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Marcus Kolga

@marcuskolga.bsky.social
501 followers 122 following 141 posts
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Foreign influence thrives in the dark. Expose the actors, narratives and tactics, and it becomes much harder to manipulate Canadians. In The Globe and Mail, Jennie Phillips, Brian McQuinn, Matthew Taylor and I argue that awareness is the first line of defence against foreign influence.
theglobeandmail.com
Canada’s best defence against foreign influence is an informed public
No single intervention can stop it, but we can build our resilience to misinformation and disinformation
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Doug Johnson 🇨🇦 @smikooman.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
By choosing to lend his fame to Putin's corrupt and repressive political machine, Ovechkin has made himself a prominent symbol of a regime responsible for unspeakable crimes against the Ukrainian people: nightly destruction, murder, torture, rape and the forced abduction of more than 20,000 children
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Sports figures who lend their celebrity to a regime waging a brutal war against Ukraine and abducting thousands of Ukrainian children need to be held to account - including Ovechkin. Honoured to have co-authored this with a true hockey hero - Dominik Hasek. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/a2e82d8...
theglobeandmail.com
Alexander Ovechkin used his fame to back Putin. We must remember that
The NHL star’s appearance in an ad for Putin’s party reinforces the Russian leader’s attempt to tie patriotism to loyalty to himself
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disinfowatch.bsky.social @disinfowatch.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
A former Fox host Trish Regan is pushing Alberta referendum misinformation to her 1.34 million YouTube subscribers. She falsely calls the Oct. 19 vote a “secession vote” and pitches Alberta as America’s “51st state.” disinfowatch.org/disinfo/form...
disinfowatch.org
Former Fox News Host & Influencer Amplifies Alberta Referendum Misinformation - DisinfoWatch
A U.S. political commentator, and former Fox News host, Trish Regan,  is promoting the idea that Alberta could leave Canada and join the United States while misrepresenting key facts about...
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Ottawa cannot tolerate Kremlin officials who abuse diplomatic cover to engage in petty anti-Ukrainian vandalism, harassment and intimidation. Former Senator Stanley Kutcher and I argue that at the very least, officials who do should be expelled. ca.news.yahoo.com/opinion-cana...
ca.news.yahoo.com
Opinion: Canada must confront the Kremlin’s agents at home
Helping Ukraine abroad isn't enough. Russian diplomats in Canada should be heavily scrutinized
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The new U.S. DOJ indictment alleging Russian intelligence plots to carry out assassinations abroad should be a wake-up call for Canada . I spoke with CBC about the wider threat of transnational repression and why Canada needs to take it far more seriously. www.youtube.com/watch?v=teck...
youtube.com
How Putin goes after his enemies outside of Russia
YouTube video by CBC News: The National
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A new US DOJ indictment offers a disturbing look at how Russian intelligence targets critics abroad through assassination plots. I co-authored this Atlantic Council report on how democracies can counter + prevent transnational repression: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Authoritarian reach and democratic response: A tactical framework to counter and prevent transnational repression
When foreign governments conduct surveillance, intimidation, or enforcement actions, they undermine state sovereignty and threaten to erode public trust in institutions, representing a significant nat...
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Deeply disturbed by the threats directed at Canada's Tribute to Liberty and its chairman, Ludwik Klimkowski. Words have consequences. Persistent and irresponsible Kremlin aligned “Nazi” smears fuel real-world intimidation and hate. tributetoliberty.ca/content/thre...
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Anne Applebaum on MAGA ambitions towards Canada: “pressure the economy, break up the federation, pick up the pieces. And no, it is not a joke.”
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
On CBC News to discuss the Canada–Ukraine agreement. Canada will benefit from Ukraine’s drone expertise, but Ukraine needs air-defence weapons now. Ottawa should press allies like South Korea to sell them immediately + expel Kremlin agents operating under diplomatic cover. www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
cbc.ca
CBC speaks with Marcus Kolga about PM Carney and Zelensky signing a 100-year deal
Get the latest on CBCNews.ca, the CBC News App, and CBC News Network for breaking news and analysis.
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
While Russian drones terrorize Ukrainian civilians and kill scores night after night, Donald Trump is more concerned with protecting Vladimir Putin’s energy revenues. One wonders what Trump’s real-estate agent discussed with Putin in Moscow. Vile. www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-po...
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disinfowatch.bsky.social @disinfowatch.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Russian narratives targeting Zelensky’s visit to Canada. A network of fake Alberta websites created to shape the Alberta separatism debate with new analysis from VIGIL Strategic Intelligence on the network behind them. All in our latest DisinfoDigest: disinfowatch.org/disinfodiges...
disinfowatch.org
DisinfoDigest: Foreign Narratives Targeting Canada & Ukraine - DisinfoWatch
This edition of DisinfoDigest highlights how foreign and foreign-linked actors continue to exploit political divisions, democratic debates and international crises using a mix of state media, influenc...
