List of terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists in Canada
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Terrorism and mass attacks in Canada includes acts of terrorism, as well as mass shootings, vehicle-ramming attacks, mass stabbings, and other such acts committed in Canada that people may associate with terroristic tactics but have not been classified as terrorism by the Canadian legal system. (For example, the
2018 Toronto shooting The 2018 Toronto shooting, known locally as the Danforth shooting, was a mass shooting that occurred on Danforth Avenue in the Greektown neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada on the night of July 22, 2018. Faisal Hussain killed two people and ...
was a mass shooting that law enforcement officials did not connect to terrorism.) The Criminal Code of Canada defines terrorist activity to include an "act or omission undertaken, in or outside Canada, for a political, religious or ideological purpose, that is intended to intimidate the public with regard to its security, including its economic security, or to compel a person, government or organization (whether in or outside Canada) to do or refrain from doing any act, and that intentionally causes one of a number of specific forms of serious harm." As such, some of the terrorist acts listed here are related to external events and nationalities, while others, such as the FLQ crisis in 1970, are related to internal tensions within the country. Matters relevant to overall counterterrorism in Canada, as well as
national security National security, or national defence, is the security and defence of a sovereign state, including its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government. Originally conceived as protection against military atta ...
within the federal government, fall under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, who heads Public Safety Canada (PSC). Two other ministers with particularly crucial roles with respect to counter-terrorism are the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of National Defence. The Canadian government uses the National Terrorism Threat Level (NTTL) to identify the probability of terrorism occurring in Canada. , Canada's current threat level is "Medium," which means that a "violent act of terrorism could occur;" it has been at this level since October 2014.


Overview of legal framework and response

Overall issues of national security fall under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, who heads Public Safety Canada (PSC). While provincial/territorial governments are responsible for general law enforcement and criminal prosecutions, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (part of the PSC portfolio) is given primary responsibility, under the '' Security Offences Act'' (SOA), for the investigation of offences involving national security. Canadian federal
statute A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs the legal entities of a city, state, or country by way of consent. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. Statutes are rules made by le ...
s establish a legal regime that prosecutes terrorists for their activities. The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), under the
Attorney General of Canada The asterisk ( ), from Late Latin , from Ancient Greek , ''asteriskos'', "little star", is a typographical symbol. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a heraldic star. Computer scientists and mathematicians often voc ...
, prosecutes offenses on behalf of the Canadian government, including those involving national security such as terrorist activities. If a person carries out a terrorist attack or instructs someone else to carry out a terrorist attack, they are given a life sentence. Anyone who facilitates a terrorist attack is liable to imprisonment for no more than 10 years. The Criminal Code of Canada defines
terrorist activity Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of criminal violence to provoke a state of terror or fear, mostly with the intention to achieve political or religious aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violen ...
to include an "act or omission undertaken, in or outside Canada, for a political, religious or ideological purpose, that is intended to intimidate the public with regard to its security, including its economic security, or to compel a person, government or organization (whether in or outside Canada) to do or refrain from doing any act, and that intentionally causes one of a number of specific forms of serious harm." The ''
Combating Terrorism Act The ''Combating Terrorism Act'' (the ''Act'') is an Act of the Parliament of Canada that renewed some provisions to the Criminal Code that had expired under a sunset clause for a new five-year term, and to introduce new crimes for leaving Canada t ...
'', which came into force in July 2013, renewed parts of the Criminal Code by creating four new offences intended to prevent and deter individuals from leaving Canada for particular terrorism-related purposes. Canada's '' Anti-Terrorism Act'' (ATA) "provides measures for the Government of Canada to create a list of entities that: have knowingly carried out, attempted to carry out, participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity" or "knowingly acted on behalf of, at the direction of or in association with an entity that has knowingly carried out, attempted to carry out, participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity."About the listing process
Public Safety Canada (accessed June 2, 2016).
The Act specifically provides that "for the Governor in Council to establish by regulation a list on which, on the recommendation of the Minister of Public Safety, any entity may be placed." The ATA replaced the ''Official Secrets Act'' with the ''
Security of Information Act The ''Security of Information Act'' (R.S.C. 1985, c. O-5), formerly known as the ''Official Secrets Act'', is an Act of the Parliament of Canada that addresses national security concerns, including threats of espionage by foreign powers and terr ...
'' (SOIA), which focuses on "conduct harmful to, or likely to harm Canada." It also defined the concept of "harm to Canadian interests" to address a broad range of potential harms, including terrorist activity, interference with critical infrastructure, and the development of weapons of mass destruction in contravention of international law. Terrorist financing, on the other hand, is addressed through the ''
Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act In accounting, revenue is the total amount of income generated by the sale of goods and services related to the primary operations of the business. Commercial revenue may also be referred to as sales or as turnover. Some companies receive reven ...
'', as well as the '' Income Tax Act'' and the ''Charities Registration (Security Information) Act''. In terms of the cross- border movement of potential threats, assessing the admissibility of those applying for temporary or permanent residence, or refugee status is facilitated under the '' Immigration and Refugee Protection Act'' (IRPA). The ''Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Act'' provides the Minister of Foreign Affairs with responsibility over all matters relating to the conduct of Canada's external affairs, including countering international terrorism and responding to terrorist incidents abroad. Moreover, the Government of Canada lists state supporters of terrorism under the '' State Immunity Act'', which (like the ''JVTA'') revokes certain legal immunities from listed countries, allowing civil suits to be filed against those countries in Canadian courts for loss or damage resulting from its involvement in terrorism anywhere in the world. In 2012, both
Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
and Iran were listed. In terms of emergency response, leadership of the Public Safety Minister is granted by the ''
Emergency Management Act The ''Emergency Management Act'' (french: Loi sur la gestion des urgences) is an Act of the Canadian government. It was passed in June 2007 during the minority Harper government. It came into force in August 2007, and it revoked the ''Emergency Pr ...
''.


