Secure Line

Jessica Davis, Stephanie Carvin, Leah West (A CASIS podcast)
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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).

  1. Who Reviews the Reviewers? NSIRA Under the Microscope

    -1 ДН.

    Who Reviews the Reviewers? NSIRA Under the Microscope

    In this episode of Secure Line, Jessica Davis and Leah West are joined by Thomas Juneau and Stephanie Carvin to discuss their new article examining the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA)—one of Canada’s most important, yet least understood, national security institutions. The conversation explores a deceptively simple question: who reviews the reviewers? Drawing on extensive interview-based research, Thomas and Stephanie unpack how NSIRA has performed since its creation, where it has succeeded in improving transparency and accountability, and where tensions have emerged between reviewers and the intelligence community. The discussion examines major themes including methodology disputes, trust and culture within Canada’s intelligence review ecosystem, the challenge of balancing compliance with effectiveness, and whether NSIRA has at times drifted from “guardian” into “lemon sucker” territory. The episode also explores broader questions about democratic accountability, institutional design, and how Canada can strengthen review without undermining the effectiveness of its national security institutions. A thoughtful and candid conversation on the promises—and growing pains—of modern intelligence review in Canada. To read the open-access paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/02684527.2026.2637865

    58 мин.
  2. Rupture is the Rule

    14 АПР.

    Rupture is the Rule

    In this episode of Secure Line, Jessica Davis, Stephanie Carvin, and Leah West are joined by leading Canadian national security law expert Craig Forcese to unpack a timely and complex question: is international law breaking down—or simply evolving under pressure? The conversation begins with the concept of “rupture” in the global order, sparked by recent political rhetoric and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Drawing on history, Forcese argues that disruption is not new to international law; rather, it has always adapted alongside great power competition. The discussion explores whether today’s challenges—particularly U.S. behavior, Russian aggression, and conflict involving Iran—represent a true break from the rules-based system or a continuation of long-standing tensions. The episode dives deep into the legal frameworks governing the use of force, including self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, and examines how states justify (or fail to justify) military action. A key theme is the importance of legal discourse: even when states act unlawfully, they typically invoke international law to legitimize their behavior—raising concerns when they stop doing so. The hosts also explore the weakening role of the United Nations Security Council, the rise of “grey zone” tactics that operate below the threshold of war, and the growing complexity of attributing state responsibility—particularly in conflicts involving proxies like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. Despite these pressures, the episode offers a cautiously optimistic view. International law, while imperfect and often contested, still shapes state behavior, constrains escalation, and underpins global alliances. For middle powers like Canada, the challenge is not to abandon the system, but to reinforce it—maintaining the “grit” that slows the slide toward conflict. Ultimately, the episode asks: if international law isn’t dead, what role should it play in an increasingly unstable world?

    42 мин.
  3. Space Cyber

    7 АПР.

    Space Cyber

    This episode of Secure Line features Dr. Cassandra Steer, a leading expert in space governance and space law, for a timely conversation on the growing national security risks at the intersection of space and cyber. Drawing on a recent workshop she led on the “space-cyber nexus,” Steer explains why satellites and cyber systems are now so deeply interconnected that vulnerabilities in one can quickly become vulnerabilities in the other. The discussion explores how modern societies, militaries, and economies depend on space-based infrastructure for everything from communications and GPS to financial transactions and earth observation, making the disruption of these systems a major strategic risk.  The episode also looks at how Canada is positioned in this evolving landscape. Steer highlights both Canada’s strengths, including trusted diplomatic relationships, strong commercial and sovereign space capabilities, and its reputation as a middle power and norm entrepreneur, as well as its weaknesses, particularly the extent to which Canadian space policy has historically been shaped in deference to the United States. The conversation digs into the policy, legal, and operational challenges of bridging siloed expertise across government, industry, defense, and academia, and reflects on why greater “space literacy” is needed among policymakers and national security practitioners.  A particularly important part of the discussion focuses on the gendered dimensions of conflict in the space-cyber domain. Steer explains how outages or attacks on dual-use space systems can have disproportionate effects on women and girls, especially in conflict settings where access to communications, education, financial services, and humanitarian protection may depend heavily on satellite connectivity. As cyber and space become ever more central to national security, Canada has an opportunity not only to strengthen its own capabilities, but also to lead internationally on the legal, diplomatic, and human-security questions emerging at this nexus. Correction: In this episode, Dr. Steer said that Sapphire was a Canadian Earth Observation mission, but she meant that it was a Radarsat Constellation Mission. Sapphire is a space situational awareness capability (capable of tracking objects in space).

    40 мин.
  4. Research Security & National Security

    24 МАР.

    Research Security & National Security

    Research security is quickly becoming a core pillar of Canada’s national and economic security. In this episode of Secure Line, Steph, Leah, and Jess explore why protecting research and innovation has become such an urgent priority as geopolitical competition increasingly centers on intellectual property, emerging technologies, and scientific talent. Universities and research institutions sit at the heart of this challenge, balancing openness and global collaboration with the need to safeguard sensitive technologies, data, and partnerships. The hosts are joined by Akshay Singh (University of British Columbia’s inaugural Director of Research Security) and Jessica Adam (Director of Research Ethics and Security at Carleton University). Together, they unpack what research security actually means in practice—from intellectual property theft and covert technology transfer to foreign interference and dual-use technologies. The conversation explores how research security teams conduct due diligence using open-source information, how governments identify sensitive research areas, and why fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and aerospace are increasingly at the center of global strategic competition. The discussion also tackles difficult questions around academic freedom, international collaboration, and the growing complexity of research security frameworks across countries and institutions. Ultimately, the episode highlights why protecting publicly funded research is not just about safeguarding innovation, but about ensuring that Canadian science and technology are not used to advance authoritarian military, surveillance, or human rights abuses abroad.

