New measures to ensure that Canada does not export sensitive technologies to foreign enemies are among the changes being watched by Ottawa to strengthen the country’s economic security.
Other possibilities, according to the federal consultation paper, are to facilitate fines for companies that do not comply with investment screening rules and to map the supply chain to identify critical vulnerabilities.
Published through Information Access Law, this paper was circulated last spring to key players in industry, academia, and civil society, and brought Canada from hostile players who abuse Canada’s technologically advanced sector. He expressed the view of better protection.
Public Safety Canada will soon publish a summary of their feedback.
According to the paper, Canada benefits from most of the foreign investment in the country, the trade in Canadian goods and technology, and research partnerships between foreign organizations and Canadian universities and research institutes.
However, some foreign states and non-state actors are trying to acquire technologies or establish commercial partnerships that could jeopardize Canada’s national security and long-term economic prosperity. I add.
“Canada companies are targeted in almost every sector of our economy.”
The consultation paper adds that the frequency and sophistication of state-sponsored threat activities is increasing.
Threats occur in the form of espionage, theft and cyber attacks.
However, the government is legal in other ways, including foreign investment in Canada’s security-critical sectors and industries, and the purchase and transfer of sensitive goods, technologies and know-how that are not currently subject to export restrictions. It warns that it is possible to secretly bet on traditional transactions.
Other threats include the purchase of managed goods and intellectual property through front companies, brokers, etc. that fake end-use, and foreign-funded partnerships between Canadian researchers and adversary-related entities. included.
The consulting paper does not mention any particular country of concern. However, Canadian security officials have long warned that Russia and China in particular are targeting Canada’s sensitive information and advanced technology.
Nonetheless, this exercise aims to ensure that the Canadian approach is effective in responding to threats, regardless of source.
In a federal proposal:
-Create a list of continuously updated companies, research institutes, governments, and people subject to specific license requirements to ensure that Canadian companies are not shipping goods to interested buyers. Makes you feel more at ease.
-More flexible or even more stringent penalties for violating investment screening rules aimed at protecting Canada from national security threats.
— Governments help companies better understand the vulnerabilities of global supply networks for sourcing goods.
-And provide federal venture capital to sensitive tech companies to avoid the need for foreign investment from potentially risky sources.
The government has led the development of national security guidelines to protect federal-funded research.
The recent federal budget has included approximately $ 160 million over a five-year period from 2022 to 23, and $ 33 million on an ongoing basis, primarily in collaboration with universities to fully implement the guidelines. rice field.
The consulting paper also asks how governments at different levels can work together to protect sensitive new products and technologies, critical infrastructure, and personal data.
According to Mark Agnew, Senior Vice President of Policy and Government Relations at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, cybersecurity is a very important issue affecting large and small businesses.
“That’s why it really stands out to me as an important part of the conversation about national security threats.”
Jim Bron Skill
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