In the final episode of Season 1, Jessica Davis and Stephanie Carvin dive into what Canada’s new government should prioritize when it comes to national security and intelligence. From long-overdue RCMP reform to the growing threat of extremist violence, they lay out a transition binder’s worth of ideas—some controversial, all necessary.They debate whether violent extremism deserves top billing, why RCMP structure still fails national security needs, and how Canada’s intelligence collection and sharing strategies need to evolve—especially as U.S. cooperation becomes less certain. They make the case for a separate Canadian foreign intelligence service, stronger sanctions regimes (especially against cybercriminals), and enhanced economic intelligence capabilities.The episode also touches on Canada’s patchy record on prosecutions, the politics of listings, and why Canada’s "loud noises and sanctions button" approach isn’t enough. Expect some disagreement, a few laughs, and a lot of serious policy ideas. Plus: both Jess and Steph have Substacks now. Subscribe, rate, and tell us what to cover in Season 2—coming this fall (unless something catastrophic happens first).📩 Get in touch, share your thoughts, and let us know what you want to hear nextStephanie's Substack: https://stephaniecarvin.substack.comJessica's Substack: https://newsletter.insightthreatintel.com
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The Election Episode
This week on Secure Line, Jess and Steph tackle the election head-on — with a deep dive into how national security is (and isn’t) showing up in the party platforms. From defense to disinformation, foreign interference to financial crime, and economic resilience to hate-motivated violence, we sift through what the political parties are promising Canadians on the security front. Spoiler: the consensus across platforms might just be “do the job better.”We break it all down in four key areas: extremism and domestic threats, espionage and economic security, disinformation and online harms, and national security capacity. And while there’s surprising overlap across party lines, there are also major omissions — like the almost complete silence on cyber threats, or the vanishing act of the once-promised Canadian Financial Crimes Agency.Stephanie also shares insights from her latest Substack, where she’s been summarizing the national security content in each platform (link below). Whether you’re heading to the polls or just trying to make sense of what national security means in this election, this episode has you covered.So grab your ballot — and your headphones — and tune in to the election episode of Secure Line. Because national security might not win votes, but it sure shapes the world we live in.Stephanie's substack: https://stephaniecarvin.substack.com
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Signal and the (FI) Noise: Catching up with the news
Canada’s national security landscape is shifting—fast. In this whirlwind episode, the Secure Line trio reunites to break down the cacophony of news, rumors, and real threats shaping the political and intelligence environment. From foreign interference in Canada’s early election days to China’s digital whispers on WeChat, from annexation talk on X to a government that still hasn't figured out how to talk to diaspora communities—there’s signal, and then there’s a lot of noise.We dive into SignalGate, the explosive leak from a U.S. government group chat that compromised Israeli HUMINT and rattled Five Eyes trust, and what it means for Canada’s intelligence relationships. Then, we confront a decades-old debate with new urgency: is it finally time for Canada to launch its own foreign intelligence service?Along the way, we tackle Trudeau’s surprise RCMP white paper, how national security got sidelined in the election, and why the Mounties might be winning a bureaucratic battle they shouldn’t even be fighting.It’s a jam-packed episode on interference, intelligence, institutional inertia—and the future of Canada’s security in a very noisy world.
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Playing Defence
In this urgent and wide-ranging episode of Secure Line, Stephanie Carvin and Leah West tackle the growing uncertainty in Canada’s defense posture amid escalating rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump. With Jessica Davis away this week, they’re joined by defense and security expert Philippe Lagassé to unpack what it all means for Canadian sovereignty, NORAD, and our military's future.From Justin Trudeau’s stark warning about Trump’s threat to Canadian sovereignty to the challenges facing the Canadian Armed Forces—aging equipment, recruitment struggles, and a reliance on U.S. systems—this episode dives deep. Lagassé explains how Canada’s “plug and play” model of defense has left us vulnerable and what a real path to military independence might look like (spoiler: it’s generational).They also discuss the 2024 defense policy update, the Arctic, NATO, the F-35, and whether the political class is ready to meet this historic moment. As Canadian defense policy gets dragged from the margins to the headlines, this episode is a must-listen for anyone trying to understand what’s next.What happens when the U.S. treats Canada like the Global South? What should the Canadian Armed Forces actually be for? And are we ready for the hard choices ahead? This is one of the most important episodes of the season.
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The View from Taiwan
In this special on-the-ground episode, host Stephanie Carvin takes listeners to Taipei, where she attended a series of academic and security-focused conferences, including the first-ever Canada-Taiwan academic conference on Indo-Pacific Security and the Halifax Forum's inaugural overseas event. Amidst rising global tensions and growing concerns about authoritarianism, Steph sits down with three guests offering unique perspectives on Taiwan’s geopolitical situation and its implications for democracies around the world.Mariam Makarova, head of the East Asia Office of the Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine, draws compelling parallels between Ukraine and Taiwan, emphasizing the need for democratic resilience and mutual learning. She highlights Ukraine’s civil defense experience as a valuable lesson for Taiwan and stresses the importance of grassroots collaboration between democracies.Steven Chase, reporter for The Globe and Mail, breaks down Taiwan’s internal political turmoil, marked by a legislative standoff between the ruling DPP and opposition parties. He discusses how this “constitutional crisis” is affecting Taiwan’s ability to fund defense and foreign affairs—at a critical moment when Taiwan must brace for a potentially less supportive U.S. foreign policy under Donald Trump’s return to power.Fan Yun, a DPP legislator, offers a passionate defense of democracy and Taiwan’s need for civil defense, democratic unity, and greater international cooperation. She calls for Canada to deepen ties with Taiwan, not just in defense, but across political, cultural, and civic sectors.Steph closes with her reflections from Taipei, noting the vibrancy of its civil society and the urgency facing Taiwan’s democracy in the face of rising disinformation and dwindling foreign funding. She emphasizes that Canada, while not in the same situation as Taiwan or Ukraine, has much to learn from these frontline democracies as we all navigate an increasingly unstable global order.
Canada's intelligence landscape is as unique as the country itself. In an evolving global threat environment, fostering informed discussions on intelligence has become increasingly vital to the national security discourse. Secure Line Podcast is designed to influence and inform the national dialogue on security and intelligence in Canada, and internationally. Secure Line is brought to you by the Canadian Association for Security & Intelligence Studies (CASIS).
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