External

Vincent Rigby on the Challenges Ahead for the Canada-EU Defence Pact | Expert Group on Canada-US Relations

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 17:45:02 +0000

Vincent Rigby, alongside other senior experts, co-authored a white paper analyzing the Canada-EU Security and Defence Partnership signed in June 2025. While the agreement aims to reduce reliance on U.S. defence suppliers and expand access to the European market, the report warns that its success is far from guaranteed. Rigby and his co-authors highlight major fiscal and political barriers, including Canada’s underinvestment in defence, EU divisions over spending targets, and implementation hurdles in aligning procurement and supply chains.

Vincent Rigby on the Risks and Realities of Canada’s New EU Defence Pact | The Globe and Mail

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 17:40:00 +0000

July 9, 2025 | Vincent Rigby, along with retired vice-admiral Mark Norman, former deputy trade minister Tim Sargent, former defence minister Perrin Beatty, and professor Fen Hampson, wrote a report highlighted in The Globe and Mail that raises concerns about Canada’s new Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union. The pact, signed by Prime Minister Mark Carney, aims to reduce Canada’s reliance on U.S. military contractors and boost the Canadian defence industry by tapping into the EU’s growing defence market.

Vincent Rigby on NATO, Canada’s 2% Commitment, and Alliance Readiness | CDA Institute

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:48:51 +0000

Vincent Rigby joined the CDA Institute’s Expert Series alongside former Canadian Ambassador to NATO Kerry Buck and former NATO Assistant Secretary General Wendy Gilmour to unpack what’s at stake as leaders gather in The Hague for the 76th NATO Summit. The conversation focused on Canada’s recent pledge to meet NATO’s long-standing 2% GDP defence spending target by March 2026, as well as the summit’s broader agenda—expected to include raising the defence spending floor to 3.5%, enhancing alliance readiness, and addressing industrial capacity shortfalls.

Taylor Owen on Gander, a Canadian Social Media App | 1075koolfm

pinaki.siwach@mail.mcgill.ca — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:44:09 +0000

June 25, 2025 | Professor Taylor Owen, founding director of The Center for Media, Technology and Democracy has come together with other advisors to build an application, called Gander. It’s a social media platform that lets you post videos, write updates, and tailor your feed to what you actually want to see — minus the trolls, conspiracy theories, and the “why is this even in my feed?” content.

Chris Ragan on Carbon Tax Woes | TVO Today

pinaki.siwach@mail.mcgill.ca — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:37:33 +0000

June 23, 2025 | Professor Chris Ragan, chair of Ecofiscal Commission spoke about the pitfalls of the Carbon Tax at the TVO on The Agenda with Steve Paikin. Chris mentioned the lack of not presenting rebates, and about the resentment from the Conservatives, "when the liberals adopted a carbon pricing policy and traditionally we viewed a carbon pricing policy as actually a fairly market-friendly and even a conservative type policy," said Ragan.

Vincent Rigby on 76th NATO Summit | CDA Institute

pinaki.siwach@mail.mcgill.ca — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:41:51 +0000

June 23, 2025 | Professor Vincent Rigby, a former NSIA to the Prime Minister, along with Kerry Buck, a former Canadian Ambassador to NATO and Former Assistant Secretary General, Defence Investment, Wendy Gilmour joined the CDA Institute Expert Series to discuss the key issues, challenges, and likely outcomes of this year’s Summit for Canada and the Alliance in this podcast.

L’Europe et le défi américain | Tour de Table

pinaki.siwach@mail.mcgill.ca — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 17:53:16 +0000

June 18, 2025 | In March 2023, Jennifer Welsh launched Tour de Table, a podcast series that joins leading scholars and policymakers for a bilingual discussion of the political, economic, and security challenges confronting our world and whether and how Canada is prepared to address them.

