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Phil Gurski

Phil Gurski worked for more than 30 years as an intelligence analyst in Canada, including 15 at CSIS. He is the author of The Threat from Within: Recognizing Al Qaeda-inspired Radicalization and Terrorism in the West. He is president and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting.

A rare insight into Canada’s most secretive spy agency

  • OTTAWA—I never thought I’d see this day. My old stomping grounds, the Communications Security Establishment, also known as Canada’s “electronic spy agency,” has just
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 20, 2020
CSE chief Shelly Bruce, pictured April 8, 2019, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa at a press conference to discuss cyber threats to Canada's democratic process. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A rare insight into Canada’s most secretive spy agency

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 20, 2020
  • OTTAWA—I never thought I’d see this day. My old stomping grounds, the Communications Security Establishment, also known as Canada’s “electronic spy agency,” has just

A rare insight into Canada’s most secretive spy agency

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 20, 2020
  • OTTAWA—I never thought I’d see this day. My old stomping grounds, the Communications Security Establishment, also known as Canada’s “electronic spy agency,” has just
CSE chief Shelly Bruce, pictured April 8, 2019, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa at a press conference to discuss cyber threats to Canada's democratic process. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A rare insight into Canada’s most secretive spy agency

  • OTTAWA—I never thought I’d see this day. My old stomping grounds, the Communications Security Establishment, also known as Canada’s “electronic spy agency,” has just
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 20, 2020
CSE chief Shelly Bruce, pictured April 8, 2019, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa at a press conference to discuss cyber threats to Canada's democratic process. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A rare insight into Canada’s most secretive spy agency

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 20, 2020
  • OTTAWA—I never thought I’d see this day. My old stomping grounds, the Communications Security Establishment, also known as Canada’s “electronic spy agency,” has just

A rare insight into Canada’s most secretive spy agency

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 20, 2020
  • OTTAWA—I never thought I’d see this day. My old stomping grounds, the Communications Security Establishment, also known as Canada’s “electronic spy agency,” has just
CSE chief Shelly Bruce, pictured April 8, 2019, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa at a press conference to discuss cyber threats to Canada's democratic process. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The first rule of spy club: you do not talk about spy club

  • Ottawa—It should come as no surprise to any Canadian that what our intelligence agencies do on a daily basis is rarely, if ever, disclosed
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 13, 2020
Shelly Bruce, a linguist and former intelligence analyst, leads Canada's codebreaking agency, the Communications Security Establishment. CSE, National Defence, and CSIS, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, are responsible for doing Canada's foreign intelligence work. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The first rule of spy club: you do not talk about spy club

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 13, 2020
  • Ottawa—It should come as no surprise to any Canadian that what our intelligence agencies do on a daily basis is rarely, if ever, disclosed

The first rule of spy club: you do not talk about spy club

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 13, 2020
  • Ottawa—It should come as no surprise to any Canadian that what our intelligence agencies do on a daily basis is rarely, if ever, disclosed
Shelly Bruce, a linguist and former intelligence analyst, leads Canada's codebreaking agency, the Communications Security Establishment. CSE, National Defence, and CSIS, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, are responsible for doing Canada's foreign intelligence work. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

More questions than answers on the Rideau Hall ‘incident’

  • In the wake of a strange Canada Day 2020—thanks COVID-19!—we did have some excitement this year, just not what we wanted or expected. On
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 6, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured during one of the daily press conferences he held in front of Rideau Cottage, where he and his family live on the grounds of Rideau Hall, this spring. Mr. Trudeau was not home on July 2 when Manitoba man Corey Hurren forced his way onto the property with several guns, and made a threat against Mr. Trudeau. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

More questions than answers on the Rideau Hall ‘incident’

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 6, 2020
  • In the wake of a strange Canada Day 2020—thanks COVID-19!—we did have some excitement this year, just not what we wanted or expected. On

More questions than answers on the Rideau Hall ‘incident’

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 6, 2020
  • In the wake of a strange Canada Day 2020—thanks COVID-19!—we did have some excitement this year, just not what we wanted or expected. On
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured during one of the daily press conferences he held in front of Rideau Cottage, where he and his family live on the grounds of Rideau Hall, this spring. Mr. Trudeau was not home on July 2 when Manitoba man Corey Hurren forced his way onto the property with several guns, and made a threat against Mr. Trudeau. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Our problem with China is much bigger than the fate of the two Michaels

  • OTTAWA—Canadian governments are not the greatest in using the information intelligence agencies give them. You have to feel for the families of the so-called
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 6, 2020
We cannot give in to China’s bullying with respect to Michael Spavor, left, and Michael Kovrig, who have been detained by Chinese authorities since December 2018. There must be a better way that uses diplomatic pressure, including that of our allies, and still follows the tenets of international law. We all know what happens when you kowtow to the local hoodlum, writes Phil Gurski. Photographs courtesy of Twitter and the International Crisis Group

Our problem with China is much bigger than the fate of the two Michaels

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 6, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Canadian governments are not the greatest in using the information intelligence agencies give them. You have to feel for the families of the so-called

Our problem with China is much bigger than the fate of the two Michaels

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | July 6, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Canadian governments are not the greatest in using the information intelligence agencies give them. You have to feel for the families of the so-called
We cannot give in to China’s bullying with respect to Michael Spavor, left, and Michael Kovrig, who have been detained by Chinese authorities since December 2018. There must be a better way that uses diplomatic pressure, including that of our allies, and still follows the tenets of international law. We all know what happens when you kowtow to the local hoodlum, writes Phil Gurski. Photographs courtesy of Twitter and the International Crisis Group

Once you think you have a handle on where terrorism is going it throws you for a loop

  • OTTAWA—We have been living in a post-9/11 world now for almost two decades. The events of that fateful day led to two military invasions
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 29, 2020
Ground Zero in New York City, after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre complex in Lower Manhattan, conducted by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaida. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Once you think you have a handle on where terrorism is going it throws you for a loop

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 29, 2020
  • OTTAWA—We have been living in a post-9/11 world now for almost two decades. The events of that fateful day led to two military invasions

Once you think you have a handle on where terrorism is going it throws you for a loop

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 29, 2020
  • OTTAWA—We have been living in a post-9/11 world now for almost two decades. The events of that fateful day led to two military invasions
Ground Zero in New York City, after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre complex in Lower Manhattan, conducted by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaida. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

‘Peace in our time,’ Afghan style?

  • OTTAWA—I would imagine that few Canadians are paying attention to what is happening in Afghanistan these days, especially with the continuing lockdowns over the
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 22, 2020
Canada, of course, was among the first to join the U.S. in sending troops to hunt down the actors behind the attacks in New York and Washington. Yes, progress has been made here and there but at what cost, writes Phil Gurski. Photograph courtesy of Department of National Defence

‘Peace in our time,’ Afghan style?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 22, 2020
  • OTTAWA—I would imagine that few Canadians are paying attention to what is happening in Afghanistan these days, especially with the continuing lockdowns over the

‘Peace in our time,’ Afghan style?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 22, 2020
  • OTTAWA—I would imagine that few Canadians are paying attention to what is happening in Afghanistan these days, especially with the continuing lockdowns over the
Canada, of course, was among the first to join the U.S. in sending troops to hunt down the actors behind the attacks in New York and Washington. Yes, progress has been made here and there but at what cost, writes Phil Gurski. Photograph courtesy of Department of National Defence

Intelligence and the next pandemic

  • OTTAWA—When you work in intelligence you take your direction on what to collect or investigate from the government of the day. This applies differently
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 11, 2020
The Canadian Security Establishment building in Ottawa. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a new requirement: information on this and other viruses that can wreak havoc on our economy and our lives, as we have all witnessed over the past few months. Solid, accurate intelligence on future outbreaks can help governments prepare in advance and perhaps lead to responses that were not as fly-by-night as those for the novel coronavirus, writes Phil Gurski. Photograph courtesy Eshko Timiou/Wikipedia Commons

Intelligence and the next pandemic

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 11, 2020
  • OTTAWA—When you work in intelligence you take your direction on what to collect or investigate from the government of the day. This applies differently

Intelligence and the next pandemic

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 11, 2020
  • OTTAWA—When you work in intelligence you take your direction on what to collect or investigate from the government of the day. This applies differently
The Canadian Security Establishment building in Ottawa. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a new requirement: information on this and other viruses that can wreak havoc on our economy and our lives, as we have all witnessed over the past few months. Solid, accurate intelligence on future outbreaks can help governments prepare in advance and perhaps lead to responses that were not as fly-by-night as those for the novel coronavirus, writes Phil Gurski. Photograph courtesy Eshko Timiou/Wikipedia Commons

A rare look at what keeps CSIS up at night

  • OTTAWA—None of us should be surprised that security intelligence services are not open books. What kind of ‘secret’ intelligence agency does not have secrets?
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 4, 2020
CSIS director David Vigneault, pictured on May 13, 2019, at the House Public Safety and National Security Committee meeting on the Hill.

A rare look at what keeps CSIS up at night

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 4, 2020
  • OTTAWA—None of us should be surprised that security intelligence services are not open books. What kind of ‘secret’ intelligence agency does not have secrets?

A rare look at what keeps CSIS up at night

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 4, 2020
  • OTTAWA—None of us should be surprised that security intelligence services are not open books. What kind of ‘secret’ intelligence agency does not have secrets?
CSIS director David Vigneault, pictured on May 13, 2019, at the House Public Safety and National Security Committee meeting on the Hill.

Privacy and our spy agencies

  • OTTAWA—Why do we have intelligence agencies? Have you ever asked yourself that? The agencies, which work in this world, do so secretly for reasons I
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 1, 2020
CSIS director David Vigneault, pictured May 13, 2019, at the House Public Safety and National Security Committee meeting on the Hill. The Hill Times file photograph by Andrew Meade

Privacy and our spy agencies

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 1, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Why do we have intelligence agencies? Have you ever asked yourself that? The agencies, which work in this world, do so secretly for reasons I

Privacy and our spy agencies

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | June 1, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Why do we have intelligence agencies? Have you ever asked yourself that? The agencies, which work in this world, do so secretly for reasons I
CSIS director David Vigneault, pictured May 13, 2019, at the House Public Safety and National Security Committee meeting on the Hill. The Hill Times file photograph by Andrew Meade

What will terrorism look like post-COVID?