Redress

The '' Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act'' (''JVTA'') allows Canada's victims of terrorism to sue perpetrators of terrorism and those that support them for loss or damage that occurred as a result of an act of terrorism committed in Canada or abroad. Similar to the JVTA, amendments made to the '' State Immunity Act'', allow for countries listed by the federal government as state supporters of terrorism to be sued in Canadian courts for loss or damage resulting from its involvement in terrorism anywhere in the world. On 1 May 2006, the Government of Canada announced the launch of a full
public inquiry A tribunal of inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body. In many common law countries, such as the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, Australia and Canada, such a public inquiry differs from a royal ...
into the Air India Flight 182 bombing and its investigation. Initiated later in June, the inquiry was to look into the ways in which Canadian law restricted funding terrorist groups, how well witness protection is provided in terrorist cases, if Canada needs to upgrade its airport security, and if issues of co-operation between the RCMP, CSIS, and other law enforcement agencies had been resolved. It was to also provide a forum wherein families of the victims could testify on the impact of the bombing and would not repeat any criminal trials. From 1 December 2011 to 31 July 2012, families of the passengers and crew who died on Air India Flight 182 on 23 June 1985 have been offered a one-time '' ex gratia'' payment by Canadian government, as "a demonstration of solicitude and recognition for the administrative disdain families experienced in the years following" the tragedy. Payments have been made to eligible applicants for 275 victims. Moreover, every June 23, some Canadians observe
National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism The National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism is observed in memory of those who lost their lives to acts of terror in Canada and abroad. Taking place every year on June 23, it marks the anniversary of the bombing of Air India Flight 182 ...
to honour the victims.


