Canadian Extremist Travellers
Classification: Unclassified
Branch/Agency: NCSB
Proposed Response:
- Our Government condemns the acts of Daesh, and takes with the utmost seriousness the potential threats posed by Canadian extremist travellers and returnees.
- It is a Criminal Code offence for any Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident to travel abroad to support or engage in a terrorist activity.
- Ensuring public safety is the priority of the Government of Canada. Whenever possible, law enforcement conducts criminal investigations with a view to supporting criminal charges and prosecutions of Canadian extremist travellers and returnees.
- In addition to criminal charges, there are a number of additional tools that can be used to keep Canadians safe, including surveillance and monitoring; terrorism peace bonds; no-fly listings; and refusals, cancellations or revocation of passports.
If pressed on the number of charges:
In 2013, offences specifically related to leaving or attempting to leave Canada for the purposes of committing certain terrorism offences were enacted in the Criminal Code. Since then, a total of 13 individuals have been charged with these offences.
If pressed on Canadians currently in Syria:
- The Government of Canada is aware of Canadian citizens being detained in Syria.
- Given the security situation, the Government of Canada’s ability to provide consular assistance in Syria is extremely limited.
Background:
Individuals have travelled to Syria and other countries from around the world - including from Canada - to engage in violent extremist activity. Often referred to as ‘foreign terrorist fighters,’ these individuals are involved in a variety of activities including frontline combat, fundraising, operational planning and disseminating online propaganda. This issue threatens Canadian interests through destabilization in the Middle East and the exacerbation of the international terrorist threat. Of particular concern is the prospect that individuals with ties to violent extremist or terrorist groups could return to their home countries, including Canada, to conduct terrorist attacks or attempt to radicalize others to violence.
As per the 2018 Public Report on the Terrorist Threat to Canada, there are just over 190 individuals with a nexus to Canada who are abroad, including in Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan and North and East Africa. These individuals have travelled to support and facilitate violent extremist activities, and, in some cases, to directly participate in terrorist acts. In addition, the Government is aware of approximately 60 individuals who have returned to Canada that are suspected of engaging in violent extremist activities abroad. Of those 60, only a small number of those have returned from Turkey, Iraq, or Syria. In 2013, offences specifically related to leaving or attempting to leave Canada for the purposes of committing certain terrorism offences were enacted in the Criminal Code. Since then, a total of 13 individuals have been charged with specific terrorism travel offences.
The RCMP actively investigates Canadian extremist travellers (CETs) to collect evidence with a view to laying criminal charges and supporting successful prosecutions. Where law enforcement is not able to collect sufficient evidence to lay terrorism charges, other options will be considered to manage the threat. The inability to collect the necessary evidence may be due to the requirement to protect sensitive sources and techniques used in intelligence investigations from disclosure or where the information would not be considered admissible in criminal proceedings. In these cases, security intelligence and law enforcement agencies will adapt to address the threat. Canada’s security intelligence and law enforcement agencies prioritize the detection and disruption of potential threats by leveraging the mandates and tools of all government departments and agencies.
Canada can utilize a number of tools in responding to potential threats posed by CETs and returnees:
- The Passenger Protect Program mitigates threats to transportation security and disrupts air travel for terrorism purposes through operational measures such as a denial of boarding.
- Public Safety Canada (PS) can cancel, revoke or refuse passports in order to prevent threats to the national security of Canada or other states.
- Terrorism Peace Bonds can be used when there is a “reasonable fear” that an individual may constitute a terrorist threat but there is not enough evidence to lay criminal charges.
- Former Bill C-59, An Act Respecting National Security Matters, has enhanced the capacity of the security and intelligence community to detect and mitigate the threats posed by returning CETs.
Some individuals may be suitable for intervention programs should they return to Canada, which are designed to help them to disengage from violent extremism. These programs do not replace or prevent our security and law enforcement agencies from doing their work. Rather, they complement the work of these agencies by helping to reduce the threat posed by returning CETs, while also addressing the health and social problems of associated travellers, including family members and children, returning from a conflict zone. Intervention programs are not limited to returning CETs but may also be used to intervene with individuals in Canada who are radicalizing to violence.
The Government of Canada is continuing its multilateral partnerships to improve coordination, information flow and capacity building, such as through the Five Eyes, NATO, the G7, the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the Global Coalition Against Daesh, and INTERPOL.
Contacts:
Prepared by: Kelly Eubank, Senior Policy Advisor 613-941-8975
Approved by: Dominic Rochon, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, 613-990-4976
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