  • OTTAWA—As we continue to live through the novel coronavirus, there is certainly a lot to worry about. Will I get the illness? Will someone
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | May 20, 2020
A U.S. Special Forces Soldier, pictured Sept. 5, 2016, attached to Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, waits for nightfall prior to starting a nighttime operation. Afghan special forces and Green Berets partnered for a month-long operation. Photograph courtesy of U.S. Army

What will terrorism look like post-COVID?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | May 20, 2020
  • OTTAWA—As we continue to live through the novel coronavirus, there is certainly a lot to worry about. Will I get the illness? Will someone

What will terrorism look like post-COVID?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | May 20, 2020
  • OTTAWA—As we continue to live through the novel coronavirus, there is certainly a lot to worry about. Will I get the illness? Will someone
A U.S. Special Forces Soldier, pictured Sept. 5, 2016, attached to Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, waits for nightfall prior to starting a nighttime operation. Afghan special forces and Green Berets partnered for a month-long operation. Photograph courtesy of U.S. Army

Misogyny is horrible, but it is not ‘terrorism’

  • The abuse of women in society is a crime that must be condemned: we can do so without conflating it with terrorism. In this
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | May 14, 2020
A memorial for the victims of Toronto's deadly van attack in 2018. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Misogyny is horrible, but it is not ‘terrorism’

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | May 14, 2020
  • The abuse of women in society is a crime that must be condemned: we can do so without conflating it with terrorism. In this

Misogyny is horrible, but it is not ‘terrorism’

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | May 14, 2020
  • The abuse of women in society is a crime that must be condemned: we can do so without conflating it with terrorism. In this
A memorial for the victims of Toronto's deadly van attack in 2018. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Halting disinformation in a time of pandemic: the need to tread very carefully

  • OTTAWA—A newish term we have all begun to see much more often these days is that of “disinformation” (a.k.a. “misinformation”). We all read about
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 27, 2020
According to Privy Council President Dominic LeBlanc, the federal government is considering introducing legislation to make it an offence to knowingly spread misinformation that could harm people. And it is eliciting opposing views from MPs, writes Phil Gurski. Photograph courtesy of Facebook

Halting disinformation in a time of pandemic: the need to tread very carefully

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 27, 2020
  • OTTAWA—A newish term we have all begun to see much more often these days is that of “disinformation” (a.k.a. “misinformation”). We all read about

Halting disinformation in a time of pandemic: the need to tread very carefully

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 27, 2020
  • OTTAWA—A newish term we have all begun to see much more often these days is that of “disinformation” (a.k.a. “misinformation”). We all read about
According to Privy Council President Dominic LeBlanc, the federal government is considering introducing legislation to make it an offence to knowingly spread misinformation that could harm people. And it is eliciting opposing views from MPs, writes Phil Gurski. Photograph courtesy of Facebook

Surveillance and COVID-19: what if some of the cures raise equally challenging issues?

  • OTTAWA—Governments around the world are struggling to deal with the novel coronavirus: what if some of the cures raise equally challenging issues? I confess
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 27, 2020
As an aside, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority and the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) have teamed up on the CIRA-Canadian Shield, a protected domain name system (DNS) service, that prevents Canadians from connecting to malicious websites that might infect their devices and steal their personal information. This is seen as even more necessary than normal, insofar as COVID-19 is opening the door to all kinds of malicious online actors, writes Phil Gurski. Image courtesy of Pixabay

Surveillance and COVID-19: what if some of the cures raise equally challenging issues?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 27, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Governments around the world are struggling to deal with the novel coronavirus: what if some of the cures raise equally challenging issues? I confess

Surveillance and COVID-19: what if some of the cures raise equally challenging issues?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 27, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Governments around the world are struggling to deal with the novel coronavirus: what if some of the cures raise equally challenging issues? I confess
As an aside, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority and the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) have teamed up on the CIRA-Canadian Shield, a protected domain name system (DNS) service, that prevents Canadians from connecting to malicious websites that might infect their devices and steal their personal information. This is seen as even more necessary than normal, insofar as COVID-19 is opening the door to all kinds of malicious online actors, writes Phil Gurski. Image courtesy of Pixabay

No, Canada should not be selling arms to Saudi Arabia

  • OTTAWA—Why would any country sell weapons to a regime that saws its critics into pieces and spreads terrorist ideology around the world? The arms
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 15, 2020
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured in the Oval Office on March 14, 2017. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

No, Canada should not be selling arms to Saudi Arabia

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 15, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Why would any country sell weapons to a regime that saws its critics into pieces and spreads terrorist ideology around the world? The arms

No, Canada should not be selling arms to Saudi Arabia

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 15, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Why would any country sell weapons to a regime that saws its critics into pieces and spreads terrorist ideology around the world? The arms
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured in the Oval Office on March 14, 2017. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

What now for the environmental movement in Canada?

  • OTTAWA—Until recently, the environmental protest movement was definitely on the rise. Protests in British Columbia, Ontario, and elsewhere against the construction of the Trans
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 13, 2020
Demonstrators, pictured on Feb. 24, 2020, supporting the Wetʼsuwetʼen nation against the building of the Coastal Gasoline pipeline through their traditional territory march through downtown Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What now for the environmental movement in Canada?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 13, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Until recently, the environmental protest movement was definitely on the rise. Protests in British Columbia, Ontario, and elsewhere against the construction of the Trans

What now for the environmental movement in Canada?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 13, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Until recently, the environmental protest movement was definitely on the rise. Protests in British Columbia, Ontario, and elsewhere against the construction of the Trans
Demonstrators, pictured on Feb. 24, 2020, supporting the Wetʼsuwetʼen nation against the building of the Coastal Gasoline pipeline through their traditional territory march through downtown Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Peace in Afghanistan? Not likely in our time

  • OTTAWA—I am sure that you have all heard the Pottery Barn rule, right? It says, “if you break it you buy it.” In other
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 6, 2020
U.S. marines, pictured on Dec. 25, 2001, in Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikipedia

Peace in Afghanistan? Not likely in our time

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 6, 2020
  • OTTAWA—I am sure that you have all heard the Pottery Barn rule, right? It says, “if you break it you buy it.” In other

Peace in Afghanistan? Not likely in our time

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | April 6, 2020
  • OTTAWA—I am sure that you have all heard the Pottery Barn rule, right? It says, “if you break it you buy it.” In other
U.S. marines, pictured on Dec. 25, 2001, in Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikipedia

What role for Canadian intelligence during the COVID-19 crisis?