Emergency response

In terms of emergency response, leadership of the Minister of Public Safety is granted by the ''
Emergency Management Act The ''Emergency Management Act'' (french: Loi sur la gestion des urgences) is an Act of the Canadian government. It was passed in June 2007 during the minority Harper government. It came into force in August 2007, and it revoked the ''Emergency Pr ...
''. The chief means through which the Public Safety Minister facilitates their emergency response is through the Government Operations Centre (GOC). The GOC, on behalf of the federal government, supports response coordination across the government and others. In practice, the immediate response to terrorist incidents in Canada is to be led by local law enforcement and emergency management authorities. This involves the RCMP as being the first police responder in those provinces and territories where it provides local police services. Particular terrorist incidents may involve specific responses from designated agencies; for instance, under the ''
National Defence Act The ''National Defence Act'' (NDA; ; ''LDN'') is an Act of the Parliament of Canada, which is the primary enabling legislation for organizing and funding the military of Canada. The Act created the Department of National Defence, which merged th ...
'' or through the
Crown Prerogative The royal prerogative is a body of customary authority, privilege and immunity, recognized in common law and, sometimes, in civil law jurisdictions possessing a monarchy, as belonging to the sovereign and which have become widely vested in th ...
, the
Canadian Armed Forces } The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force. ...
can be called upon to respond directly to terrorist incidents in Canada. As such, the Minister of National Defence plays a key role in preparation for, and execution of, any deployment of Canadian Forces in response to terrorist activity domestically or abroad. Immediately following the 2001 September 11 attacks in the United States, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police initiated
Project Shock In the ten days immediately following the September 11 attacks in the United States in 2001, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) initiated Project Shock which sought to quickly collect and act on any information or rumors related to possible th ...
which sought to quickly collect and act on any information or intel related to possible threats posed by Muslims in Canada. Project Thread was a police operation in 2003 that resulted in the arrest of 24 immigrants in the
Greater Toronto Area The Greater Toronto Area, commonly referred to as the GTA, includes the City of Toronto and the regional municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel, and York. In total, the region contains 25 urban, suburban, and rural municipalities. The Greater T ...
amidst allegations that they formed a threat to national security, and maintained "suspected ties to
al-Qaeda Al-Qaeda (; , ) is an Islamic extremism, Islamic extremist organization composed of Salafist jihadists. Its members are mostly composed of Arab, Arabs, but also include other peoples. Al-Qaeda has mounted attacks on civilian and military ta ...
." CBC
Al-Qaeda suspect to stay behind bars
August 28, 2003
CTV News
Pme pf 19 Toronto terror suspects granted bail
, August 28, 2003


Counter-terrorism in Canada

Matters relevant to overall counter-terrorism in Canada, as well as
national security National security, or national defence, is the security and defence of a sovereign state, including its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government. Originally conceived as protection against military atta ...
within the federal government, fall under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, who heads Public Safety Canada (PSC). Two other ministers with particularly crucial roles with respect to counter-terrorism are the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of National Defence. Additionally, the
National Security Advisor A national security advisor serves as the chief advisor to a national government on matters of security. The advisor is not usually a member of the government's cabinet but is usually a member of various military or security councils. National sec ...
(NSA) is responsible for providing information, advice, and recommendations on security and intelligence to the Prime Minister; co-ordinating the security and intelligence community; and overseeing intelligence assessment. Claiming that the safety and security of Canadians to be its first priority, the Government of Canada puts significant attention towards its
counterterrorism Counterterrorism (also spelled counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that Government, governments, law enforcement, business, and Intelligence agency, intellig ...
efforts. ''"''Building Resilience Against Terrorism" (2013) is Canada's first counterterrorism strategy, which aims to counter domestic and international terrorism so to protect Canada, Canadians, and Canadian interests. The strategy "assesses the nature and scale of the threat, and "sets out basic principles and elements that underpin the Government's counter-terrorism activities." The Canadian government uses the National Terrorism Threat Level (NTTL) to identify the probability of terrorism occurring in Canada. , Canada's current threat level is "Medium," which means that a "violent act of terrorism could occur;" it has been at this level since October 2014. More specifically, this means that "
extremist group Extremism is "the quality or state of being extreme" or "the advocacy of extreme measures or views". The term is primarily used in a political or religious sense to refer to an ideology that is considered (by the speaker or by some implied shar ...
s and individuals located in Canada and abroad, have both the intent AND capability to carry out an act of terrorism in Canada."


