Ottawa, May 15, 2013 — The Honourable Vic Toews, Canada's Minister of Public Safety, today announced that the Government of Canada has listed the Haqqani Network and the Taliban as terrorist groups, under the Criminal Code.
"The safety and security of Canadians is a priority for our Government, and the listing of terrorist entities sends a strong message that terrorist activity will not be tolerated. We have taken a number of actions to equip law enforcement and the courts with more tools to combat terrorism, including the recently passed Combating Terrorism Act," said Minister Toews. "Listing the Haqqani Network and the Taliban, organizations that have claimed responsibility for multiple terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, is an essential part of our efforts to combat terrorism and keep our communities safe."
The decision to list the Haqqani Network and the Taliban meets the legal threshold set out in the Criminal Code, which requires the existence of reasonable grounds to believe that the entity has knowingly participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity or is knowingly acting on behalf of, at the direction of, or in association with such an entity.
The listing process requires extensive analysis of security and/or criminal information and intelligence to ensure that the decision to list meets the legal threshold.
While it is not a crime to be a member of a listed entity, under the Criminal Code, any person or group listed may have their assets seized and forfeited. There may be severe penalties for persons and organizations that deal in the property or finances of a listed entity. In addition, it is a crime to knowingly participate in, or contribute to, any activity of a listed entity for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the entity to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity. This offence and other related offences are set out, in full, in the Criminal Code.
The names of listed entities under the Criminal Code can be found on the Public Safety Canada Web site at www.publicsafety.gc.ca under National Security, Listed Entities.