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Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 04/09/2026
Update: OpenAI says following its own investigation, prompted by this story, it has banned the account of one of the creators of this network of websites.
nationalobserver.com
A US-linked network of fake websites is promoting Alberta separatism to AI chatbots
The websites present crude, AI-generated slop disguised as the voice of real Albertans. But they're made in Florida — and they're not even targeting Albertans directly.
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disinfowatch.bsky.social @disinfowatch.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
U.S. influencer Benny Johnson openly urging Albertans to separate and join US - "why wouldn't we take it by force" - to his 4.1million followers on Twitter. His video drew 250k+ views on YouTube alone. disinfowatch.org/disinfo/u-s-...
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disinfowatch.bsky.social @disinfowatch.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
RT amplifies JD Vance’s false claim that Canada is a leading global “trade violator”, exploiting deteriorating Canada–U.S. relations to deepen mistrust and division between Canadians and Americans. Our latest DisinfoWatch analysis: disinfowatch.org/disinfo/rt-a...
disinfowatch.org
RT Amplifies Vance Claim That Canada Is a Leading Global Trade Violator - DisinfoWatch
Russian state-controlled media outlet RT has repurposed and amplified remarks by U.S. Vice-President JD Vance falsely portraying Canada as one of the world’s leading “tariff” and “trade violators,” wh...
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Let’s not forget that Canada’s neighbours put this person in a position to do this, enabling him to relentlessly threaten and abuse us while inflicting what may be irreversible damage on the U.S.-Canada relationship. Canadians will not forget.
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
The Kremlin’s denial of the 23.8.1939 Hitler-Stalin Pact is the cardinal lie on which most others are based - including those used to justify its war against Ukraine. Black Ribbon Day ensures we never forget the truth and victims of Soviet + Nazi terror. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/a2e82d8...
theglobeandmail.com
This is the history that Vladimir Putin wants us to forget
The Russian President wants the world to believe a victim narrative about the Soviet Union. That story ignores some inconvenient facts
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Ukraine’s successful drone strikes deep inside Russia are putting intense pressure on the economy and the Kremlin. But Ukraine remains vulnerable to relentless Russian drone and missile attacks on civilians. I discussed the latest developments on CBC’s The National: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uikb...
youtube.com
Massive Ukrainian drone strike batters targets deep inside Russia
YouTube video by CBC News: The National
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Honoured to have co-authored this opinion about Canada's new Foreign Influence Transparency Registry with colleagues Sarah Teich and Gloria Fung for today's Globe. Will it work? That depends on its implementation and enforcement.... www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: The new foreign interference law is a good start. Will it work?
The implementation of the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act will reveal whether it’s a dead letter
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Russian diplomat/FSB agent Ivan Danilenkov indulging in some not-so-sneaky anti-Ukrainian vandalism. The PM and Ms Anand should send this orc home to Putin.
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
China is a predator, not a partner. It is helping sustain Russia’s war against Ukraine while working with Russia on anti-satellite weapons + systems designed to penetrate NATO/NORAD defenses. Charles Burton and I argue that Canada cannot ignore the Russia-China alliance.
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
More reckless, clownish foreign policy from Trump. Backtracking on Ukraine’s ability to produce Patriots will only embolden Putin and leave countless Ukrainian civilians at even greater risk from Russia’s relentless attacks. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Trump backtracks from promise to let Ukraine build Patriot missiles
US president tells reporters during Camp David cabinet meeting technology ‘a hard thing to give away’
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Things you can’t make up: Dugin retweets Simonyan promoting a Tucker Carlson interview with an American turncoat and a senior Russian RT propagandist, in which he gushes about Putin’s Russia.
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Putin’s repression extends well beyond Russia’s borders and into Western democratic countries, including Canada. Grateful to Alex Shprintsen, Terry McKenna and the CBC team for giving survivors the opportunity to share their experiences -and my own- with Canadians. youtu.be/teckdoLF0Kc?...
youtu.be
How Putin goes after his enemies outside of Russia
YouTube video by CBC News: The National
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Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) @jhrnews.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Must-read: For DFRLab, JHR-Europe's Marcus Kolga (@marcuskolga.bsky.social) tells the stories of 2 Belarusian-Canadian activists working in support of a free #Belarus, targeted by the Lukashenka regime, even on Cdn soil, through family & property they have back in Belarus: dfrlab.org/2026/07/13/d...
dfrlab.org
Distance won’t protect you: Belarusian transnational repression in Canada
Property seizures, family interrogations, and digital surveillance show how Belarus punishes its diaspora on Canadian soil.