Counter-terrorism organizations and jurisdictions

Federal government organizations that have a hand in counterterrorism in Canada include: * Canadian Security Intelligence Service (part of Public Safety Canada) ** CSIS Global Operations Centre (CGOC) **
Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre The Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre (ITAC; ) is an independent federal organization tasked with assessing threats of terrorism to Canada and Canadian interests abroad. It is the only federal organization with the specific responsibility of a ...
(ITAC) *
Department of National Defence Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philipp ...
/
Canadian Armed Forces } The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force. ...
**
Canada Command Canada Command (CANCOM, french: Commandement Canada) was one of the four operational commands of the Canadian Forces from 2006 to 2012. It was responsible for routine domestic and continental operations, such as search and rescue, sovereignty pat ...
— provides coordination with other federal departments and agencies, as well as domestic and international partners, in responding to national security events. ** Communications Security Establishment ***
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security The Communications Security Establishment (CSE; french: Centre de la sécurité des télécommunications, ''CST''), formerly (from 2008-2014) called the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC), is the Government of Canada's national c ...
— a national center for " cyber security readiness and response, exclusive of federal government information technology and
information management Information management (IM) concerns a cycle of organizational activity: the acquisition of information from one or more sources, the custodianship and the distribution of that information to those who need it, and its ultimate disposal throug ...
systems" ** Defence Research and Development Canada ***Centre for Security Science ** Joint Task Force 2 (JTF 2) — a
special forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...
unit of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, that exists to "protect the Canadian national interests and combat terrorism and threats to Canadians at home and abroad." * Royal Canadian Mounted Police (part of Public Safety Canada) — the primary agency responsible for national security law enforcement across Canada. The RCMP also conducts extraterritorial investigations of terrorist activity when committed against a
Canadian citizen Canadian nationality law details the conditions in which a person is a national of Canada. With few exceptions, almost all individuals born in the country are automatically citizens at birth. Foreign nationals may naturalize after living in Ca ...
or by a Canadian citizen abroad. Among other things, the RCMP also operates: ** Counter-terrorism Information Officer initiative — provides
first responder A first responder is a person with specialized training who is among the first to arrive and provide assistance or incident resolution at the scene of an emergency, such as an accident, disaster, medical emergency, structure fire, crime, or terr ...
s with "terrorism awareness training on key indicators of terrorist activities, techniques and practices in order to help detect threats at the earliest stage possible." ** Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSETs) ** National Operations Centre — a secure and integrated 24/7 command and control centre for centralized monitoring and coordination during "critical incidents and major events" * Government Operations Centre (part of Public Safety Canada) — the chief means through which the Minister of Public Safety facilitates their emergency response. On behalf of the federal government, the Centre supports response coordination across the government and others. In terms of broader counterterrorism intelligence, other federal organizations also collect information in support of their primary responsibilities; this includes: *
Canada Border Services Agency The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA; french: Agence des services frontaliers du Canada, ''ASFC'') is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border control (i.e. protection and surveillance), immigration enforcement, and cu ...
(part of Public Safety Canada) * Global Affairs Canada * Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre * Transport Canada **
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA; french: Administration canadienne de la sûreté du transport aérien) is the Canadian Crown Corporation responsible for security screening of people and baggage and the administration of ide ...
(CATSA) * Charities Directorate ( Canada Revenue Agency)


Intelligence assessment

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service, part of Public Safety Canada, is Canada's primary national intelligence agency. Among other things, CSIS compiles the information they collect themselves with information from other sources to provide Parliament with intelligence assessments on terrorist threats. The
National Security Advisor A national security advisor serves as the chief advisor to a national government on matters of security. The advisor is not usually a member of the government's cabinet but is usually a member of various military or security councils. National sec ...
(NSA) is responsible for providing information, advice, and recommendations on security and intelligence to the Prime Minister; co-ordinating the security and intelligence community; and overseeing intelligence assessment. The
Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre The Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre (ITAC; ) is an independent federal organization tasked with assessing threats of terrorism to Canada and Canadian interests abroad. It is the only federal organization with the specific responsibility of a ...
(ITAC) is a cooperative initiative, housed at CSIS, to facilitate intelligence information sharing and analysis within the Canadian intelligence community and to
first responder A first responder is a person with specialized training who is among the first to arrive and provide assistance or incident resolution at the scene of an emergency, such as an accident, disaster, medical emergency, structure fire, crime, or terr ...
s, such as law enforcement. Its assessments integrate intelligence from across departments and agencies as well as from external partners. Similarly, the RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSETs) bring together federal, provincial, and municipal police and intelligence resources "to collect, share, and analyze information in support of criminal investigations and threat assessments." The Communications Security Establishment, administered under the
Department of National Defence Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philipp ...
(DND), is responsible for foreign
signals intelligence Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is intelligence-gathering by interception of ''signals'', whether communications between people (communications intelligence—abbreviated to COMINT) or from electronic signals not directly used in communication ( ...
(SIGINT) and protecting government electronic communication networks. The Privy Council Office's Security and Intelligence Secretariat provides policy support to the NSA, the Prime Minister, and the Clerk of the Privy Council, as well as coordinating committees on security and intelligence issues. The PCO's International Assessment Staff (PCO IAS) helps to coordinate "the efforts of the Canadian assessment community and provides PCO and other senior government clients with policy-neutral assessments of foreign developments and trends that may affect Canadian interests."


