Security threats pose major risks to pandemic recovery, internal notes warn PM

Internal government briefing notes warn Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that economic-based national security threats — from espionage to cyberattacks — pose 'significant risks' to Canada's post-pandemic recovery, long-term prosperity and competitiveness.

The notes, obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act, say Canada's ability to rebound from COVID-19, and its future economic growth, lie in the development of updated legislative and regulatory regimes, new tools, technologies and business models.

The blunt assessment is included in material prepared for Trudeau immediately after the Liberal re-election victory last September and now released under the access law.

The Trudeau government served notice early last year that it was pressing ahead with efforts to counter economic-based threats to national security, such as theft of valuable intellectual property and damage to critical energy and information networks.

The internal notes point out that foreign investment and global trade are critical drivers of the Canadian economy and those of allies.