Trudeau's ex-National Security Advisor claims Canada can't trust US intelligence 'in the way we always have’

Speaking about the expansion of Canada's need to gather intelligence, former Trudeau National Security and Intelligence Advisor Jody Thomas said, "Canadians expect us to be able to collect our own intelligence. I'm not sure Canadians are necessarily going to trust intelligence that we receive from the United States in the way we maybe always have."

"We can't be absolutely positive that we're getting the full spectrum of intelligence that we used to get. Although I do believe that the United States agency to agency continue to be excellent partners, and I do believe the Five Eyes is functioning. But again, it's part of our resilience and who we are as a nation. We need to be able to collect intelligence that is a reflection of protecting us and our interests and understanding who wants to harm us."

She said that collecting more intelligence will be key to Canada's “maturation as a nation.” The comments from Thomas come as it has been revealed that the Carney administration has plans for a massive $6 billion budget increase for Canada's domestic spy agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

There is little known about the expansion of CSIS other than the budget will be used for expanding "its presence and capabilities," and it is meant to "reduce reliance on foreign partners," the CBC reports.