The Canadian SHIELD Institute for Public Policy
@canadianshieldinstitute.ca
A new policy studio dedicated to unleashing Canada's true potential.
Our name stands for: Securing Homegrown Innovation, Economic Leadership, and Defence.
Our newsletter: The National Interest
Our website: https://canadianshieldinstitute.ca
Our name stands for: Securing Homegrown Innovation, Economic Leadership, and Defence.
Our newsletter: The National Interest
Our website: https://canadianshieldinstitute.ca
In 2025 the federal government rescinded the Digital Services Tax, as a gesture to re-open trade negotiations with the USA.
Six months later we're still seeing debate about the DST, so we assessed it under our SHIELD Sovereignty Score.
Read the full analysis here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Six months later we're still seeing debate about the DST, so we assessed it under our SHIELD Sovereignty Score.
Read the full analysis here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
January 20, 2026 at 5:26 PM
In 2025 the federal government rescinded the Digital Services Tax, as a gesture to re-open trade negotiations with the USA.
Six months later we're still seeing debate about the DST, so we assessed it under our SHIELD Sovereignty Score.
Read the full analysis here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Six months later we're still seeing debate about the DST, so we assessed it under our SHIELD Sovereignty Score.
Read the full analysis here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Reposted by The Canadian SHIELD Institute for Public Policy
This week in the @canadianshieldinstitute.ca newsletter, @vassb.bsky.social writes about how we don't really have a way to put our money behind national sovereignty.
Here's an idea: Bring back Canada Savings Bonds.
Let's invest in nation building!
app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Here's an idea: Bring back Canada Savings Bonds.
Let's invest in nation building!
app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
January 16, 2026 at 6:30 PM
This week in the @canadianshieldinstitute.ca newsletter, @vassb.bsky.social writes about how we don't really have a way to put our money behind national sovereignty.
Here's an idea: Bring back Canada Savings Bonds.
Let's invest in nation building!
app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Here's an idea: Bring back Canada Savings Bonds.
Let's invest in nation building!
app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Canada once let citizens invest directly in building the country.
But we scrapped that tool and never replaced it.
As defence and infrastructure needs grow, is it time to revive savings bonds? Read this week’s newsletter here: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
But we scrapped that tool and never replaced it.
As defence and infrastructure needs grow, is it time to revive savings bonds? Read this week’s newsletter here: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
January 16, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Canada once let citizens invest directly in building the country.
But we scrapped that tool and never replaced it.
As defence and infrastructure needs grow, is it time to revive savings bonds? Read this week’s newsletter here: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
But we scrapped that tool and never replaced it.
As defence and infrastructure needs grow, is it time to revive savings bonds? Read this week’s newsletter here: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Reposted by The Canadian SHIELD Institute for Public Policy
Yet another BANGER from Vass Bednar on competition
"Everything costs more because the algorithm says so"
@vassb.bsky.social is really on one about personalized pricing. And she's right. It's predatory, and it makes it more difficult for us all to navigate the world.
It should be illegal.
thewalrus.ca/everything-c...
@vassb.bsky.social is really on one about personalized pricing. And she's right. It's predatory, and it makes it more difficult for us all to navigate the world.
It should be illegal.
thewalrus.ca/everything-c...
Everything Costs More Because the Algorithm Says So | The Walrus
Tariffs and inflation dominate headlines, but personalized pricing is the real affordability crisis
thewalrus.ca
January 15, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Yet another BANGER from Vass Bednar on competition
"Canadians won’t let the U.S. government boss them around. But U.S. mega-corporations? Sure, why not"
This is a really good discussion on Canadian sovereignty, and who really calls the shots, from @justinling.ca. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
This is a really good discussion on Canadian sovereignty, and who really calls the shots, from @justinling.ca. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Justin Ling: Canadians won’t let the U.S. government boss them around. But U.S. mega-corporations? Sure, why not
For years, Meta has blocked Canadians from accessing news content on its platforms. And for years, Canada has done nothing about this.
www.thestar.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:57 PM
"Canadians won’t let the U.S. government boss them around. But U.S. mega-corporations? Sure, why not"
This is a really good discussion on Canadian sovereignty, and who really calls the shots, from @justinling.ca. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
This is a really good discussion on Canadian sovereignty, and who really calls the shots, from @justinling.ca. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Economic sovereignty shouldn’t be abstract.
