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May 16, 2026 42 min

Alberta: A Target of Foreign Interference?

from Global Intelligence Weekly Wrap up Hosted by Neil

Send us Fan Mail 🇨🇦🔥 Alberta: A Target of Foreign Interference? | Global Intelligence Weekly Wrap-Up This week on Global Intelligence Weekly Wrap-Up, Neil Bisson — retired CSIS Intelligence Officer and Director of the Global Intelligence Knowledge Network — examines a series of intelligence and national security stories that reveal how modern threats are increasingly targeting democratic societies from within. From lawful access debates and political distrust here in Canada, to Russian sabotage networks across Europe, to insider espionage tied to Iran — this episode explores how espionage, foreign interference, hybrid warfare, and online influence operations are evolving in real time. 🌍 This week’s key questions: 🔐 Canada & Lawful Access 👉 Should governments have expanded access to encrypted communications to investigate terrorism, espionage, and foreign interference? 🕵️ Intelligence Oversight & Political Distrust 👉 What happens when politicians raise allegations of government surveillance without evidence? 🇨🇦 Alberta Separation & Foreign Interference 👉 Could a future Alberta referendum become a target for foreign disinformation and influence campaigns? 🇷🇺 Russia’s Hybrid Warfare Evolution 👉 Is Russia moving beyond online recruits and now using professional sabotage and criminal proxy networks across Europe? 💣 Tahawwur Rana & Citizenship Debate 👉 Should individuals connected to terrorism retain Canadian citizenship protections? 🇮🇷 Monica Witt & Insider Espionage 👉 Why are insider threats still among the most dangerous challenges facing intelligence agencies today? 🧠 In this episode, Neil examines how modern intelligence threats increasingly exploit technology, political polarization, online ecosystems, and human vulnerabilities to weaken democratic societies from within. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction 02:20 – Welcome & Episode Overview 03:30 – Canada: Lawful Access & Encryption Debate 10:30 – Parti Québécois & Intelligence Oversight 17:00 – Alberta Referendum & Foreign Interference Risks 24:30 – Poland Warns of Russian Sabotage Networks 31:30 – Tahawwur Rana & Citizenship Debate 36:00 – Monica Witt & Insider Espionage for Iran 39:00 – Final Thoughts & Victoria Day / Memorial Day Message 42:00 – Outro 🎓 University of Ottawa Course: Sabotage and Proxy Operations in Modern Intelligence https://pdinstitute.uottawa.ca/PDI/Courses/National-Security/Sabotage-and-Proxy-Operations/Course.aspx?CourseCode=S0245 🎟️ Pillar Society Speaker’s Series – Charles Burton “The Beaver and the Dragon” https://pillarsociety.com/event-6532136 📢 Support the Channel If you value independent intelligence analysis and weekly breakdowns of global threats, consider supporting the podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2336717/support 👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe Your support helps grow the Global Intelligence Knowledge Network and helps bring these important national security discussions to a wider audience. Stay curious, stay informed and stay safe. Save the World Podcast In-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the show

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Send us Fan Mail 🇨🇦🔥 Alberta: A Target of Foreign Interference? | Global Intelligence Weekly Wrap-Up This week on Global Intelligence Weekly Wrap-Up, Neil Bisson — retired CSIS Intelligence Officer and Director of the Global Intelligence Knowledge Network — examines a series of intelligence and national security stories that reveal how modern threats are increasingly targeting democratic societies from within. From lawful access debates and political distrust here in Canada, to Russian sabota...

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Alberta: A Target of Foreign Interference?

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