Terrorist financing

Terrorist financing in Canada is addressed through the ''
Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act In accounting, revenue is the total amount of income generated by the sale of goods and services related to the primary operations of the business. Commercial revenue may also be referred to as sales or as turnover. Some companies receive reven ...
'' (''PCMLTFA''), as well as the '' Income Tax Act'' and the ''Charities Registration (Security Information) Act'', which are administered by the
Department of Finance A ministry of finance is a part of the government in most countries that is responsible for matters related to the finance. Lists of current ministries of finance Named "Ministry" * Ministry of Finance (Afghanistan) * Ministry of Finance and Ec ...
. In accordance with the ''PCMLTFA'', the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre works to prevent and deter terrorist financing. Likewise, the Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency reviews applications, conducts
audit An audit is an "independent examination of financial information of any entity, whether profit oriented or not, irrespective of its size or legal form when such an examination is conducted with a view to express an opinion thereon.” Auditing ...
s, and collects and analyzes multi-source intelligence in order to detect and address risks to Canada's charitable sector. These operations are in accordance with the ''Income Tax Act'', the ''Charities Registration (Security Information) Act'', and the ''PCMLTFA''. The Finance Department also leads the Canadian effort in related international activities, particularly regarding the work of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).


Border and transportation security

Measures taken in regards to cross- border movement of potential threats are facilitated under the '' Immigration and Refugee Protection Act'' (''IRPA''), primarily by the
Canada Border Services Agency The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA; french: Agence des services frontaliers du Canada, ''ASFC'') is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border control (i.e. protection and surveillance), immigration enforcement, and cu ...
(CBSA) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The CBSA, which is a part of Public Safety Canada, has an "Immigration Security Screening" program, which can "detect the movement of potential subjects of interest as they apply for temporary or permanent residence, or refugee status," as per ''IRPA.'' CBSA also monitors the cross-border flow of currency, and has the authority to seize "unreported currency flows suspected of being the proceeds of crime or related to terrorist financing." Under ''IRPA'', the Canadian government uses security certificates to detain and deport foreign nationals and all other non-citizens living in Canada. The certificate can be issued towards a permanent resident or any other non-citizen perceived to be a threat to national security, as well as those suspected of violating human rights or of having membership within organized crime. The security of transportation systems are primarily facilitated by Transport Canada, which is the lead department for responding to transportation security incidents and for transportation-related emergency preparedness. This includes the security of aviation, marine, rail, road, and intermodal transportation security systems. Transport Canada's responsibilities are granted through several key federal statutes, such as the '' Aeronautics Act'', the '' Marine Transportation Security Act'', the '' Railway Safety Act'', the '' International Bridges and Tunnels Act'' and the '' Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act''. Public Safety Canada and Transport Canada jointly oversee the Canadian no-fly list, called the
Passenger Protect Passenger Protect, commonly referred to as the Canadian no-fly list, is the Canadian government initiative to identify individuals who may be an "immediate threat to aviation security" and prevent them from boarding a flight, The program consists ...
program, which identifies individuals who may pose a threat to
aviation security Airport security includes the techniques and methods used in an attempt to protect passengers, staff, aircraft, and airport property from malicious harm, crime, terrorism, and other threats. Aviation security is a combination of measures and hum ...
and "reduces their ability to cause harm or threaten aviation by taking action, such as preventing them from boarding an aircraft." Additional security is provided through passenger and
baggage screening Airport security includes the techniques and methods used in an attempt to protect passengers, staff, aircraft, and airport property from malicious harm, crime, terrorism, and other threats. Aviation security is a combination of measures and hum ...
, which is conducted by Transport Canada's
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA; french: Administration canadienne de la sûreté du transport aérien) is the Canadian Crown Corporation responsible for security screening of people and baggage and the administration of ide ...
(CATSA).


