London, United Kingdom, February 5th
Minister Steven Blaney is in London for meetings with international officials where he met with UK Home Secretary Theresa May. Below is a readout for that meeting:
Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney and Home Secretary Theresa May met today in London, UK on the margins of the Five Country Ministerial to discuss shared national security priorities, such as counter-terrorism, addressing violent extremism, and preventing terrorist travel.
Minister Blaney took the opportunity to highlight Bill C-51, the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015, announced last week. The Bill will provide law enforcement and national security agencies with the tools needed to better respond to national security threats and the current reality of terrorism. This national security package is a step forward in enhancing Canada’s anti-terrorism legislation and ensures that gaps in existing legislation are closed.
Minister Blaney discussed efforts to counter violent extremism and noted Canada’s community engagement approach on radicalization to violence, which facilitates early community intervention.
Minister Blaney and Secretary May discussed their shared concern about the use of social media for the propagation of violent extremist messaging by ISIL and other terrorists. They agreed to continue their close collaboration, particularly in developing and implementing effective intervention strategies to counter violent extremism. The Minister pointed out that Bill C-51 will facilitate the removal of online content that promotes the commission of terrorism offences.
The meeting concluded with Minister Blaney emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration on national security priorities in response to the ever-evolving threat of terrorism.
Information:
Jason Tamming
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-991-2924