Canada announces Additional Support to Counter Terrorism

Toronto: Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the intention to provide long-term support for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to help counter terrorist threats, including from high-risk travellers. He was joined by Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism, as made tragically clear by the brutal attacks of last October in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, and Ottawa. Economic Action Plan (EAP) 2015 proposes to provide intelligence and law enforcement agencies with additional investigative resources to help them keep pace with the evolving threat of terrorism and continue protecting Canadians.

For the RCMP, the new resources would support the organization’s capacity to conduct criminal investigations related to terrorism. This includes bolstering front-line policing through the five RCMP-led Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams, which investigate high-risk travellers and other national security threats.

For the CBSA, additional resources would enhance the Agency’s capacity to identify high-risk travellers and support the Agency’s participation in the RCMP-led National Security Joint Operations Centre, a group that examines individual cases of extremist travellers to tailor the most, timely, effective and accountable response.

The measures announced today will require parliamentary approval.

“Our Government understands that violent jihadism is not a future possibility. It is a present reality in Canada and around the world, and we know that we must be ready to face this threat right now. That is why our Government will continue to do everything it takes to protect Canadians and help defeat those who attack our values. Today’s announcement helps ensure that those brave men and women on the front lines of the battle against violent extremism and terrorism have the resources they need to protect us”  Prime Minister Stephen Harper added.