International and extraterritorial security

The ''
Combating Terrorism Act The ''Combating Terrorism Act'' (the ''Act'') is an Act of the Parliament of Canada that renewed some provisions to the Criminal Code that had expired under a sunset clause for a new five-year term, and to introduce new crimes for leaving Canada t ...
'', which came into force in July 2013, was put in place with the intent to prevent and deter individuals from leaving Canada for particular terrorism-related purposes. The ''Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Act'' provides the Minister of Foreign Affairs with responsibility over all matters relating to the conduct of Canada's external affairs, including countering international terrorism and responding to terrorist incidents abroad. As such, the Foreign Affairs Minister leads Canada's response to terrorist or security-related incidents outside of the country. Global Affairs Canada is accordingly responsible for assessing social, economic, security, and political developments that "help define a global threat environment." Depending on the nature of the incident, the Canadian response can include the provision of consular assistance to Canadians overseas (including expatriates); financial or physical aid; or deployments of experts from Canada's national security community. Extraterritorial investigations of terrorist activity are investigated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (part of Public Safety Canada) when committed against a
Canadian citizen Canadian nationality law details the conditions in which a person is a national of Canada. With few exceptions, almost all individuals born in the country are automatically citizens at birth. Foreign nationals may naturalize after living in Ca ...
or by a Canadian citizen abroad. Various federal organizations, particularly the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence (Canada Centre; also part of Public Safety Canada), closely collaborate with partners in the Five Eyes ( United States, United Kingdom,
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, New Zealand), the Group of Seven (G7), and the European Union. The Canada Centre also actively participates in multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the
Global Counterterrorism Forum The Global Counterterrorism Forum is an informal, apolitical, multilateral counter-terrorism (CT) platform that was launched officially in New York on 22 September 2011. The GCTF's goal is to strengthen capabilities in order to develop a strategi ...
(GCTF), as well as collaborating with the
Institute for Strategic Dialogue The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) is a think tank founded in 2006 by Sasha Havlicek and George Weidenfeld that specialises in research and policy advice on hate, extremism, and disinformation. It is headquartered in London, United Kin ...
, the Hedayah Center, and the
Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics * Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...
(CREST). The Canadian government also engages in the Global Coalition against Daesh, a partnership of 79 countries that works towards defeating Daesh through such activities as preventing the flow of foreign terrorist fighters across borders and countering the group's communications.


Biosecurity

In terms of chemical,
biological Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary in ...
, radiological, and nuclear warfare, the surveillance for diseases and events resulting from the use of CBRNE agents is the responsibility of Public Health Agency of Canada, who is in charge of coordinating a public health response to such a terrorist incident. Monitoring services, hazard assessments, information, and advisories and decontamination strategies are also provided by
Health Canada Health Canada (HC; french: Santé Canada, SC)Health Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Department of Health (). is the Structure of the Canadian federal government#Departments, with subsidiary unit ...
for CBRNE events. PHAC also maintains the National Emergency Stockpile System, which contains
medical countermeasure Biosecurity refers to measures aimed at preventing the introduction and/or spread of harmful organisms (e.g. viruses, bacteria, etc.) to animals and plants in order to minimize the risk of transmission of infectious disease. In agriculture, thes ...
s against CBRNE agents and disaster medical supplies for use in
mass-casualty incident A mass casualty incident (often shortened to MCI) describes an incident in which emergency medical services resources, such as personnel and equipment, are overwhelmed by the number and severity of casualties. For example, an incident where a ...
s. Moreover, all members of the Canadian Forces are trained in CBRNE defense. The Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit is a unit under the direction of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command that is tasked with supporting the federal government in preventing, controlling, and mitigating CBRN threats to Canada, Canadians, and Canadian interests. Health Canada is also mandated to provide services to support the overall security objectives for major international events (such as the 2010 Winter Olympics or
G20 summit The following list of G20 summits summarizes all G20 conferences held at various different levels: summits of heads of state or heads of government, ministerial-level meetings, Engagement Group meetings and others. Summits of state leaders ...
), specifically in the areas of health and safety of federal government employees, surveillance and response to radiological nuclear threats, and support to first-responders in the event of a CBRNE event or disease outbreak.


