MISSISSAUGA, November 14, 2013 — Today, Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Roxanne James, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, met with researchers at University of Toronto Mississauga to announce the successful recipients of the fourth round of funding through the Kanishka Project, worth over $1.3 million.
“The Kanishka Project is an important part of our Government’s strategy to counter terrorism. It will help us create or improve concrete tools, programs, and policies that will assist in keeping Canadians safe,” said Minister Blaney. “Previously funded projects are already making a difference. For example, a recent project is helping us identify ways to prevent terrorist organizations’ use of the internet for recruitment, while another is fostering collaboration with the private sector on our response to terrorist threats to critical infrastructure.”
On June 23, 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the Kanishka Project, an initiative named after the Air India Flight 182 plane that was bombed on June 23, 1985, killing 329 people, most of them Canadians. Research supported by the project is increasing knowledge of the recruitment methods and tactics of terrorists, and will help produce more effective policies, tools and resources for law enforcement and people on the front lines.
“Canada is not immune to terrorism and violent extremism, and our Government will continue to take every possible action to address these global threats,” said Parliamentary Secretary James. “By helping us to increase awareness and develop the most effective ways to address terrorism, the Kanishka Project will enable us to continue to build stronger, more resilient communities.”
The six projects receiving funding under the fourth round of the Kanishka Project will provide valuable contributions towards improving our understanding of terrorism. These projects will study a range of issues, from the conflict in Syria, to public views around security and terrorism, and will produce tools such as educational materials.
Canada’s Counter-terrorism Strategy sets out how the Government organizes its efforts to prevent, detect, deny and respond to the threat of terrorism. The success of the Strategy relies on strong partnerships with experts in different fields, including the academic community. In support of the Government of Canada’s efforts under the Strategy to prevent individuals from engaging in terrorism, the Kanishka Project strives to create a vibrant network of scholars that will inform more effective policies for preventing and countering terrorism.
The call for proposals for the fifth round of funding was recently announced, and will close November 29, 2013.
