Businesses — both domestic and international — are no longer safe in assuming their operations and plans for growth will not attract the attention of Canada’s security and law enforcement agencies. Today as never before, governments are moving to guarantee that private sector priorities align with the first duty of the state: ensuring the safety and security of Canadians.
Fasken’s National Security Group — composed of legal, policy, and government relations practitioners from across traditional practice groups — uniquely combines knowledge and experience in matters related to national security, defence, and critical infrastructure protection.
“National security” is not a defined term in Canadian law; it is what the Government says it is and for this reason, individuals and businesses are vulnerable to unpredictable and even arbitrary action by government — action that can reduce profit margins, disrupt productivity, and even end commercial viability.
In practical terms, National Security relates to any action or event that could materially impact the health, safety, security, or economic well-being of Canadians, or the effective functioning of Canada’s governments. Events surrounding COVID-19 have highlighted the degree to which Canada’s critical infrastructure can be compromised and the well-being of Canadians adversely impacted. This has resulted in a sharply increased focus on national security by the Government of Canada in the context of its legislative, regulatory, and policy activities.
At Fasken, we help our clients navigate a national security environment that is becoming more complex by the day. Working with clients in a team format, we provide fully-integrated legal, policy, and government relations solutions tailored to their unique needs and that serve the public interest. Clients benefit from multi-jurisdictional lawyers with deep knowledge and experience in key areas driven by national security concerns, including:
- Foreign Investment
- Procurement and Government Contracts
- Privacy and Cybersecurity
- Export Controls, Controlled Goods and Economic Sanctions
- White Collar Defence and Investigations
- Government Security Clearances
Our Firm’s National Security Group includes lawyers who have held senior positions throughout private industry and at all levels of government. Our team is necessarily diverse given that national security is a multifaceted issue impacting all sectors of the economy.
Browse our recent work or contact any of our lawyers to learn more.