Designated organizations

The government of Canada has banned more than 52 terrorist organizations. These include
Al Qaeda Al-Qaeda (; , ) is an Islamic extremist organization composed of Salafist jihadists. Its members are mostly composed of Arabs, but also include other peoples. Al-Qaeda has mounted attacks on civilian and military targets in various countr ...
, the Armed Islamic Group, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA),
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE; ta, தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள், translit=Tamiḻīḻa viṭutalaip pulikaḷ, si, දෙමළ ඊළාම් විමුක්ති කොටි, t ...
(LTTE), the
International Sikh Youth Federation The International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) is a proscribed organisation that aims to establish an independent homeland for the Sikhs of India in Khalistan. It is banned as a terrorist organisation under Australian, European Union, Japane ...
, the Palestine Liberation Front, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command Popularity or social status is the quality of being well liked, admired or well known to a particular group. Popular may also refer to: In sociology * Popular culture * Popular fiction * Popular music * Popular science * Populace, the tota ...
, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad,
Hezbollah Hezbollah (; ar, حزب الله ', , also transliterated Hizbullah or Hizballah, among others) is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group, led by its Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah since 1992. Hezbollah's parami ...
,
Kahane Chai Kach ( he, כך, lit=Thus) was a radical Orthodox Jewish, ultranationalist political party in Israel, existing from 1971 to 1994. Founded by Rabbi Meir Kahane in 1971, based on his Jewish-Orthodox-nationalist ideology (subsequently dubbed Kahan ...
, the Taliban, and
Mujahedin e-Khalq The People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), also known as Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) or Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) ( fa, سازمان مجاهدين خلق ايران, sâzmân-e mojâhedīn-e khalq-e īrân), is an Iranian pol ...
. In 2019, Combat 18 and
Blood & Honour Blood & Honour is a Neo-Nazism, neo-Nazi music promotion network and right-wing extremist political group founded in the United Kingdom by Ian Stuart Donaldson and Nicky Crane in 1987. It is composed of White Nationalism, White Nationalists an ...
were the first neo-Nazi groups in Canada to be banned by the government. In April 2006, the Canadian government designated the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE; ta, தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள், translit=Tamiḻīḻa viṭutalaip pulikaḷ, si, දෙමළ ඊළාම් විමුක්ති කොටි, t ...
as a terrorist group. In December that year, the government expanded the federal ban of Hezbollah from the purely militant wing to all 16 sub-organizations.


Research on extremism in Canada

The Kanishka Project was a CA$10-million, five-year initiative of Public Safety Canada that provided funding to research on terrorism-related matters affecting Canada. Announced by the Government of Canada in June 2011, the Project was named after the
Boeing 747-237B The Boeing 747 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner designed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States between 1968 and 2022. After introducing the 707 in October 1958, Pan Am wanted a jet times its size, to ...
(''Emperor Kanishka'') plane that was bombed in the Air India Flight 182 attack of 1985. It funded nearly 70 projects and contributed to hosting various events related to discussing counter-terrorism. As part of the Project, $3.7 million was invested with Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) towards supporting research and related activities that addressed the issues identified by the Kanishka Project. The Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security and Society (TSAS), located at the University of Waterloo, is an academic
research network Scientific collaboration network is a social network where nodes are scientists and links are co-authorships as the latter is one of the most well documented forms of scientific collaboration. It is an undirected, scale-free network where the deg ...
purposed to form "
multidisciplinary research Interdisciplinarity or interdisciplinary studies involves the combination of multiple academic disciplines into one activity (e.g., a research project). It draws knowledge from several other fields like sociology, anthropology, psychology, ec ...
on terrorist radicalization" and "the coordinated interaction of academic researchers with government officials." It was created in 2012 with funding both the Kanishka Project and a grant from the SSHRC. TSAS' co-directors are Lorne Dawson and Veronica Kitchen.


