Is Canada Ready to Step Up in Cybersecurity Leadership?
Two major events in the U.S. this past April should have prompted Canada to step up its role in cybersecurity. Unfortunately, it seems we missed the moment.
On April 9, the U.S. President made two landmark decisions with far-reaching implications for the global cybersecurity industry. First, he halted funding to the nonprofit MITRE for managing the CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) program—a global reference for identifying cybersecurity flaws. Second, he revoked the security clearances of SentinelOne, a major cybersecurity vendor known for its threat detection technologies.
The latter decision is allegedly tied to one executive’s lack of cooperation with the presidential administration. These moves reflect a shifting political posture with global implications. While this climate of tension creates uncertainty, it also opens the door to new opportunities.
For Canada, this may be the moment to raise its hand. If we truly intend to move beyond being a digital colony, now is the time to show up.
A Strategic Withdrawal from U.S. Cyber Leadership
The recent decisions by the U.S. government suggest a slow disengagement from its traditional global leadership in cyber defense. By defunding key public programs like CVE and politicizing market access for vendors, the U.S. is signaling that global cyber vigilance is no longer a top strategic priority.
This creates a vacuum—and other nations, like Canada, could choose to fill it.
Why This Is an Opportunity for Canada
By scaling back support for government programs that benefited the global community, the U.S. administration is affecting its allies. These programs offered insights on cyberthreats and malicious actors. Now, companies worldwide must rely on commercial services—mostly from American vendors. If these vendors are seen as biased or politically influenced, they risk losing trust. No one wants to pay for flawed intelligence.
Consider Kaspersky, the Russian vendor. Despite offering effective tools, many firms avoid them due to potential state interference. The same goes for Huawei in China—its ties to the Chinese government have triggered concerns in Canada and beyond.
The perception is shifting: the U.S. may no longer be the de facto global hub for cyber defense. If that’s the case, where will global companies turn? Where will cybersecurity experts go to work freely, without fear of political interference?
Time to Show Up
The threat landscape from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran is more serious than ever. Our critical infrastructure may already be compromised. In this context, Europe has launched "Readiness 2030"—a rearmament plan to boost its security.
Canada, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, has expressed interest in participating. This would allow the country to produce European military tech domestically, reducing reliance on the U.S. and strengthening its industrial base.
But beyond traditional defense, technology and cybersecurity are now at the core of modern military capability. This is where Canada must rise.
As the U.S. steps back and doubts grow around the transparency of its tech firms, a unique opportunity emerges. Canada could become a new magnet for cybersecurity firms and talent seeking a stable, transparent, and innovation-friendly environment.
It’s Time to Act
Canada should:
- Offer incentives to cybersecurity companies
- Welcome independent divisions of firms like SentinelOne
- Relaunch key programs like CVE
- Recruit top global talent
To lead in high tech, we must move beyond academic theory and build an innovation ecosystem rooted in transparency, trust, and excellence.