Earlier quoted context omitted.
It follows the same vein as "spying on allies" which -- until recently -- was tin-foil-hat conspiracy territory. Not at all. Nations have been spying on their allies since there have been nations and spies. Anyone "shocked" by those revelations is either putting on a show or rather naive.
You are correct, perhaps spying on allies was a poor choice of word. Evaluating allies would probably fit better.
People freaked out when they first heard about that, but it had nothing to do with Canada in particular, and everything to do with the Department of War having plans for effectively everybody that had any major military capability that could theoretically harm the U.S., just like Batman has plans to defeat every other superhero in the Justice League (just in case...).
Until the days of unilateral world government (when nations won't have to act in their own best interest), allies should evaluate each other, at least at a high level. That doesn't have to mean sinister things though. Just ask Batman.