  • OTTAWA—We see our intelligence sector as there to protect us from threats like terrorism and foreign espionage—what about pandemics? I don’t know where most
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 30, 2020
CSIS director David Vigneault, pictured at the House Public Safety and National Security Committee on May 13, 2019. CSIS is mandated to advise the government on the following threats, as outlined in the CSIS Act: espionage or sabotage; foreign-influenced activities that are clandestine or deceptive or involve a threat to any person; acts of serious violence against persons or property for the purpose of achieving a political, religious, or ideological objective; and acts that could lead to the destruction or overthrow by violence of, the constitutionally established system of Government in Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What role for Canadian intelligence during the COVID-19 crisis?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 30, 2020
  • OTTAWA—We see our intelligence sector as there to protect us from threats like terrorism and foreign espionage—what about pandemics? I don’t know where most

What role for Canadian intelligence during the COVID-19 crisis?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 30, 2020
  • OTTAWA—We see our intelligence sector as there to protect us from threats like terrorism and foreign espionage—what about pandemics? I don’t know where most
CSIS director David Vigneault, pictured at the House Public Safety and National Security Committee on May 13, 2019. CSIS is mandated to advise the government on the following threats, as outlined in the CSIS Act: espionage or sabotage; foreign-influenced activities that are clandestine or deceptive or involve a threat to any person; acts of serious violence against persons or property for the purpose of achieving a political, religious, or ideological objective; and acts that could lead to the destruction or overthrow by violence of, the constitutionally established system of Government in Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

No, COVID-19 is not an ‘intelligence failure’

  • Intelligence organizations do a lousy job of explaining what they do to the public. They also do a lousy job of sharing how they
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 26, 2020
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair is a member of the government's cabinet committee on coronavirus. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

No, COVID-19 is not an ‘intelligence failure’

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 26, 2020
  • Intelligence organizations do a lousy job of explaining what they do to the public. They also do a lousy job of sharing how they

No, COVID-19 is not an ‘intelligence failure’

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 26, 2020
  • Intelligence organizations do a lousy job of explaining what they do to the public. They also do a lousy job of sharing how they
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair is a member of the government's cabinet committee on coronavirus. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A call for humility in national security ‘expertise’

  • OTTAWA—‘Experts’ can help Canadians understand national security and public safety threats, but only if they are truly knowledgeable. One thing I have tried to
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 23, 2020
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, pictured Sept. 17, 2019, at RCMP Headquarters in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A call for humility in national security ‘expertise’

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 23, 2020
  • OTTAWA—‘Experts’ can help Canadians understand national security and public safety threats, but only if they are truly knowledgeable. One thing I have tried to

A call for humility in national security ‘expertise’

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 23, 2020
  • OTTAWA—‘Experts’ can help Canadians understand national security and public safety threats, but only if they are truly knowledgeable. One thing I have tried to
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, pictured Sept. 17, 2019, at RCMP Headquarters in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When will the government wake up about China?

  • OTTAWA—When I was a kid growing up in southwestern Ontario, there was one thing that was indisputable: if something bore the label ‘Made in
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 16, 2020
CSIS Director David Vigneault, pictured at the House Public Safety Committee on the Hill on May 13, 2019. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When will the government wake up about China?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 16, 2020
  • OTTAWA—When I was a kid growing up in southwestern Ontario, there was one thing that was indisputable: if something bore the label ‘Made in

When will the government wake up about China?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 16, 2020
  • OTTAWA—When I was a kid growing up in southwestern Ontario, there was one thing that was indisputable: if something bore the label ‘Made in
CSIS Director David Vigneault, pictured at the House Public Safety Committee on the Hill on May 13, 2019. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When other people’s disputes come to our shores

  • OTTAWA—There are very few countries like Canada. Warts and all—and there are a lot of warts, as we are currently witnessing, with respect to
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 9, 2020
How can we allow this to take place? In my view, this activity constitutes a threat to the security and safety of this country, as stated in the CSIS Act, and I have no idea whether my former CSIS colleagues are on this, but to its credit, the RCMP is looking into the matter, writes Phil Gurski. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When other people’s disputes come to our shores

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 9, 2020
  • OTTAWA—There are very few countries like Canada. Warts and all—and there are a lot of warts, as we are currently witnessing, with respect to

When other people’s disputes come to our shores

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 9, 2020
  • OTTAWA—There are very few countries like Canada. Warts and all—and there are a lot of warts, as we are currently witnessing, with respect to
How can we allow this to take place? In my view, this activity constitutes a threat to the security and safety of this country, as stated in the CSIS Act, and I have no idea whether my former CSIS colleagues are on this, but to its credit, the RCMP is looking into the matter, writes Phil Gurski. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Increasingly diverse makeup of Canadian resource protests: is violence around the corner?

