As The Hill Times’ foremost analyst of federal defence and international relations, Neil Moss brings historical depth to contemporary debates. His seven-year tenure has produced groundbreaking work on:
“Understanding where policy meets history isn’t just insightful – it’s essential for democratic accountability.”
Recent Recognition: 2024 Parliamentary Press Gallery Award for exposing $2.1B in delayed naval maintenance.
A graduate of the University of Ottawa’s history program, Moss began his career in 2018 as a parliamentary correspondent, quickly developing a reputation for:
“The interplay between historical context and modern policy-making isn’t just academic – it’s crucial for understanding Canada’s place in an increasingly multipolar world.”
Moss’s comprehensive analysis of the 2025 defence budget allocation (CAD$42.6 billion) revealed how spending priorities reflect shifting global tensions. The 2,800-word piece contrasted current investments in Arctic security with historical underfunding, citing declassified Cold War-era documents to underscore persistent infrastructure gaps. His interviews with three former defence ministers provided rare bipartisan consensus on the need for sustained naval modernization.
The article’s impact extended beyond Parliament Hill, prompting questions during Question Period about procurement timelines for new icebreakers. Defence analysts praised Moss’s ability to connect line-item budget details to broader strategic implications, particularly regarding Canada’s commitments to NORAD modernization.
This 2025 deep dive into bilateral trade tensions combined economic data with diplomatic insights, tracking how 83% of Canada’s exports to the U.S. face renewed scrutiny under “Buy American” provisions. Moss’s ground reporting from auto plants in Ontario and wheat farms in Saskatchewan highlighted the human impact of tariff disputes, while his examination of 19th-century trade agreements revealed surprising continuities in cross-border negotiations.
The piece became essential reading for trade lawyers and policy advisors, cited in six parliamentary committee hearings on economic resilience. Its balanced approach – acknowledging both countries’ security concerns while advocating for Canadian interests – exemplifies Moss’s nuanced reporting style.
Published in National Newswatch, this 2024 op-ed drew connections between Prime Minister Mackenzie King’s WWII mobilization strategies and contemporary debates over military readiness. Moss analyzed archival records showing how 1940s industrial policy lessons could inform modern supply chain challenges, particularly in semiconductor production for advanced weapons systems.
The article sparked a public dialogue between historians and defence planners, leading to Moss’s invitation to testify before the Standing Committee on National Defence about historical analogs in policy-making.
Moss consistently links current events to historical precedents. A successful pitch might explore how 21st-century peacekeeping missions reflect Canada’s 1950s UN involvement, supported by newly digitized archival materials. His coverage of the 2023 NORAD modernization agreement, for instance, referenced 1960s DEW Line negotiations to explain contemporary Arctic security challenges.
Stories examining federal-provincial coordination on defence projects resonate strongly. Moss’s 2024 series on naval base expansions highlighted tensions between Ottawa and coastal provinces, using Access to Information requests to reveal previously undisclosed cost-sharing disagreements.
While Moss frequently reports on high-level policy, he prioritizes narratives showing how decisions impact individuals. His award-winning 2023 feature on military housing shortages combined statistics (27% of CAF families reporting inadequate housing) with personal accounts from four generations of service members.
Pitches should address Canada’s role in international alliances. Moss’s NATO summit coverage often includes viewpoints from at least three member states, as seen in his 2024 analysis of Baltic Sea patrol rotations involving Canadian, German, and Swedish forces.
While Moss scrutinizes all political parties’ defence policies, he maintains strict neutrality. Pitches perceived as promoting specific political agendas, rather than informing policy debates, rarely gain traction.
2024 Parliamentary Press Gallery Award for Defence Reporting
Moss received this honor for his investigative series exposing maintenance backlog in Canada’s submarine fleet. The Canadian Association of Journalists noted his “relentless pursuit of accountability through historical contextualization.”
Lead Curator, The Hill Times Top 50 Foreign Policy Influencers
Since 2022, Moss has directed this annual power ranking, which assesses policymakers, academics, and industry leaders. The project’s methodology – weighting both public visibility and behind-the-scenes impact – has become a model for similar lists in allied nations.
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