Writing, testimony and commentary

Aaron has appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committees on Public Safety and National Security, on Procedure and House Affairs, and on National Defence, and before the Senate Standing Committees on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, and on Transport and Communications.

• 2026Bill C-8, cyber security legislation — Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, May 2026
• 2026Opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence in the information and communication technology sector — Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications, April 2026
• 2025Foreign election interference — House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, November 2025
• 2025Bill C-8, cyber security legislation — House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, October 2025
• 2024Electoral interference and criminal activities in Canada by agents of the Government of India — House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, November 2024
• 2024Bill C-26, An Act respecting cyber security — Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, November 2024
• 2024Russian interference and disinformation campaigns in Canada — House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, October 2024
• 2024Question of privilege related to cyber-attacks targeting members of Parliament — House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, September 2024
• 2024Bill C-70, countering foreign interference — House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, June 2024
• 2024Bill C-26, An Act respecting cyber security — House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, February 2024
• 2023Cybersecurity and cyberwarfare — House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence, February 2023
• 2022Canada’s security posture in relation to Russia — House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, May 2022

The Centre for International Governance Innovation was granted standing in the policy phase of the Inquiry led by Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue. Aaron made oral submissions on CIGI’s behalf at the close of the policy hearings, and CIGI filed a final written submission.

• 2024Final written submission of the Centre for International Governance Innovation — filed with the Commission, November 2024; published by CIGI as a special report with Wesley Wark, January 2025
• 2024Oral submissions on behalf of CIGI — policy phase hearings before Commissioner Hogue, October 24, 2024

Aaron has written for The Globe and Mail, The Hill Times, the National Post and the Toronto Star, among others. Most pieces are also available through the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).

• 2026With Meta and YouTube Verdicts, Silicon Valley Is Having Its Big Tobacco Moment — San Francisco Chronicle
• 2025On Space Week, Leaders Should Look to the Stars — Canada’s National Observer, with Brian Gallant
• 2024Toward a Stronger, More Transparent Response to Foreign Interference — CIGI, with Wesley Wark
• 2024Canadian Intelligence Emerges from the Shadows: It’s About Time — CIGI, with Michael Den Tandt
• 2024Safeguarding Privacy and Preserving Freedom of Thought in Canada: A Call to Action — CIGI
• 2024Satellite Phone Networks Can Democratize Global Communication — SpaceNews
• 2024Can Disruptive Technology Be Responsible? — Tech Policy Press, with Paul Samson, Constance de Leusse and Paul Fehlinger
• 2023Canada Needs a National Security Council — but the Devil’s in the Details — CIGI, with Michael Den Tandt
• 2023Safeguarding IP Is Vital to National Security — The Globe and Mail, with David Durand
• 2022War in Ukraine Requires a Fundamental Rethink of Canada’s National Security — CIGI, with Wesley Wark
• 2022Why Espionage Cases Are So Hard to Prosecute — CIGI
• 2021Is US President Joe Biden Good or Bad for Canada? — Toronto Star, with Michael Den Tandt
• 2021It’s Been 20 Years Since 9/11: Canada Needs a New National Security Policy — CIGI
• 2021Privacy and Security Go Hand in Hand — We Need to Treat Them That Way — The Hill Times
• 2021National Security Threats Are Changing, but Canada Is Mired in Conventional Thinking — CBC News, with Wesley Wark
• 2021The Destabilizing, Ambiguous Nature of Transnational Cyberattacks — CIGI
• 2020Protecting the Core of Canadian Values in the Digital Realm — The Hill Times
• 2019In the Global Race for AI, How Do We Ensure We’re Creating a Better World? — The Hill Times
• 2018The Charter and Human Rights in the Digital Age — CIGI

• 2026Waterloo Security Dialogue 2025: Fostering a National Culture of Cybersecurity — CIGI special report, with Shelly Bruce, John Bruce and Reanne Cayenne
• 2025Generative AI, Democracy and Human Rights — CIGI policy brief, with David Evan Harris
• 2024Freedom of Thought: Reviving and Protecting a Forgotten Human Right — CIGI special report, with Susie Alegre
• 2023Responsible Innovation in Disruptive Digital and Data Technologies — CIGI policy brief, with Paul Samson, Constance de Leusse and Paul Fehlinger
• 2022Next-Generation Technology and Electoral Democracy: Understanding the Changing Environment — CIGI special report with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Canada, contributing author
• 2021Reimagining a Canadian National Security Strategy — CIGI special report, project co-director with Wesley Wark
• 2021The Canadian Election Template: Stronger Elections at Home, Stronger Canada Abroad — CIGI policy brief, with Brian Klaas
• 2019Opportunities for Cooperative Cyber Security — CIGI and Gateway House, Canada–India Track 1.5 Dialogue paper
• 2014Legal Mechanisms for Governing the Transition of Key Domain Name Functions to the Global Multi-stakeholder Community — Global Commission on Internet Governance paper, with Paul Twomey and Christopher S. Yoo
• 2014Global Cybercrime: The Interplay of Politics and Law — CIGI Internet Governance paper
• 2008The Global Nuclear Safety and Security Regimes — CIGI Nuclear Energy Futures paper

Aaron has contributed essays to the following series:

• 2023Cybersecurity and Outer Space
• 2022The Ethics of Automated Warfare and Artificial Intelligence
• 2022Situating Canada in a Changing World: Constructing a Modern and Prosperous Future
• 2020Modern Conflict and Artificial Intelligence
• 2020Security, Intelligence and the Global Health Crisis
• 2019Governing Cyberspace during a Crisis in Trust

Aaron contributes frequently to the media, including live interviews on CBC News, CTV and BNN Bloomberg.

He has spoken on panels and delivered keynote lectures in Canada and internationally, including at the International Bar Association, RightsCon and the annual meeting of federal, provincial and territorial information and privacy commissioners and ombuds.