Toronto, Ontario - 4 June 2015
Our Government knows that the highest calling of any government is to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. That is why we remain committed to helping ensure the safety and security of all Canadians by giving law enforcement and security agencies the tools they need to protect Canadians from the ever-evolving threat of jihadi terrorism.
To this end, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced new support, under Economic Action Plan 2015, for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to increase the agency’s front-line capacity to combat the ever-evolving threat of terrorism and strengthened measures for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to better crack down on the financing of terrorist groups through registered charities in Canada.
For CSIS, the Prime Minister announced new support under Economic Action Plan 2015 of $136.81 million over five years, and $40.97 million per year thereafter, on an ongoing basis. These new resources would increase the agency’s front-line capacity to combat the increased threat of terrorism, including from terrorists planning acts on Canadian soil or would-be terrorists trying to travel abroad to commit such acts elsewhere. This support will require parliamentary approval.
As outlined in the CSIS Report recently tabled in Parliament, there are three primary ways in which terrorism continues to threaten the safety and security of Canadians:
- Terrorists continue to plot direct attacks against Canada and its allies at home and abroad with the aim of causing death and disruption;
- Terrorists seek to conduct activities on Canadian territory that support terrorism globally, including fundraising to support attacks and militant groups;
- Terrorists and their supporters employ social media to reach individuals in Canada for operational purposes and to radicalize them. Some of these radicalized individuals may conduct attacks before travelling abroad or travel overseas to obtain training or to engage in terrorism in other countries. Should they return to Canada, they may pose a threat to national security by attempting to radicalize others, train them in terrorist methods, or conduct terrorist attacks on their own.
For the CRA, the Prime Minister announced that the agency will invest approximately $10 million over five years to build on current efforts to detect and suppress terrorist financing activities in the charitable sector, to help legitimate charities better protect themselves against terrorist abuse, and to ensure that the generous donations of hard-working Canadians are not being funneled to dangerous terrorist organizations.
Other actions by our Government to better protect Canadians from the ever-evolving threat of jihadi terrorism:
- The Government announced long-term support under Economic Action Plan 2015 for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency to help ensure the safety and security of Canadians from terrorist threats with $150.37 million over five years beginning in 2015-2016 and $46.79 million per year thereafter, on an ongoing basis for the RCMP, and $5.40 million over five years beginning in 2015-2016 and $1.10 million per year thereafter, on an ongoing basis for the CBSA.
- The Anti-terrorism Act, 2015 will provide Canadian law enforcement and national security agencies with additional tools needed to keep pace with evolving threats and better protect Canadians here at home.
- Passed in 2013, the Combating Terrorism Act has made it a criminal offence to leave or attempt to leave Canada for the purposes of participating in or facilitating a terrorist-related activity.
- Amendments to the Citizenship Act enable the Government to revoke Canadian citizenship from dual citizens and deny it to permanent residents who are convicted of terrorism, high treason, treason or spying offences. They also provide the Federal Court with authority to revoke Canadian citizenship from dual citizens for membership in an armed force or organized armed group engaged in armed conflict with Canada. The Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act (Bill C-24) received Royal Assent in 2014. These new measures came into effect on May 29, 2015.
- The Protection of Canada from Terrorists Act contains targeted amendments to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act to ensure our intelligence agency has the tools it needs to investigate threats to the security of Canada and ensure our collective safety and security. This legislation recently received Royal Assent.
- Through measures included in Economic Action Plan 2015, including the Prevention of Terrorist Travel Act and amendments to the Canadian Passport Order, the Government has taken action to strengthen Canada's ability to cancel, refuse or revoke passports as a preventative measure against high-risk travellers.