Vincent Rigby on Trump's Tariffs Wars | Washington Examiner

pinaki.siwach@mail.mcgill.ca — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 15:12:42 +0000

June 17, 2025 | Professor Vincent Rigby, a former Global Affairs Canada and Department of National Defence government official, contended at how Canada must not step away from the U.S. completely regarding trade, economics, defense, and security, despite “diversification strategies” because of Trump. “I mean, we share a continent...we are indivisible in that respect, and so it makes sense for Canada to still work closely with the United States on defense and security issues,” said Rigby.

Vincent Rigby on Strategic Autonomy Amidst G7 Uncertainty | The Globe and Mail

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:44:40 +0000

Vincent Rigby, quotes in The Globe and Mail, sees Carney’s foreign policy as a clear break from traditional diplomacy rooted in values. He argues that Canada is embracing a more pragmatic, hard-headed approach in response to global volatility. While diversification of defence partnerships—such as working with European suppliers—is on the table, Rigby stresses that close coordination with the U.S. remains essential.

Asif Khan on Why the Canada Disability Benefit Falls Short Without Urgent Fixes | Policy Magazine

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:01:42 +0000

May 19, 2025 | MPP ’21 Asif Khan in Policy Magazine critically examines the long-awaited rollout of the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB). While the federal government has promoted the CDB as a landmark anti-poverty initiative, Khan argues it falls drastically short. Capped at just $200 per month, the benefit will only lift a fraction of working-age Canadians with disabilities out of poverty in its first decade.

Jennifer Welsh on Israel-Iran Tensions and What’s at Stake at the G7 Summit | CBC Radio

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:48:09 +0000

June 15, 2025 | Jennifer Welsh joined CBC Radio’s The Sunday Magazine with Piya Chattopadhyay to analyze how rising tensions between Israel and Iran are shaping the global security landscape—just as G7 leaders gather in Alberta. Speaking alongside former Canadian ambassador Arif Lalani, Welsh described Israel’s latest military strikes as unusually ambitious in scale and timing.

Vincent Rigby on Meeting Canada’s NATO Defence Targets | National Post

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 17:23:55 +0000

June 9, 2025 | Vincent Rigby was quoted in the National Post in response to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement that Canada will meet NATO’s 2% defence spending target this fiscal year, adding over $9 billion. Rigby, who previously served as national security and intelligence adviser, called the move a significant and welcome shift from earlier governments, emphasizing that it shows Canada is taking its defence commitments seriously. He noted that this is not just about supporting allies—it’s also about protecting Canadian interests and values.

Michael Black on Canada’s Defence Spending Challenges and NATO’s Future Targets | Policy Magazine

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:05:03 +0000

June 11, 2025 | MPP ’25 Michael Black examines in Policy Magazine Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pledge to meet NATO’s 2% defence spending target by 2026 and the upcoming NATO Summit’s proposal to raise it to 5%. He highlights challenges like strained defence industries and production bottlenecks revealed by the Ukraine war, noting Canada’s difficulty replenishing artillery shells. While buying U.S. equipment offers a quick fix, reliance on the U.S. poses political and capacity risks.

Pearl Eliadis on Taking Bill 96 and Bill 21 to the United Nations Human Rights Committee | Montreal Gazette

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 15:36:58 +0000

June 12, 2025 | Reporting on a public forum organized by the Task Force on Linguistic Policy, the Montreal Gazette highlights Pearl Eliadis’s warning that if the Supreme Court of Canada does not intervene to limit Quebec’s use of the notwithstanding clause in laws like Bill 96 and Bill 21, the anglophone community should consider taking their case to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Vincent Rigby on Canada’s Accelerated Defence Spending | CDA Institute

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 15:23:31 +0000

June 9, 2025 | In an interview for the Conference of Defence Associations (CDA) Institute’s Expert Series, Vincent Rigby reacts to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement that Canada will accelerate defence spending to reach 2% of GDP by the end of the 2025–26 fiscal year. Rigby unpacks the hurdles ahead—including the recruitment and retention crisis, slow procurement processes, and the complexity of aligning new investments with operational readiness.