In 2026, the charts that matter most will show whether Canada’s economy is working for people - not just markets.
In this newsletter we show what trends SHIELD is watching: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
In 2026, the charts that matter most will show whether Canada’s economy is working for people - not just markets.
In this newsletter we show what trends SHIELD is watching: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
January 10, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Economic sovereignty shouldn’t be abstract.
In 2026, the charts that matter most will show whether Canada’s economy is working for people - not just markets.
In this newsletter we show what trends SHIELD is watching: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
In 2026, the charts that matter most will show whether Canada’s economy is working for people - not just markets.
In this newsletter we show what trends SHIELD is watching: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Reposted by The Canadian SHIELD Institute for Public Policy
AI “ghost artists” are ushering in slopifcation—and threatening Canadian culture in the process. If we want it to survive, writes journalist and author Vass Bednar, we need to pay more attention to what humans are producing. thewalrus.ca/can-canadian-cul...
January 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM
AI “ghost artists” are ushering in slopifcation—and threatening Canadian culture in the process. If we want it to survive, writes journalist and author Vass Bednar, we need to pay more attention to what humans are producing. thewalrus.ca/can-canadian-cul...
You can’t measure economic sovereignty with a single graph.
In 2026, we’re watching the charts that show who Canada depends on, who’s winning, and whether growth is actually delivering security for people.
Read more in this week's National Interest newsletter: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
In 2026, we’re watching the charts that show who Canada depends on, who’s winning, and whether growth is actually delivering security for people.
Read more in this week's National Interest newsletter: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
January 9, 2026 at 5:07 PM
You can’t measure economic sovereignty with a single graph.
In 2026, we’re watching the charts that show who Canada depends on, who’s winning, and whether growth is actually delivering security for people.
Read more in this week's National Interest newsletter: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
In 2026, we’re watching the charts that show who Canada depends on, who’s winning, and whether growth is actually delivering security for people.
Read more in this week's National Interest newsletter: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
We’d prefer not to constantly fight to rebuild and protect Canada’s economic sovereignty. It would be nice if “sovereignty” lived quietly in civics textbooks—steady, taken for granted. But this year made it harder to pretend.
Read more in The National Interest: tinyurl.com/yc32u8e7
Read more in The National Interest: tinyurl.com/yc32u8e7
December 19, 2025 at 5:32 PM
We’d prefer not to constantly fight to rebuild and protect Canada’s economic sovereignty. It would be nice if “sovereignty” lived quietly in civics textbooks—steady, taken for granted. But this year made it harder to pretend.
Read more in The National Interest: tinyurl.com/yc32u8e7
Read more in The National Interest: tinyurl.com/yc32u8e7
America's new security playbook treats Canada as leverage, not a partner. In this week’s newsletter: What gunboat diplomacy looks like in 2025.
Read The National Interest here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Read The National Interest here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
December 12, 2025 at 4:56 PM
America's new security playbook treats Canada as leverage, not a partner. In this week’s newsletter: What gunboat diplomacy looks like in 2025.
Read The National Interest here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Read The National Interest here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Canada is spending $40M for 5G R&D at Nokia’s Ottawa campus. Is this good for Canadian sovereignty?
Here's our SHIELD Score analysis of the decision: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Here's our SHIELD Score analysis of the decision: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
December 9, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Canada is spending $40M for 5G R&D at Nokia’s Ottawa campus. Is this good for Canadian sovereignty?
Here's our SHIELD Score analysis of the decision: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Here's our SHIELD Score analysis of the decision: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Canada created a central bank to stop foreign control of our money. Now, digital dollars and foreign platforms could undo a century of sovereignty.
Read more in this week’s National Interest: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Read more in this week’s National Interest: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
December 5, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Canada created a central bank to stop foreign control of our money. Now, digital dollars and foreign platforms could undo a century of sovereignty.
