Canada’s single greatest national security threat – disinformation…
January 30, 2024
As a former senior level provincial and municipal civil servant, I have tremendous respect for the individuals who dedicate their careers to public service, an increasingly challenging commitment given the polarization of political debate and decision making within all three levels of government here in Canada.
It is extremely rare to have a senior government official speak frankly about current policy issues, particularly national security issues, and I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated a recent CTV Question Period interview with Jody Thomas, outgoing national security advisor to Prime Minister Trudeau.
Ms. Thomas walked through a wide range of national security threats that are currently impacting Canada, but when asked what would keep her up at night over the medium and longer term, she identified disinformation! She indicated that the size and speed of disinformation efforts are accelerating, particularly from those who want to do harm to our society. Accuracy no longer matters, and there are groups and individuals deliberately focused on misleading society to promote specific issues and causes, or to create confrontation, or even instigate violence.
Clearly one of our greatest challenges lies with the unrestricted flow of information in social media, something that I must admit to having limited experience with, other than my LinkedIn account.
I may be a traditionalist (or even a social media dinosaur), but I rely on direct access to trusted journalism sources, and I am prepared to invest in those sources. I have active subscriptions to the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, allNewBrunswick, the Municipal Information Network, the Globe and Mail, the New York Times, and The Economist. I probably spend 1-2 hours a day reading these publications, which ground me from a personal and professional perspective.
I am also a loyal listener of CBC Radio, particularly the local Saint John Information Morning show, the provincial Shift afternoon show and Maritime Weekend Mornings. I also faithfully watch CTV’s evening Atlantic news broadcast, as well as several Sunday morning political shows from the U.S. and Canada, including CTV’s Question Period. Finally, as a U.S. political junky, I regularly listen to Michael Smerconish on SiriusXM Radio (POTUS Politics) for a truly balanced and objective perspective on what is happening south of the border.
In my view good and truthful journalism still exists, and we need to directly subscribe to, watch and support local, regional, national, and international media sources that remain committed to providing balanced, thoughtful, and trustworthy journalism. I recently completed a professional business writing and storytelling course through The Economist and was incredibly impressed by the professionalism and integrity of their editorial team, including the depth of their research and fact-checking processes.
I am particularly proud to support the work of the Globe and Mail and The Economist through my monthly and annual subscriptions and I am extremely appreciative of our CBC New Brunswick and CTV Maritime news coverage and program delivery teams. Thank you for informing me and connecting me to my community each day.
As a final note, we need to collectively take a moment to acknowledge the skills and experience of our senior civil servants as illustrated by Jody Thomas. Before serving as the national security advisor to the Prime Minister, she held several senior positions in the Public Service of Canada, including Deputy Minister for the Department of National Defence, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, Chief Operating Officer for Passport Canada and as an Officer in the Naval Reserve. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University.
I recently attended retirement celebrations for two amazingly dedicated public servants right here in Saint John, Chief Kevin Clifford, who just retired as Fire Chief after 44 years of service to the Saint John Fire Department, and Linda MacDonald, who retired from a highly impactful and successful career with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
Thank you, Jody Thomas, Kevin Clifford, and Linda MacDonald for your service to the country, province and community, and best wishes on your respective retirements.
I encourage the public and elected representatives from all three levels of government to support credible information and news sources and take a moment to reflect on the dedication, skills, experience, and diversity of our civil service.