Former intelligence adviser fears Trump may leverage intel sharing against Canada

By Canadian Press on February 12, 2025.

OTTAWA — A former top advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s worried the U.S. might put intelligence sharing on the table in talks about Canada’s laggardly defence spending.

Vincent Rigby says he’s afraid that at some point, intelligence will become a negotiating tool as the Donald Trump White house seeks to extract gains from Canada.

Rigby was Trudeau’s national security and intelligence adviser during the early years of the pandemic.

Trump and other U.S. lawmakers have been sharply critical of Canada for failing to meet its NATO commitment of spending two per cent of its GDP on defence.

Canada currently only spends about 1.37 per cent, but Trudeau has pledged to meet the target by 2032.

Canada benefits from national intelligence as part of the “Five Eyes” intelligence sharing group of countries, which includes Australia, Britain, New Zealand and the U.S.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 21, 2025.

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press