The Peace Tower at Canadian Parliament. (Shutterstock)
National security is one of those national requirements and state functions that evokes mixed reactions from many Canadians. Some worry that any national security measures are intrinsically a threat to individual freedom and political diversity; others worry that our authorities are too passive in the face of growing threats from state and criminal enemies. Historically, Canada’s experience in terms of interpreting its Charter of Rights and Freedoms, its legitimate constraints on government excess, and our invaluable alliance with the Five Eyes security network (comprised of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States) reflects some of the defining dimensions of our national security landscape. The fact that our major allies have completed months-long recalibrations of their own national security purposes and areas of focus should encourage Canadian policy makers to open the door to a fact-based reality check on national security and Canada’s future.