David Vigneault
{{Short description|9th director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
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| name = David Vigneault
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| order = 9th
| office = Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
| term_start = June 19, 2017
| term_end = July 20, 2024
| minister = Hon. Marco Mendicino
| predecessor = Michel Coulombe
| successor = Vanessa Lloyd (interim)https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/vanessa-lloyd-csis-1.7269347
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| nationality = Canadian
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| occupation = Civil servant
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David Vigneault is a Canadian civil servant who served as the 9th director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) from June 2017 until July 2024.{{cite news |title=Canada names David Vigneault as head of spy agency |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/canada-us-canada-spy-agency-idCAKBN1872XW-OCADN |publisher=Reuters |date=May 11, 2017}}https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/csis-boss-david-vigneault-announces-he-is-stepping-down-after-seven-years-in-the-role
Biography
Vigneault worked at the Canada Border Services Agency and was promoted to "assistant director of intelligence" at the CSIS. Vigneault previously served with Assistant Director, Intelligence, and Assistant Director, Secretariat.
He also served as Director, Transnational Security at the Communications Security Establishment, Executive Assistant to Deputy Minister of National Defence.
Vigneault progressed to the position of "assistant secretary to cabinet advising on security and intelligence" in 2013.
Vigneault made headlines on February 9, 2021 when he spoke to the Centre for International Governance Innovation.{{cite news |last1=Vigneault |first1=David |title=Remarks by Director David Vigneault to the Centre for International Governance Innovation |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/security-intelligence-service/news/2021/02/remarks-by-director-david-vigneault-to-the-centre-for-international-governance-innovation.html |publisher=Canadian Security Intelligence Service |date=9 February 2021}} 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".{{cite news |last1=Tunney |first1=Catharine |title=State actors have done 'significant harm' to Canadian companies, says head of spy agency |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-speech-david-vigneault-1.5906665 |publisher=CBC |date=February 9, 2021}} 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."{{cite news |last1=Ljunggren |first1=David |title=‘Direct threat’: Canada’s top spy worries about China |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/direct-threat-canada-s-top-spy-worries-about-china-20210210-p57199.html |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=February 10, 2021}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Boutilier |first1=Alex |title=Canada’s spies are working under outdated laws, CSIS director says |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/02/09/canadas-spies-are-working-under-outdated-laws-csis-director-says.html |publisher=Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd |date=February 9, 2021}}
References
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Category:Directors of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Category:Canadian anti-communists
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
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