  • OTTAWA—We all recognize the right to express dissent: so what do we do when groups espousing violence jump on the bandwagon? Looking briefly at
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 2, 2020
Ottawa Police officers, pictured in Ottawa on Feb. 24, 2020, watching demonstrators who took to the streets to support the Wetʼsuwetʼen hereditary chiefs who are opposed to the $6.6-billion Coastal Gasoline pipeline through their traditional territory. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Increasingly diverse makeup of Canadian resource protests: is violence around the corner?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 2, 2020
  • OTTAWA—We all recognize the right to express dissent: so what do we do when groups espousing violence jump on the bandwagon? Looking briefly at

Increasingly diverse makeup of Canadian resource protests: is violence around the corner?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | March 2, 2020
  • OTTAWA—We all recognize the right to express dissent: so what do we do when groups espousing violence jump on the bandwagon? Looking briefly at
Ottawa Police officers, pictured in Ottawa on Feb. 24, 2020, watching demonstrators who took to the streets to support the Wetʼsuwetʼen hereditary chiefs who are opposed to the $6.6-billion Coastal Gasoline pipeline through their traditional territory. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When will Canada stand up to states that engage in terrorism against their own citizens?

  • OTTAWA—Indian Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar paid an official visit to Canada the week before Christmas. As he outlined in a piece for
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | February 24, 2020
India's Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who paid an official two-day visit to Canada on Dec. 20, 2019. As he outlined in a piece for the National Post, he argued for a 'wider and deeper Indo-Canadian enterprise,' citing shared democratic values, pluralism, civil society and a market economy. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia

When will Canada stand up to states that engage in terrorism against their own citizens?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | February 24, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Indian Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar paid an official visit to Canada the week before Christmas. As he outlined in a piece for

When will Canada stand up to states that engage in terrorism against their own citizens?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | February 24, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Indian Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar paid an official visit to Canada the week before Christmas. As he outlined in a piece for
India's Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who paid an official two-day visit to Canada on Dec. 20, 2019. As he outlined in a piece for the National Post, he argued for a 'wider and deeper Indo-Canadian enterprise,' citing shared democratic values, pluralism, civil society and a market economy. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia

The gnawing question of when to release terrorists from custody

  • OTTAWA—There is no such thing as zero-risk: we need to have systems in place to measure danger as best we can If you have
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | February 17, 2020
The U.K. public is in an uproar and the Boris Johnson government is rushing through legislation to amend early release for terrorists Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikipedia

The gnawing question of when to release terrorists from custody

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | February 17, 2020
  • OTTAWA—There is no such thing as zero-risk: we need to have systems in place to measure danger as best we can If you have

The gnawing question of when to release terrorists from custody

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | February 17, 2020
  • OTTAWA—There is no such thing as zero-risk: we need to have systems in place to measure danger as best we can If you have
The U.K. public is in an uproar and the Boris Johnson government is rushing through legislation to amend early release for terrorists Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikipedia

Let’s see if a new GOC ‘terrorism prosecution unit’ gets it right

  • OTTAWA—Terrorism is a hard crime to prosecute. The things that terrorists do are not so difficult: murder or attempted murder is relatively straightforward one
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | February 10, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on Jan. 27, 2020, on the Hill, has directed the ministers of justice and public safety in their mandate letters to 'coordinate efforts to prosecute terror suspects to the fullest extent of the law' and create a new Office of Director of Terrorism Prosecutions. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Let’s see if a new GOC ‘terrorism prosecution unit’ gets it right

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | February 10, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Terrorism is a hard crime to prosecute. The things that terrorists do are not so difficult: murder or attempted murder is relatively straightforward one

Let’s see if a new GOC ‘terrorism prosecution unit’ gets it right

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | February 10, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Terrorism is a hard crime to prosecute. The things that terrorists do are not so difficult: murder or attempted murder is relatively straightforward one
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on Jan. 27, 2020, on the Hill, has directed the ministers of justice and public safety in their mandate letters to 'coordinate efforts to prosecute terror suspects to the fullest extent of the law' and create a new Office of Director of Terrorism Prosecutions. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

So now our protectors cannot access open information?

  • We live in a world where everyone seems to want to share a lot, sometimes too much, about their lives. Whether its FaceBook or
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | February 3, 2020

So now our protectors cannot access open information?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | February 3, 2020
  • We live in a world where everyone seems to want to share a lot, sometimes too much, about their lives. Whether its FaceBook or

So now our protectors cannot access open information?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | February 3, 2020
  • We live in a world where everyone seems to want to share a lot, sometimes too much, about their lives. Whether its FaceBook or

No such thing as privacy intrusions in the age of oversharing

  • Law-enforcement and security agencies use a wealth of sources in their investigations, including openly available data. We live in a world where everyone seems
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | January 20, 2020
Those who work in national security and public safety do not profile, writes columnist Phil Gurski. Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

No such thing as privacy intrusions in the age of oversharing

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | January 20, 2020
  • Law-enforcement and security agencies use a wealth of sources in their investigations, including openly available data. We live in a world where everyone seems

No such thing as privacy intrusions in the age of oversharing

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | January 20, 2020
  • Law-enforcement and security agencies use a wealth of sources in their investigations, including openly available data. We live in a world where everyone seems
Those who work in national security and public safety do not profile, writes columnist Phil Gurski. Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash
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The Joshua Boyle saga: an alternative view

  • OTTAWA—If there is one thing we’ve learned about Joshua Boyle it is that he is an odd duck. He apparently made more than 62,000 edits
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | January 22, 2018
Photograph courtesy of @BoylesVsWorld

The Joshua Boyle saga: an alternative view

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | January 22, 2018
  • OTTAWA—If there is one thing we’ve learned about Joshua Boyle it is that he is an odd duck. He apparently made more than 62,000 edits