Read more in this week’s National Interest: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Read more in this week’s National Interest: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Reposted by The Canadian SHIELD Institute for Public Policy
In our first panel, moderator @vassb.bsky.social (Managing Director, @canadianshieldinstitute.ca) spoke with @profjquaid.bsky.social (Professor in the Civil Law Section, University of Ottawa) how advertising technology is reshaping competition, value chains, and sovereignty in Canada. 🧵
December 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
In our first panel, moderator @vassb.bsky.social (Managing Director, @canadianshieldinstitute.ca) spoke with @profjquaid.bsky.social (Professor in the Civil Law Section, University of Ottawa) how advertising technology is reshaping competition, value chains, and sovereignty in Canada. 🧵
"Slopification" is a cultural annoyance and contemporary sovereignty issue. AI is flooding feeds making it difficult to know what's real and impossible to know what’s Canadian.
Learn how CanCon rules intersect with AI-driven content in our newsletter, The National Interest: tinyurl.com/2582nzkc
Learn how CanCon rules intersect with AI-driven content in our newsletter, The National Interest: tinyurl.com/2582nzkc
November 28, 2025 at 7:45 PM
"Slopification" is a cultural annoyance and contemporary sovereignty issue. AI is flooding feeds making it difficult to know what's real and impossible to know what’s Canadian.
Learn how CanCon rules intersect with AI-driven content in our newsletter, The National Interest: tinyurl.com/2582nzkc
Learn how CanCon rules intersect with AI-driven content in our newsletter, The National Interest: tinyurl.com/2582nzkc
Reposted by The Canadian SHIELD Institute for Public Policy
AI and the Growing Economy of Fraud is a free event presented by @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social, @canadianshieldinstitute.ca and MASS LBP, funded by the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation.
Space is limited so we encourage you to reserve as soon as possible. Click here to register: tinyurl.com/fyaakr3n
Space is limited so we encourage you to reserve as soon as possible. Click here to register: tinyurl.com/fyaakr3n
AI and the Growing Economy of Fraud
AI is reshaping fraud. Join experts in Ottawa to chart Canada’s path against deepfakes and digital deception.
tinyurl.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
AI and the Growing Economy of Fraud is a free event presented by @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social, @canadianshieldinstitute.ca and MASS LBP, funded by the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation.
Space is limited so we encourage you to reserve as soon as possible. Click here to register: tinyurl.com/fyaakr3n
Space is limited so we encourage you to reserve as soon as possible. Click here to register: tinyurl.com/fyaakr3n
You might already be an unpaid AI trainer, platforms just forgot to tell you. Today’s newsletter breaks down what's hidden in the ToS: using a service can now mean building its AI in the background, pro bono.
Read more in The National Interest: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Read more in The National Interest: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
November 21, 2025 at 7:15 PM
You might already be an unpaid AI trainer, platforms just forgot to tell you. Today’s newsletter breaks down what's hidden in the ToS: using a service can now mean building its AI in the background, pro bono.
Read more in The National Interest: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Read more in The National Interest: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
This week, the federal government finalized their $400M loan to keep Algoma Steel running. Check out what the agreement means for Canadian sovereignty and economic transformation in our second SHIELD Sovereignty Score!
Read The Score here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Read The Score here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
November 20, 2025 at 5:26 PM
This week, the federal government finalized their $400M loan to keep Algoma Steel running. Check out what the agreement means for Canadian sovereignty and economic transformation in our second SHIELD Sovereignty Score!
Read The Score here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Read The Score here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Our first SHIELD Score is here! After evaluating the federal government’s $240 million investment in Cohere, we determined that its expected effects on Canadian sovereignty and economic prosperity rate at only 2/10.
Read the full analysis here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Read the full analysis here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
November 20, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Our first SHIELD Score is here! After evaluating the federal government’s $240 million investment in Cohere, we determined that its expected effects on Canadian sovereignty and economic prosperity rate at only 2/10.
Read the full analysis here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Read the full analysis here: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e3...
Tariffs are only part of Canada’s trade story; the real pressure comes from the digital toll roads running our economy. App-store cuts, e-commerce fees and ad-tech costs set the terms in ways we rarely acknowledge.
Read more in our newsletter, The National Interest: tinyurl.com/mrx3wtzd
Read more in our newsletter, The National Interest: tinyurl.com/mrx3wtzd
November 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Tariffs are only part of Canada’s trade story; the real pressure comes from the digital toll roads running our economy. App-store cuts, e-commerce fees and ad-tech costs set the terms in ways we rarely acknowledge.
