Digital sovereignty Canada does not fully have, and Vass Bednar says the Trump administration has made the vulnerabilities harder to ignore.

The question she keeps returning to is simple: can you govern the economy you have? For a significant portion of Canada's digital infrastructure, the answer is no. The US Cloud Act reaches into Canadian data centres if the firm operating them has a meaningful American presence. The federal government runs on Microsoft infrastructure it rents annually at a rising price. Vass Bednar's own think tank received a warning from Google while making a copy of its digital sovereignty report, which she says illustrates the dependency cleanly.

European governments are already building open-source sovereign alternatives. Vass Bednar says Canada is moving in that direction but slowly, and that the possibility of a private company throttling Canadian businesses at the direction of a foreign government is not a fantasy.

Topics: digital sovereignty Canada, US Cloud Act, Canadian Shield Institute, Microsoft government dependency, sovereign AI

GUEST: Vass Bednar | @‌vassb

Originally aired on 2026-05-08

Digital sovereignty Canada does not fully have, and Vass Bednar says the Trump administration has made the vulnerabilities harder to ignore.
The question she keeps returning to is simple: can you govern the economy you have? For a significant portion of Canada's digital infrastructure, the answer is no. The US Cloud Act reaches into Canadian data centres if the firm operating them has a meaningful American presence. The federal government runs on Microsoft infrastructure it rents annually at a rising price. Vass Bednar's own think tank received a warning from Google while making a copy of its digital sovereignty report, which she says illustrates the dependency cleanly.
European governments are already building open-source sovereign alternatives. Vass Bednar says Canada is moving in that direction but slowly, and that the possibility of a private company throttling Canadian businesses at the direction of a foreign government is not a fantasy.
Topics: digital sovereignty Canada, US Cloud Act, Canadian Shield Institute, Microsoft government dependency, sovereign AI
GUEST: Vass Bednar | @&zwnj;vassb
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-05-08

Shane Hewitt & The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world—always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.

From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane’s signature style—thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.

If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt &amp; The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world&mdash;always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.
From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane&rsquo;s signature style&mdash;thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.
If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.