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
The Lukashenka regime is seizing property of Belarusian Canadians, harassing relatives + monitoring activities in efforts to intimidate them into silence. My new Atlantic Council DFRLab report on Belarusian transnational repression in Canada is featured in today’s Globe. dfrlab.org/2026/07/13/d...
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Russians are increasingly realizing that Putin has dragged their country into hopeless economic + social peril through an unwinnable, strategically pointless, criminal war. That realization is becoming a threat to the regime itself. Let’s help Ukraine finish the job nationalpost.com/opinion/marc...
nationalpost.com
Marcus Kolga: Putin’s Russia is at a dead end — Canada must help Ukraine finish the job
Putin’s war has failed to erase Ukraine or break the west. Instead, it's exposed the weakness, corruption and fear of his regime
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disinfowatch.bsky.social @disinfowatch.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Canada’s Foreign Influence Transparency Registry takes effect on August 4. So what do these operations look like in practice — and who may need to register? We created this DisinfoWatch video primer to explain:
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 03/07/2026
Trump's fair has been opened for 20 minutes today and there is still not a single soul there!
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Canada’s Foreign Influence Transparency Registry comes into force August 4. By Oct 2, Canadians acting on behalf of foreign states or collaborating with RT, Kremlin-linked think tanks + groups like the Canada Eurasia Russia Business Assc must be registered. www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
theglobeandmail.com
Canada’s foreign influence registry to come into force in early August
People working on behalf of foreign governments or entities to influence domestic politics will have to report their activities or face fines of up to $1-million
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Disgraceful. Spotted just north of Barrie Ontario on Canada Day. There’s nothing patriotic about defacing our national symbols.
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
“…if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too” - President Zelensky, June 18, 2026.
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
X, Meta, Google +TikTok shape what millions of Canadians see every day. We cannot not rely on their goodwill. My new Balsillie paper argues for a Canadian DSA, aligned w/ Europe, to demands transparency, accountability + action against information manipulation. balsilliepapers.ca/bsia-paper/d...
balsilliepapers.ca
Defending Canada’s Information Sovereignty: Aligning with the EU’s Digital Services Act - Balsillie Papers
Marcus KolgaJust as Canada works with its allies to defend its physical borders and national sovereignty, it must also cooperate with them to protect the integrity and sovereignty of its information s...
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disinfowatch.bsky.social @disinfowatch.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
The Kremlin is now threatening Canada over support for Ukraine’s defence industry and partnership with Ukrainian drone manufacturers. The tactic is familiar: invert blame, call Ukraine’s self-defence “terrorism,” and intimidate Canadian firms and workers. disinfowatch.org/disinfo/russ...
disinfowatch.org
Russian Spokeswoman Threatens Canada Over Drone Manufacuring - DisinfoWatch
Russian state media outlet TASS published a June 10 statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova targeting Canada over a recently announced Canada-Ukraine drone production arrang...
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EUvsDisinfo @euvsdisinfo.eu · 13/06/2026
If sanctions ‘do not work’, as FIMI outlets frequently claim, Moscow has built an impressive infrastructure to avoid them.
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
On June 14, we remember the tens of thousands of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians forced from their homes at gun point, forced into cattle cars + sent to Gulag camps in 1941. We must never forget + must demand justice for these Soviet Russian crimes. macdonaldlaurier.ca/perpetrators...
macdonaldlaurier.ca
We must hold the perpetrators of Soviet crimes to account: Marcus Kolga in the Toronto Sun | Macdonald-Laurier Institute
Canada needs to identify the few remaining Nazi German and Communist Soviet collaborators who have escaped justice for the past 80 years.
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Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights @rwchr.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
RWCHR's Brandon Silver and Sr Fellows Vladimir Kara-Murza and Marcus Kolga have all appeared before Parliament in support, building on the Magnitsky legacy championed by Irwin Cotler. Read more: www.raoulwallenbergcentre.org/en/news/2026... @marcuskolga.bsky.social, @vkaramurza.bsky.social
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Even Russia’s playgrounds are now being weaponized by Putin’s regime. Children are being surrounded by vulgar militarist propaganda that glorifies war, normalizes violence, and conditions them to accept aggression as patriotism. www.rferl.org/a/russia-pla...
rferl.org
Militarized Playgrounds Emerge In Russia As War Pushed Into Children's Spaces
Playgrounds recently installed across Russia are being constructed with an overtly militarized theme amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Canadian businessman whose company sells armoured trucks to repressive authoritarian regimes, including Russia, has been sanctioned by EU but both he and his UAE based company escaped Canada’s sanctions list. Why? www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
theglobeandmail.com
Canadian businessman accused of aiding Russia sanctioned by EU, but not Ottawa
The government hasn’t said why it hasn’t imposed sanctions on Guerman Goutorov or his company, Streit Group
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disinfowatch.bsky.social @disinfowatch.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Russia’s “Merchant of Death,” Viktor Bout, threatens nuclear war + strikes against NATO with Alex Jones. Classic Kremlin escalation propaganda that frames Russia as victim, NATO as aggressor, and support for Ukraine as reckless. disinfowatch.org/disinfo/russ...
