Feds giving CSIS millions to beef up presence in Toronto
The federal government says that it will be providing Canada's spy agency with hundreds of millions of dollars over the next eight years, including money to enhance its presence in Toronto in the face of mounting global threats.
In the budget announced by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland Tuesday, the government said that the country "continues to be targeted by hostile actors, which threaten our democratic institutions, diaspora communities, and economic prosperity."
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
To help combat such threats, as well as violent extremism and foreign interference, the federal government says it will spend $655.7 million over eight years to enhance its intelligence capabilities and its presence.
"To equip CSIS to combat emerging global threats and keep pace with technological developments, further investments in intelligence capabilities and infrastructure are needed," the government said. "These will ensure CSIS can continue to protect Canadians."
Part of the funding will enable CSIS "to enhance its intelligence capabilities, and its presence in Toronto," the budget says.
Speaking with CP24, former CSIS agent Andrew Kirsch said it makes sense for the agency to beef up its presence in the GTA, as the city often finds itself at the centre of various threats.
"In terms of the foreign interference inquiry, we saw that many of the ridings and areas that were known to be targeted were here in the GTA, not all but some," Kirsch said. "We had the notorious Toronto 18 case and Toronto's in the title."
"It's a large region. There's a lot of activity and it's important for CSIS to maintain a footprint here and as a whole. So it's maybe an acknowledgment that additional resources, capabilities are required to combat this, the growing and evolving threats that we face."
He added that staffing could be a particular challenge for the agency in Toronto where living costs are higher.
While foreign interference efforts from countries such as Russia and China have made headlines more recently, Kirsch said, other serious threats remain a concern.
"Just because foreign interference is in the news, currently it's very top of mind, doesn't mean the other threats aren't there, you know," Kirsch said. "CSIS has to keep its eye on the ball and make sure they're watching the threat of terrorism and espionage and sabotage. Obviously, it's urgent as well."
He noted that while people may not see constant headlines about those sort of threats, it doesn't mean they've "gone away."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he does not regret calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko,' and now his MPs are renewing calls for the House of Commons Speaker to resign, this time over ordering the Official Opposition leader to leave the chamber.
How can I tell if I have norovirus? Expert explains symptoms
The highly contagious norovirus is spreading across Canada, with some symptoms overlapping with other viruses. CTVNews.ca spoke with a health expert to find out how you can tell you have norovirus, the most common form of stomach flu, and what to do if you have it.
Doctors dealing with at least 160 Canadians suffering eye damage possibly linked to looking at the eclipse
Nearly a month after the total solar eclipse, at least 160 cases of eye damage have been reported across the country.
Ontario's police watchdog continues probe of high-speed pursuit involving fatal crash
The investigation continues into a collision that killed two grandparents and their infant grandchild during a high-speed police chase on the wrong way of Highway 401 east of Toronto.
Stranded cruise passengers in Spain race to catch up with their ship
A month after eight Norwegian Cruise Line passengers were stranded in Africa when their ship left without them because they were late getting back, a U.S. couple – ages 84 and 81 – were also left behind by the cruise line in Spain.
Blair says he couldn't sell cabinet on meeting 'magical threshold' of NATO target
Defence Minister Bill Blair says he couldn't convince the Liberal cabinet that Canada's government needed to meet NATO's spending target in its recent defence policy update.
BREAKING London Drugs stores remain closed for 4th straight day after 'cybersecurity incident'
Dozens of London Drugs stores in Western Canada remained closed for the fourth straight day following a "cybersecurity incident."
No criminal charges after 4 newborn bodies found in Boston freezer
A prosecutor in Massachusetts won't seek criminal charges against anyone, two years after four newborns were found in a freezer in a South Boston apartment.
Anger can harm your blood vessel function, study shows
Stress and anger can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, studies have shown. New research points to just how the mechanism may work.