The Joshua Boyle saga: an alternative view

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | January 22, 2018
  • OTTAWA—If there is one thing we’ve learned about Joshua Boyle it is that he is an odd duck. He apparently made more than 62,000 edits
Photograph courtesy of @BoylesVsWorld

When city hall becomes a terrorist target

  • OTTAWA—There are many reasons why citizens dislike city hall. You might have a beef over the taxes you pay. Perhaps you are not happy
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | January 15, 2018
Ottawa mayor Jim Watson (pictured in this file photo) told CBC Ottawa Morning last Thursday that he supports the move to put up security bollards around Ottawa City Hall. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When city hall becomes a terrorist target

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | January 15, 2018
  • OTTAWA—There are many reasons why citizens dislike city hall. You might have a beef over the taxes you pay. Perhaps you are not happy

When city hall becomes a terrorist target

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | January 15, 2018
  • OTTAWA—There are many reasons why citizens dislike city hall. You might have a beef over the taxes you pay. Perhaps you are not happy
Ottawa mayor Jim Watson (pictured in this file photo) told CBC Ottawa Morning last Thursday that he supports the move to put up security bollards around Ottawa City Hall. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

We need to ignore most jihadi propaganda

  • In the lead up to New Year’s a lot of people were very nervous that festivities would be interrupted by a terrorist attack. To
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | January 3, 2018
Police pictured in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014, the day Michael Zehaf-Bibeau stormed Parliament after killing a ceremonial guardsman at the War Memorial. The Hill Times photograph by Chris Plecash

We need to ignore most jihadi propaganda

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | January 3, 2018
  • In the lead up to New Year’s a lot of people were very nervous that festivities would be interrupted by a terrorist attack. To

We need to ignore most jihadi propaganda

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | January 3, 2018
  • In the lead up to New Year’s a lot of people were very nervous that festivities would be interrupted by a terrorist attack. To
Police pictured in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014, the day Michael Zehaf-Bibeau stormed Parliament after killing a ceremonial guardsman at the War Memorial. The Hill Times photograph by Chris Plecash

Australia, Belgium lead by example on returning foreign fighters—what about Canada?

  • Canadians are nice people, or so we think of ourselves that way. There is not much doubt that many see Canadians as ‘nice’ and
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | December 20, 2017
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale has said that the federal government has identified roughly 250 people with links to Canada that are suspected of travelling overseas for the purpose of participating in terrorism. The Hill Times file photograph

Australia, Belgium lead by example on returning foreign fighters—what about Canada?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | December 20, 2017
  • Canadians are nice people, or so we think of ourselves that way. There is not much doubt that many see Canadians as ‘nice’ and

Australia, Belgium lead by example on returning foreign fighters—what about Canada?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | December 20, 2017
  • Canadians are nice people, or so we think of ourselves that way. There is not much doubt that many see Canadians as ‘nice’ and
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale has said that the federal government has identified roughly 250 people with links to Canada that are suspected of travelling overseas for the purpose of participating in terrorism. The Hill Times file photograph

War with an ‘ism’ is a bad idea

  • OTTAWA—Last week, I was invited to a conference in the U.K. hosted by the Henry Jackson Society, a U.S.-U.K. think tank that looks at
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | December 18, 2017
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, pictured recently on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

War with an ‘ism’ is a bad idea

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | December 18, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Last week, I was invited to a conference in the U.K. hosted by the Henry Jackson Society, a U.S.-U.K. think tank that looks at

War with an ‘ism’ is a bad idea

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | December 18, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Last week, I was invited to a conference in the U.K. hosted by the Henry Jackson Society, a U.S.-U.K. think tank that looks at
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, pictured recently on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Death to terrorists if necessary but not necessarily death

  • OTTAWA—All is fair in love and war, or so the saying goes. Except that nothing is usually fair in either, especially when it comes
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | December 11, 2017
Canada's federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, pictured in recent Hill scrum.

Death to terrorists if necessary but not necessarily death

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | December 11, 2017
  • OTTAWA—All is fair in love and war, or so the saying goes. Except that nothing is usually fair in either, especially when it comes

Death to terrorists if necessary but not necessarily death

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | December 11, 2017
  • OTTAWA—All is fair in love and war, or so the saying goes. Except that nothing is usually fair in either, especially when it comes
Canada's federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, pictured in recent Hill scrum.

Preventing terrorism rarely tied to immigration

  • OTTAWA—Canada is a nation of immigrants. After all, each and every one of us, with the exception of our First Nations, is an immigrant
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | December 4, 2017
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, pictured in a recent Hill scrum. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Preventing terrorism rarely tied to immigration

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | December 4, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Canada is a nation of immigrants. After all, each and every one of us, with the exception of our First Nations, is an immigrant

Preventing terrorism rarely tied to immigration

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | December 4, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Canada is a nation of immigrants. After all, each and every one of us, with the exception of our First Nations, is an immigrant
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, pictured in a recent Hill scrum. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is Saudi Arabia serious about combating terrorism?