Read more in our newsletter, The National Interest: tinyurl.com/mrx3wtzd
Read more in our newsletter, The National Interest: tinyurl.com/mrx3wtzd
As we digest #Budget2025 we're asking, did Canada forget about the internet?
Read more in our newsletter, The National Interest, here: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Read more in our newsletter, The National Interest, here: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
November 7, 2025 at 9:48 PM
As we digest #Budget2025 we're asking, did Canada forget about the internet?
Read more in our newsletter, The National Interest, here: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Read more in our newsletter, The National Interest, here: app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...
Agentic commerce — where AI agents buy and sell autonomously on your behalf — could quietly rewrite the rules of trade. Canada must keep oversight in the national interest as we regulate AI.
Read more in our Newsletter, The National Interest, here: tinyurl.com/yr8ycdxn
Read more in our Newsletter, The National Interest, here: tinyurl.com/yr8ycdxn
October 31, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Agentic commerce — where AI agents buy and sell autonomously on your behalf — could quietly rewrite the rules of trade. Canada must keep oversight in the national interest as we regulate AI.
Read more in our Newsletter, The National Interest, here: tinyurl.com/yr8ycdxn
Read more in our Newsletter, The National Interest, here: tinyurl.com/yr8ycdxn
Reposted by The Canadian SHIELD Institute for Public Policy
Tune in tomorrow as were joined by Vass Bednar and Kaylie Tiessen of the @canadianshieldinstitute.ca to talk about defending Canada's economic sovereignty. youtu.be/s00SixBoy8Y
#canadiansovereignty #economicsovereignty #canadianeconomy #progresscanada
#canadiansovereignty #economicsovereignty #canadianeconomy #progresscanada
Optimism About Defending Canada's Economic Sovereignty
YouTube video by Progress Canada
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Tune in tomorrow as were joined by Vass Bednar and Kaylie Tiessen of the @canadianshieldinstitute.ca to talk about defending Canada's economic sovereignty. youtu.be/s00SixBoy8Y
#canadiansovereignty #economicsovereignty #canadianeconomy #progresscanada
#canadiansovereignty #economicsovereignty #canadianeconomy #progresscanada
Reposted by The Canadian SHIELD Institute for Public Policy
Balsillie outlined his 3-pronged approach to building AI for all: Build, Protect, Empower ⬇️
1. Building our digital infrastructure
2. Introducing legislation on privacy and data
3. Empowering our citizens, businesses, and governments.
1. Building our digital infrastructure
2. Introducing legislation on privacy and data
3. Empowering our citizens, businesses, and governments.
October 24, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Balsillie outlined his 3-pronged approach to building AI for all: Build, Protect, Empower ⬇️
1. Building our digital infrastructure
2. Introducing legislation on privacy and data
3. Empowering our citizens, businesses, and governments.
1. Building our digital infrastructure
2. Introducing legislation on privacy and data
3. Empowering our citizens, businesses, and governments.
Managing Director, Vass Bednar, speaks on Blue Jays World Series ticket resale prices and possible regulation with CBC News.
Market regulation opportunities are my bat signal. When there is an opportunity to talk about how to make competition more fair or just make sense of how things work, I tend to appear. Here's a clip from the National earlier this week. GO JAYS!
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Blue Jays World Series ticket resale prices ignite calls for regulation
Toronto Blue Jays fans were queued up in the thousands to land tickets to the World Series games at Roger’s Centre, but many couldn’t get access and were frustrated to see resale tickets priced at tho...
www.cbc.ca
October 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Managing Director, Vass Bednar, speaks on Blue Jays World Series ticket resale prices and possible regulation with CBC News.
Sovereignty-washing is the new greenwashing: an attempt to launder global dependencies through patriotic language. SHIELD’s latest newsletter breaks down how some patriotic branding may be deceptive advertising & what real sovereignty truly is.
Read The National Interest here: tinyurl.com/24xf6fnc
Read The National Interest here: tinyurl.com/24xf6fnc
When everything’s sovereign, nothing is.
app.cyberimpact.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Sovereignty-washing is the new greenwashing: an attempt to launder global dependencies through patriotic language. SHIELD’s latest newsletter breaks down how some patriotic branding may be deceptive advertising & what real sovereignty truly is.
Read The National Interest here: tinyurl.com/24xf6fnc
Read The National Interest here: tinyurl.com/24xf6fnc