Terrorism threat in Canada ‘medium’: CSIS director

The recent terror attack on Israel and resulting war have made an increasingly dangerous world even more so for Canadians, even at home, says the head of CSIS.

“I have to tell you the events of Oct. 7, the attack by Hamas against Israel, has been a catalyst of the terrorism threat in the country,” Canadian Security Intelligence Service director David Vigneault said in an interview this week, before delivering a speech at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.

“The terrorism threat level right now is at medium, which means an act of terrorism could occur (in the next 12 months)… We are monitoring this daily and we are investigating the situation daily, of course, to make sure we understand if we need to increase the present threat level to the country,” he added.

“Both CSIS and law enforcement are, across the country, working 24-7 on this issue.”

However, Vigneault said CSIS’s mandate is clear about what it can and can’t investigate.

While its authorization prevents it from monitoring or investigating a lawful protest in Canada — whether it is a rally outside a provincial legislature or even the blocking of rail lines — there are other acts CSIS officials do look into.

“What we do is investigate the threats,” Vigneault said. “If people who are radicalizing and want to organize or engage in acts of violence or terrorist violence in Canada, this is where CSIS would intervene and would investigate… It is a very complex environment and we have to work on this every day to protect Canadians.”

During his speech, Vigneault said it was fitting he was speaking at the national human rights museum as the head of the country’s intelligence agency.

“This place reminds Canadians of what they already know deep down: basic human rights are not automatically guaranteed,” he said. “They must be actively protected.

“If we falter, we risk losing everything… Our roles might be different but we are united in our shared goal of protecting Canadians and respect for human rights.”

Vigneault said it isn’t acceptable for other countries to interfere in Canada’s democratic processes or to seek influence within democratic institutions or suppress the fundamental rights of Canadians.

“Our adversaries are attempting to use elected officials, public servants, business leaders and academics, often unknowingly, to support foreign state objectives and undermine democracy.”

Such bad actors are not only setting up overseas police stations to target and threaten Canadians, but are also threatening the self-determination of Indigenous communities, Vigneault said.

“They are spreading disinformation to undermine Canadians’ trust in our institutions,” he said. “This behaviour, these actions, are completely unacceptable.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca