Canada’s national security is increasingly under threat.

Territorial claims of the Arctic, targeted attacks on public cyberspaces and the growing hostility of our largest trading partner leave policymakers scrambling for an effective response to an unprecedented national security environment.

We address this via three interconnected policy domains, concentrating on centering resilience by design. The domains are economic, cyber and Arctic security.

For the first time, national security must be understood not as an isolated risk, but as a complex, evolving threat deeply interwoven into both international and individual security. Economic security remains at the centre of this framework which promotes broader stability and national resilience.

The question of identifying the best strategy for promoting national security should no longer be framed in abstract terms. Instead, policymakers must focus on the most effective solutions to safeguard Canadian sovereignty in a rapidly shifting global landscape.

Our national security plan must focus on resisting coercion and strengthening our key export industries in the face of today’s unpredictable economic landscape. Our economic strategy houses two complementary policies, one international and one domestic, to advance Canada’s goals for trade diversification.

Our international policy tackles the country’s main barriers to trade with the Indo-Pacific region, which is expected to make up half the world’s GDP by 2040. These barriers include market intelligence, consistent presence and engagement with trade partners. Building on Canada’s current Indo-Pacific strategy, we can reallocate existing funding to expand the trade office and facilitate more frequent international business-to-business meetings. A more consistent approach would secure smaller, focused deals that match our exports directly to the needs of our partners across the Pacific and build trust in the long term.

When did Canada become sovereign, really? Canada’s sovereignty needs more than guns and steel Canada’s digital sovereignty debate........

© IRPP - Policy Options