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Short Stack Fella 🇨🇦🇺🇦 @shortstackfella.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Vladimir Kara-Murza and Bill Browder will be appearing at the committee in the first hour. @marcuskolga.bsky.social is appearing in the 2nd hour. #cdnpoli #russiaIsATerroristState
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Great to see Canada’s MFA, Anita Anand, in Tallinn tomorrow to inaugurate Canada’s embassy in Estonia. It was an honour to help lead the advocacy to establish the embassy + I remain grateful to @chrystia-freeland.bsky.social for her leadership in advancing it. arvamus.postimees.ee/8473865/marc...
arvamus.postimees.ee
MARCUS KOLGA ⟩ Kanada kohalolek Tallinnas on võit eestlastele mõlemal pool Atlandi ookeani
Kui Kanada välisminister Anita Anand külastab sel nädalal Tallinna, et avada Kanada saatkond Eestis, ei tähista see üksnes uue diplomaatilise esinduse avamist, kirjutab Marcus Kolga, kes on asutanud k...
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Stephen Lautens @stephenlautens.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Posted over on FB by disinformation scholar @marcuskolga.bsky.social. Russia's interest in Alberta separatism. #cdnpoli #ableg
A new report says pro-Kremlin networks linked to “Pravda” have been spreading narratives like “Canada is collapsing,” “Alberta is ignored,” and “separatism is growing” in an effort to weaken Canadian unity and democratic institutions. Researchers say the goal is to divide one of Ukraine’s strongest allies and create the illusion of political instability.
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disinfowatch.bsky.social @disinfowatch.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Russia has no “right” to attack NATO. This narrative is designed to intimidate Western publics and weaken support for Ukraine. disinfowatch.org/disinfo/russ...
disinfowatch.org
Russia has no
A post by a RT commentator Glenn Diesen falsely claims that Russia has a right to attack NATO. This narrative fits a recurring Kremlin-aligned one that portrays NATO as the...
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Russkaya Obshina is Putin’s version of the Nazi SA: a violent, Kremlin and ROC aligned group whose members carry out vigilante raids + physical attacks against migrants, ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ community, and those opposed to Vladimir Putin. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Brutal raid on woman's birthday party highlights rise of Russian vigilante group
The Russkaya Obshina group stages raids to look for activities contravening "traditional Russian values".
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Hanna Liubakova @hannaliubakova.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
#Russia is still there - every day - killing people in #Ukraine. Never normalize this war. Never look away.
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
A warning to Canadians that foreign adversaries, petty hucksters and MAGAsphere influencers are seeking to exploit the Alberta separatist and 51st state issues. We must prepare for an intensification of this threat. disinfowatch.org/foreign-inte...
disinfowatch.org
Decision Making and National Unity Under Threat - DisinfoWatch
Download the PDF version of the report HERE. Marcus Kolga, Jennie Phillips, Brian McQuinn, Bartel Van de Walle     EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Foreign adversaries are exploiting the Alberta separatist debate...
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Jess Davis @jessmarindavis.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
This report from @marcuskolga.bsky.social is very much worth a full read. It also challenges our understanding of foreign interference, because US engagement with Alberta separatism is overt (not covert) and yet is still detrimental to Canada's interests. 🤔 disinfowatch.org/wp-content/u...
disinfowatch.org
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Missing from the headline and lede: “Russia has been running what CSIS describes as a combination of espionage, attempted sabotage and disinformation” www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
theglobeandmail.com
China, India among countries active in foreign interference and spying in Canada, CSIS says
The agency also identified Russia, Iran and Pakistan as nations that engage in meddling
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Marcus Kolga @marcuskolga.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Brand new Canadian Senate report on Russian information and influence operations finds "Russia’s disinformation poses an urgent threat to Canada’s national security, democratic institutions and social cohesion." Thank you Senators Kutcher, Yussuff and Dasko. sencanada.ca/en/info-page...
sencanada.ca
Russia's Disinformation: Understanding the Challenge, Strengthening Canada's Response
Russia’s disinformation poses an urgent threat to Canada’s national security, democratic institutions and social cohesion.
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