In the season two opener of Secure Line, Steph, Leah, and Jess unpack the national security and intelligence stories that unfolded over the summer. They kick off by discussing the Carney government’s priorities, the RCMP reform white paper, and highlight ongoing frustrations with Canada’s outdated policing model.

The hosts also spotlight the upcoming CASIS Symposium on November 7, featuring Michael Kovrig as keynote speaker, the organization’s 40th anniversary celebration, and student essay contest winners.

From there, the conversation broadens to international concerns:

U.S. chaos and politicized intelligence – The Trump administration’s purges, loyalty tests, and weaponization of intelligence are raising alarms about Canada’s heavy reliance on U.S. partners. Jess introduces her “Trump tracker,” charting how U.S. financial dominance is being undermined through sanctions abuse and the rise of an “axis of illicit finance” (Iran, Russia, North Korea).

Canadian Armed Forces controversies – From hateful conduct in Facebook groups to Nazi salutes and the arrest of four soldiers on terrorism-related charges, the CAF faces persistent extremism challenges. The hosts analyze ideology, legal thresholds for terrorism charges, and Canada’s tendency toward mischief charges over terrorism prosecutions.

RCMP statistics spin – A reported 488% increase in terrorism-related charges is deconstructed, showing that the figure stems from charge counts, not individuals, leading to misleading public messaging.

China-related developments – Canada’s move against Hikvision under the Investment Canada Act and the case of TikTok’s offices are discussed as examples of economic security tools being applied, with Steph praising the ICA as one of Canada’s most effective national security instruments.

Looking ahead, the hosts preview fall content:

Leah will lead a multipart walkthrough of Bill C-2 (Strong Borders Act).

Jess will dive into her work on espionage financing and illicit finance.

Steph and Leah will share findings from their gender and online extremism project.

Guest academics Russell Buchan and Asaf Lubin will join for a deep-dive on intelligence law in international law.

Thanks for tuning in for season 2 of Secure Line! Like, share and subscribe!