  • An awful lot has been happening in Saudi Arabia of late.  There is a new sheriff-to-be in town, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman—or MBS
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 30, 2017
Saudi-Arabia Ambassador to Canada Naif Bin Bandir pictured with then-foreign affairs minister Stéphane Dion in March 2016. Phil Gurski writes that a recent decree by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for a more 'moderate, balanced Islam' open to the world and all religions should be welcomed, 'irrespective of who can untie the two.' The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Is Saudi Arabia serious about combating terrorism?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 30, 2017
  • An awful lot has been happening in Saudi Arabia of late.  There is a new sheriff-to-be in town, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman—or MBS

Is Saudi Arabia serious about combating terrorism?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 30, 2017
  • An awful lot has been happening in Saudi Arabia of late.  There is a new sheriff-to-be in town, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman—or MBS
Saudi-Arabia Ambassador to Canada Naif Bin Bandir pictured with then-foreign affairs minister Stéphane Dion in March 2016. Phil Gurski writes that a recent decree by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for a more 'moderate, balanced Islam' open to the world and all religions should be welcomed, 'irrespective of who can untie the two.' The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

In a world beset by too much terrorism, perspective is more important than ever

  • OTTAWA—It is not hard to understand why many are obsessed with terrorism these days. Every news day brings us yet another attack, more misery,
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 27, 2017
Canada's federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, pictured recently on the Hill. We certainly cannot let our guard down, by any means, and must ensure that CSIS, the RCMP, and the other agencies tasked with national security are adequately resourced, writes Phil Gurski. But we must at the same time recognize that things are very good here and are unlikely to undergo massive changes any time soon. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

In a world beset by too much terrorism, perspective is more important than ever

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 27, 2017
  • OTTAWA—It is not hard to understand why many are obsessed with terrorism these days. Every news day brings us yet another attack, more misery,

In a world beset by too much terrorism, perspective is more important than ever

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 27, 2017
  • OTTAWA—It is not hard to understand why many are obsessed with terrorism these days. Every news day brings us yet another attack, more misery,
Canada's federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, pictured recently on the Hill. We certainly cannot let our guard down, by any means, and must ensure that CSIS, the RCMP, and the other agencies tasked with national security are adequately resourced, writes Phil Gurski. But we must at the same time recognize that things are very good here and are unlikely to undergo massive changes any time soon. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why police should be in Canadian high schools

  • There is no question that the relationship between the Toronto Police Services (TPS) and the citizenry of Hogtown have been rocky of late.  Whether
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 23, 2017
Members of the Toronto Police Service's Emergency Task Force. The Toronto District School Board has posted a staff report on its Web site calling for the elimination of a programme that puts TPS officers in schools across the Greater Toronto Area. Sherurcij/Wikimedia Commons photo

Why police should be in Canadian high schools

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 23, 2017
  • There is no question that the relationship between the Toronto Police Services (TPS) and the citizenry of Hogtown have been rocky of late.  Whether

Why police should be in Canadian high schools

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 23, 2017
  • There is no question that the relationship between the Toronto Police Services (TPS) and the citizenry of Hogtown have been rocky of late.  Whether
Members of the Toronto Police Service's Emergency Task Force. The Toronto District School Board has posted a staff report on its Web site calling for the elimination of a programme that puts TPS officers in schools across the Greater Toronto Area. Sherurcij/Wikimedia Commons photo

Can Canadians trust CSIS to help keep us safe?

  • OTTAWA—This piece was never going to be an easy one to write. The organization where I proudly worked for more than 15 years—CSIS—is now
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 20, 2017
CSIS director David Vigneault was appointed to the job in June 2017. Photograph courtesy of CSIS

Can Canadians trust CSIS to help keep us safe?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 20, 2017
  • OTTAWA—This piece was never going to be an easy one to write. The organization where I proudly worked for more than 15 years—CSIS—is now

Can Canadians trust CSIS to help keep us safe?

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 20, 2017
  • OTTAWA—This piece was never going to be an easy one to write. The organization where I proudly worked for more than 15 years—CSIS—is now
CSIS director David Vigneault was appointed to the job in June 2017. Photograph courtesy of CSIS

Here we go again: mental health and terrorism

  • What is it about terrorism that people fail to grasp? I’ll put it as simply as I can: there are individuals (and groups) out
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 16, 2017
The RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, which share responsibilities for combatting terrorism, both fall under the portfolio of Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. The Hill Times file photograph

Here we go again: mental health and terrorism

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 16, 2017
  • What is it about terrorism that people fail to grasp? I’ll put it as simply as I can: there are individuals (and groups) out

Here we go again: mental health and terrorism

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 16, 2017
  • What is it about terrorism that people fail to grasp? I’ll put it as simply as I can: there are individuals (and groups) out
The RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, which share responsibilities for combatting terrorism, both fall under the portfolio of Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. The Hill Times file photograph

The real impact of terrorism: shattered lives

  • OTTAWA—In the aftermath of a terrorist attack we all go through a typical laundry list of questions. Who is behind this act and did
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 13, 2017

The real impact of terrorism: shattered lives

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 13, 2017
  • OTTAWA—In the aftermath of a terrorist attack we all go through a typical laundry list of questions. Who is behind this act and did

The real impact of terrorism: shattered lives

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 13, 2017
  • OTTAWA—In the aftermath of a terrorist attack we all go through a typical laundry list of questions. Who is behind this act and did

Overseas military deployment and terrorism: a mixed bag

  • I suppose that in many ways none of this should be unexpected. Its obviousness does not make it right, however. There are lots of
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 7, 2017
The last Canadian troops involved in a NATO military training mission board a U.S. Chinook helicopter in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2014. DND photograph by Cplc Patrick Blanchard

Overseas military deployment and terrorism: a mixed bag

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 7, 2017
  • I suppose that in many ways none of this should be unexpected. Its obviousness does not make it right, however. There are lots of

Overseas military deployment and terrorism: a mixed bag

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 7, 2017
  • I suppose that in many ways none of this should be unexpected. Its obviousness does not make it right, however. There are lots of
The last Canadian troops involved in a NATO military training mission board a U.S. Chinook helicopter in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2014. DND photograph by Cplc Patrick Blanchard

