Michael Spavor, one of two Canadians detained in China for three years, is seeking a multimillion-dollar settlement, claiming that fellow detainee, Michael Kovrig, inadvertently provided intelligence on North Korea to Canadian and allied spy services through his work in Canada’s Global Security Reporting Program (GSRP). Spavor alleges that Kovrig’s actions within the GSRP led to their arrest by Chinese authorities in 2018.
In the wake of allegations made by Mr. Spavor and their implications for Canadian security, Artur Wilczynski, Wesley Wark, and Philippe Lagassé discuss the complexities of the GSRP and whether it requires more accountability and oversight.
The experts discuss Spavor’s allegations against the GSRP, the evolution of the program in the context of emerging global threats, concerns raised regarding transparency and accountability, the difference between foreign intelligence collection and diplomatic reporting, strengthening cooperation between, GSRP, CSIS, and the foreign ministry, as well as the implications for placing the program on a statutory footing.