    38 мин.
  5. With Regret: Nat sec b*$ch sesh

    9 МАР.

    With Regret: Nat sec b*$ch sesh

    In this episode of Secure Line, Stephanie Carvin and Jessica Davis break down several recent Canadian national security developments that, taken together, raise concerns about government messaging and policy direction. In what they jokingly call a “natsec bitch sesh,” they examine three stories from the past two weeks: controversy surrounding government comments about Indian foreign interference, Canada’s evolving response to the US-Israel–Iran conflict, and a major shuffle of senior public service roles related to national security. First, the hosts discuss backlash over a briefing in which a senior government official suggested Indian foreign interference was no longer a concern for Canada, despite ongoing warnings from security agencies and reports of threats to members of the Sikh diaspora. They argue the comments were dismissive and poorly communicated, highlighting the broader challenge of balancing diplomatic engagement with transparency about national security threats. Finally, Carvin and Davis examine Canada’s shifting public statements on the Iran crisis and a restructuring of the National Security and Intelligence Advisor role within government. While the bureaucratic changes could allow more focus on key security challenges, they worry the split might weaken coordination and the role of intelligence in policymaking. The episode closes with cautious optimism about progress toward a new Canadian financial crimes agency, alongside lingering concerns about how national security priorities are being communicated and managed.

    27 мин.
  6. Nardi on Natsec

    4 МАР.

    Nardi on Natsec

    In this episode of Secure Line, Steph, Leah, and Jess are joined by Chris Nardi, parliamentary reporter at the National Post, to unpack what it’s like to cover Canada’s national security world from the press gallery. Nardi explains how his beat grew “organically” through major transparency moments like the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC)and the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference (PIFI), plus national security trials. The conversation focuses on why Canadians’ interest in national security has increased—especially around questions of who the government watches, how, and why—and why journalists end up acting as translators in a space where direct public communication is limited. Nardi describes the challenge of explaining technical issues like lawful access to readers who haven’t been given the “basics,” critiques the frequent reliance on secrecy language like the “mosaic effect,” and argues agencies could share far more about intent and effects (even if they can’t reveal methods) to build public understanding and trust. They compare POEC and PIFI as rare moments that “cracked open the oyster” of Canadian national security, while noting frustrations when commissions operate like courtrooms and stonewall basic process questions. Nardi highlights standout inquiry moments, reflects on his reporting into dysfunction at Global Affairs and CSIS (including morale and leadership trust issues), and flags what he’s watching next: renewed debate on lawful access reform and the long-awaited National Security Strategy. The episode closes with advice for student journalists: pick up the phone, build sources, triangulate government claims with outside experts, and read deeply—because in national security, the homework is often the story.

    47 мин.
  7. Grievance-Fuelled Violence and School Shootings: Understanding Tumbler Ridge with Emily Corner

    21 ФЕВР.

    Grievance-Fuelled Violence and School Shootings: Understanding Tumbler Ridge with Emily Corner

    Synopsis: In this episode of Secure Line, Steph and Jess unpack one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history and ask a difficult but essential question: can understanding the perpetrator help prevent future violence? To help make sense of the attack in Tumbler Ridge, the hosts are joined by Dr. Emily Corner, Associate Professor at Australian National University and one of the world’s leading experts on lone-actor terrorism and grievance-fuelled violence. Drawing on years of research across terrorism, mass shootings, and fixated individuals, Dr. Corner explains why rigid labels—such as “terrorism” or “school shooting”— can hinder analysis and understanding. The conversation explores what grievance-fuelled violence actually is, how it overlaps with (and differs from) terrorism, and why personal grievances, instability, and perceived injustice so often sit at the core of acts of mass violence. The episode also tackles emerging concepts like nihilistic violent extremism, the growing involvement of minors, the limits of ideology-based explanations, and why mental health is an important, but never causal, part of the story. Grounded in evidence and focused on prevention, this episode offers essential context for understanding contemporary mass violence in Canada and beyond.

    43 мин.
  8. Organized Crime as a Tool of State Power

    18 ФЕВР.

    Organized Crime as a Tool of State Power

    In Season 3, Episode 2 of Secure Line, Steph Carvin sits down with Jess Davis for a deep dive into Jess’s new book chapter, “State Secrets: Hiring Criminals for State-Sponsored Activities,” published in Killing in the Name of the State: State-Sponsored Assassinations in International Politics (Lynne Rienner). The episode unpacks a disturbing but increasingly visible trend: states using organized crime networks as proxies for covert action—from targeted assassinations and transnational repression to foreign interference and sabotage. Jess explains why these partnerships are attractive to states (plausible deniability, operational access, and reduced diplomatic risk) and why criminals take the deal (money, safe haven, market protection, coercion, and impunity). Steph and Jess also wrestle with what’s genuinely “new” versus what’s simply evolving—especially the role of encrypted apps, social media recruitment, cryptocurrency payments, and the growing use of youth in low-level state-linked disruption. Along the way, they nerd out on the conceptual questions—proxy vs. surrogate, principal–agent problems, and why this phenomenon is hard to measure—before bringing it back to policy: the crime–intelligence nexus doesn’t fit neatly into Canada’s institutional divide between CSIS and the RCMP, creating real enforcement and intelligence gaps just as state–crime convergence becomes more central to modern security threats.

    30 мин.
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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).

Информация

  • Автор
    Jessica Davis, Stephanie Carvin, Leah West (A CASIS podcast)
  • Годы выхода
    2025 - 2026
  • Выпуски
    36
  • Ограничения
    С ненормативной лексикой
  • Авторские права
    © Jessica Davis, Stephanie Carvin, Leah West (A CASIS podcast)
  • Сайт подкаста
    Secure Line

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