling due to limited public access and understanding of classified information.

ANECDOTE

Public Accusations of Foreign Interference

NDP MP Peter Julian publicly suggested foreign interference influenced Pierre Polliavre's Conservative leadership.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Jordan Peterson of Russian funding under parliamentary privilege.

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This week the government’s long-awaited report on foreign interference will drop. Will it tell us if Canada has a traitor problem?

Over the last two years there’s been a slew of headlines around allegedly compromised members of parliament, the machinations of nefarious foreign governments, scorched reputations, the muck has been raked and the mud slung. All of our major political parties have come under fire. And the source of that fire has run the gamut from the upper echelons of CSIS to TikTok bottom feeders. And after all that we still know surprisingly little.

So will this week’s government report give us any answers? Are there traitors? Has there been treason?

Jesse sits down with Professor Wesley Wark to find out. Wark is a senior fellow at Centre for International Governance Innovation and a fellow with the Balsillie School of International Affairs. He served on the PM’s Advisory Council on National Security and he provided advice to the minister of public safety on national security legislation and policy.

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Checker), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Additional music by Audio Network