What we know about the attack in Manhattan so far

  • The city of New York, the site of the world-changing events of 9/11, appears to have suffered its worst single attack of terrorism since
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 1, 2017
The scene of the 2017 New York City attack approximately an hour after the attack itself happened. The damaged school bus which the attacker's truck crashed into can be seen on the top left. This photo was taken from the 10th floor of Stuyvesant High School. Gh9449/Wikimedia Commons photograph

What we know about the attack in Manhattan so far

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 1, 2017
  • The city of New York, the site of the world-changing events of 9/11, appears to have suffered its worst single attack of terrorism since

What we know about the attack in Manhattan so far

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | November 1, 2017
  • The city of New York, the site of the world-changing events of 9/11, appears to have suffered its worst single attack of terrorism since
The scene of the 2017 New York City attack approximately an hour after the attack itself happened. The damaged school bus which the attacker's truck crashed into can be seen on the top left. This photo was taken from the 10th floor of Stuyvesant High School. Gh9449/Wikimedia Commons photograph

We live in a world where we jump to terrorism conclusions too fast

  • OTTAWA—There is no question that the world has terrorism on the brain. So much has changed since 9/11 that we are both more attuned
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 30, 2017
Police pictured in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014, the day Michael Zehaf-Bibeau stormed Parliament after killing a ceremonial guardsman at the War Memorial. The Hill Times photograph by Chris Plecash

We live in a world where we jump to terrorism conclusions too fast

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 30, 2017
  • OTTAWA—There is no question that the world has terrorism on the brain. So much has changed since 9/11 that we are both more attuned

We live in a world where we jump to terrorism conclusions too fast

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 30, 2017
  • OTTAWA—There is no question that the world has terrorism on the brain. So much has changed since 9/11 that we are both more attuned
Police pictured in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014, the day Michael Zehaf-Bibeau stormed Parliament after killing a ceremonial guardsman at the War Memorial. The Hill Times photograph by Chris Plecash

Why the phrase ‘war on terrorism’ is ill thought

  • It is rare that one can look back on something composed years ago and see it as relevant today as it was thought to
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 23, 2017
Soldiers belonging to the Burundian contingent of the African Union Mission in Somalia march on the Al Shabab held town of Ragaele in the Hiraan region of Somalia in 2014. African Union Mission in Somalia photograph

Why the phrase ‘war on terrorism’ is ill thought

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 23, 2017
  • It is rare that one can look back on something composed years ago and see it as relevant today as it was thought to

Why the phrase ‘war on terrorism’ is ill thought

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 23, 2017
  • It is rare that one can look back on something composed years ago and see it as relevant today as it was thought to
Soldiers belonging to the Burundian contingent of the African Union Mission in Somalia march on the Al Shabab held town of Ragaele in the Hiraan region of Somalia in 2014. African Union Mission in Somalia photograph

As with mass murderers so with terrorists

  • OTTAWA—U.S. authorities are still searching for a motive behind Stephen Paddock’s rampage in Las Vegas two weeks ago. A number of ‘theories’ have been
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 23, 2017
Location of the 2017 Las Vegas Strip shooting. Wikimedia Commons/Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz photograph

As with mass murderers so with terrorists

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 23, 2017
  • OTTAWA—U.S. authorities are still searching for a motive behind Stephen Paddock’s rampage in Las Vegas two weeks ago. A number of ‘theories’ have been

As with mass murderers so with terrorists

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 23, 2017
  • OTTAWA—U.S. authorities are still searching for a motive behind Stephen Paddock’s rampage in Las Vegas two weeks ago. A number of ‘theories’ have been
Location of the 2017 Las Vegas Strip shooting. Wikimedia Commons/Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz photograph

Why Canada’s Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence is in the wrong department

  • OTTAWA—First of all, kudos to the Trudeau government for its commitment to the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence (CCCEPE—that name
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 16, 2017
Canada's federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, pictured in a scrum on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why Canada’s Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence is in the wrong department

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 16, 2017
  • OTTAWA—First of all, kudos to the Trudeau government for its commitment to the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence (CCCEPE—that name

Why Canada’s Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence is in the wrong department

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 16, 2017
  • OTTAWA—First of all, kudos to the Trudeau government for its commitment to the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence (CCCEPE—that name
Canada's federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, pictured in a scrum on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Takeaways so far from the terrorist attack in Edmonton

  • It has been a little more than a week and a half since Canada suffered its latest, and thankfully still rare, terrorist attack. A
Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 12, 2017
Phil Gurski writes that despite a lot of criticism of the RCMP, overseen by Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, pictured in Centre Block earlier this year, for not acting further once they had learned of Edmonton terror suspect Abdulahi Abdulahi’s extreme views, 'our security forces can only do so much with what they know.' Hill Times file photograph

Takeaways so far from the terrorist attack in Edmonton

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 12, 2017
  • It has been a little more than a week and a half since Canada suffered its latest, and thankfully still rare, terrorist attack. A

Takeaways so far from the terrorist attack in Edmonton

Opinion | BY PHIL GURSKI | October 12, 2017
  • It has been a little more than a week and a half since Canada suffered its latest, and thankfully still rare, terrorist attack. A
Phil Gurski writes that despite a lot of criticism of the RCMP, overseen by Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, pictured in Centre Block earlier this year, for not acting further once they had learned of Edmonton terror suspect Abdulahi Abdulahi’s extreme views, 'our security forces can only do so much with what they know.' Hill Times file photograph

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