Foreign Affairs Committee on Feb. 12th, 2026

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Of course, with ports potentially opening up and the kind of infrastructure.... This actually leads well into my next question.

You talked about the threats to critical infrastructure. In the course of this study, we have been hearing from those in the north who are looking to have more infrastructure—for instance, data centres and potentially ports—because of the cold temperatures, the land and the proximity to water. If we expand that, to what extent would it create more targets, more threats to the infrastructure in the north?

[Paul Lynd]

I would agree that it will.... Those data centres would contribute to the threat environment. Hostile state actors would target them, as they would any kind of critical infrastructure or any data.

We do know that hostile state actors have an interest in collecting personal data and harvesting it. Some of these actors have some very advanced and sophisticated big data programs, and they are collecting as much personal data as possible and then using AI to sort through that data and use it to target individuals of interest. It would absolutely contribute to the threat environment.

From a service perspective, we mentioned that the resiliency briefings would be important to us. We would want to engage with those centres. We'd want to provide all the information that we have available on the threat and help them become resilient to it.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

That's the same, no matter where. It wouldn't matter if they're in the north or in other parts of Canada; that threat is similar in all areas.

[Paul Lynd]

Yes.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

To what extent is the increased attention and interest toward Greenland changing your analysis and the way in which you're looking at the threat environment?

[Paul Lynd]

I would say that it's a bit of a complicated environment. Obviously, everyone wants stability in the world. I would say CSIS is focused on threats to the security of Canada, that are directed at Canada or against Canadian interests.

When it comes to Greenland, the Prime Minister has been very public that we stand strongly with Denmark and Greenland and their right to determine their own sovereignty. The service remains aware of it, but again, our efforts are focused on threats directed at Canada or against Canadian interests.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

We'll next have Monsieur Brunelle-Duceppe for two and a half minutes.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Lynd, you said earlier that China was the main threat, or at least one of the main threats, to Arctic security. That was your response to my colleague.

You also told us that one of the dangers is the collection of sensitive data that China uses as a weapon, if you will. However, Canada has just signed an agreement to import 49,000 highly advanced electric cars, and these cars will be connected to servers in China.

How can such an agreement be justified when the Canadian Security Intelligence Service itself tells us, as you just did, that not only is China one of the main threats, if not the main threat, in the Arctic, but that, on top of that, one of the weapons it uses, if I may use that term—

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Chair, I think we are far from the Arctic.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Not at all.

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

I don't think there will be a lot of Chinese electric vehicles in the Arctic.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I think I'm staying on topic. I'm talking about the Arctic and the main threat, which is China.

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

We're talking about cars that are sold thousands of kilometres south.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Excuse me, Mr.—

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

I'm trying to find the connection, Mr. Chair. I'm not sure what—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

We will—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

There is a connection.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

I'll let the member have a little more latitude, but he should get to the point.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I hope I didn't lose any speaking time. I'll respond to Mr. Guilbeault's point of order to explain to him what I'm doing.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Yes.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

We're talking about major threats in the Arctic, and I've just been told it's China.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Let's not have a debate between colleagues.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Okay. My apologies.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Let's resume.

I want to assure the member that he hasn't lost any seconds.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I'll pick up where I left off.

Mr. Lynd, you just told us that the main threat in the Arctic is China. We're bringing in vehicles that are connected to servers in China and we're told that one of the weapons China uses is sensitive data collection.

How can such an agreement be justified? Doesn't that make you a little nervous at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to see these vehicles come into Canada?