A day after the federal Liberals banned Chinese firms Huawei Technologies and ZTE from helping build Canada’s 5G networks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says more must be done to secure critical systems against threats.
Trudeau says the government is working closely with big financial institutions as well as other companies across the country to protect vital networks from malicious attackers.
Speaking to reporters today, he says Canada will do more, whether through legislation, new spending or better and stronger partnerships.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Thursday the government would table legislation to protect critical infrastructure in the finance, telecommunications, energy and transport sectors.
Fen Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University, says much of the “hidden wiring” of the Canadian economy lies in private hands, and securing it poses a huge challenge.
Hampson says the announcement on 5G does not resolve Canada’s security problems.
