OTTAWA, ON    Public Safety Canada

The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today announced the release of the 2014 Public Report on the Terrorist Threat to Canada.

In 2012, the Government of Canada released Building Resilience Against Terrorism: Canada’s Counter-terrorism Strategy. This national approach to countering terrorism provides a single, comprehensive strategy that guides federal departments and agencies to better “Prevent, Detect, Deny and Respond” to terrorist threats, and has proven to be an effective tool in the ongoing fight against terrorism.

The approach laid out in the Strategy also serves to guide the Government’s response to an issue of growing importance, and one that is addressed specifically in the 2014 Public Report: extremist travellers who pursue terrorism-related activities elsewhere in the world.

In the past year, Canada has seen a small number of individuals with Canadian connections go abroad to take part in terrorism-related activities, putting lives at risk and tarnishing Canada’s reputation. These “extremist travellers” often become involved in terrorism-related activities, including fundraising, training and providing other forms of support to terrorist groups.

Terrorism is a despicable crime and will be prosecuted through the diligent efforts of security and law enforcement bodies . Additionally, our Government is also committed to efforts to prevent the radicalization of Canadians to violence and terrorism-related activity. By working with partners and communities, the Government of Canada is contributing to efforts to build prevention capacity, support training and stop radicalization to violence through targeted intervention at the community level.

The Government of Canada has taken, and will continue to take, all appropriate action to counter terrorist threats, whether they occur at home or abroad. This includes taking action to address travel for terrorism-related purposes.

Quick Facts

• A small but notable number of Canadian extremist travellers have gone abroad to participate in terrorism-related activities, including in conflict zones such as Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan.
• The Combating Terrorism Act, which came into force on July 15, 2013, created new criminal offences of leaving or attempting to leave Canada for the purposes of committing certain terrorism offences outside Canada.
• Also in 2013, the Government listed six entities under the Criminal Code as being associated with terrorism. Listing terrorist entities facilitates the prosecution of perpetrators and supporters of terrorism, and counters terrorist financing.

Quotes

“As a nation, Canada has achieved success in countering terrorism in many ways: through intelligence work, law enforcement and international cooperation, and by working with various communities. Despite these successes, terrorism continues to pose a threat to Canadians, Canadian interests, and our nation as whole.”

“This year’s Public Report on the Terrorist Threat to Canada looks at terrorism developments that are of concern to Canadians and how our Government is responding on their behalf. It builds on an important dialogue we’ve begun with Canadians, and serves to keep communities informed of this very real threat. Countering terrorism at home and abroad remains a top priority for the Government of Canada, and one we are addressing successfully.”

–The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness