Vigneault worked at the
Canada Border Services Agency and was promoted to "assistant director of intelligence" at the CSIS. In his first public speech since he was appointed Director, he named
Russia,
China,
Cuba,
North Korea,
Vietnam,
Laos and
Venezuela as "countries of concern", said that "state actors have done 'significant harm' to Canadian companies" and pose "a significant danger to Canada's prosperity and sovereignty". The
Sydney Morning Herald reported that he said "The government of
China ... is pursuing a strategy for geopolitical advantage on all fronts – economic, technological, political, and military – and using all elements of state power to carry out activities that are a direct threat to our national security and sovereignty." Vigneault also remarked that his agency "works under outdated laws," saying the legislative powers are "better suited for the threats of the Cold War era" and called for new powers to address "significantly more complex" present circumstances. == References ==