Radicalization in Canada

Radicalization, or having radical thoughts, in Canada is not illegal or necessarily problematic in and of itself. The Constitution of Canada, through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, protects the freedom of thought, belief,
opinion An opinion is a judgment, viewpoint, or statement that is not conclusive, rather than facts, which are true statements. Definition A given opinion may deal with subjective matters in which there is no conclusive finding, or it may deal with f ...
, and expression of Canadians. In terms of radicalization to violence, various federal and provincial/territorial government initiatives have been established, particularly under Public Safety Canada on the federal level. Particularly, the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence (Canada Centre) leads the Canadian government's efforts to "counter radicalization to violence." It does not manage or advise on individual cases, but rather addresses the issue in terms of broad strategy. The Centre was mandated in 2015; the federal budget the following year allocated $35 million over five years to establish and support the Centre, in addition to $10 million per year on-going. The Canada Centre also leads the Canadian government's engagement and cooperation with the
Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) is an Internet industry initiative to share proprietary information and technology for automated content moderation. History Founded in 2017 by a consortium of companies spearheaded by Fac ...
(GIFCT), established by Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft in 2017. On 11 December 2018, the Canada Centre launched the "National Strategy on Countering Radicalization to Violence," which is meant to "explain[] radicalization to violence and the destructive and harmful behaviours involved," as well as outlining the federal government's "approach and key priorities in countering and preventing radicalization to violence." Implementation of the National Strategy is supervised by the National Expert Committee on Countering Radicalization to Violence. The Community Resilience Fund (CRF) is a system, administered by the Canada Centre, for supporting "partnerships in countering radicalization to violence in Canada," providing funding to organizations towards engagement (e.g., research, cooperation, engaging communities, etc.) with the issue. As of 2019‑2020 onward, the Fund has been promised $7 million available each year for existing and new projects. Through CRF, the Canada Centre has supported the
Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics * Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...
, located in Montréal, in conducting research on "better understanding risk and protective factors within families of individuals who radicalize to violence and also the role families and communities can play in mitigating radicalization to violence." Also through the Fund, the Canada Centre has supported " multi-agency intervention programs to build capacity to manage cases of individuals who are radicalizing to violence."


Counter-radicalization programs

A number of government departments deliver "social programming that contribute[]" to supporting approaches "to preventing radicalization to violence;" such federal departments include: * Royal Canadian Mounted Police — First Responders Terrorism Awareness Program * Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — Settlement Program, and Resettlement Assistance Program * Defence Research and Development Canada, Centre for Security Science — Canadian Safety and Security Program * Global Affairs Canada — Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program, and the Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program * Department of Justice Canada — Victims Fund *
Canadian Heritage The Department of Canadian Heritage, or simply Canadian Heritage (french: Patrimoine canadien), is the Ministry (government department), department of the Cabinet of Canada, Government of Canada that has roles and responsibilities related to init ...
— Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program * Status of Women Canada — Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence Local government/non-profit initiatives funded by the Community Resilience Fund include: * Furthering Our Communities by Uniting Services (FOCUS) Toronto — a program led by the Toronto Police Service,
City of Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most pop ...
, and United Way Toronto and York Region, which is "building capacity to add radicalization to violence to the range of issues" that it addresses. * Ottawa Multiagency Early Risk Intervention Tables (MERIT) — a collaborative intervention program supported by the Ottawa Police Service, local agencies, and service partners that is "building capacity to address cases of individuals radicalizing to violence," in addition to its existing capabilities. *
Edmonton Resiliency Project Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city anch ...
— a "collaborative approach" delivered by the Edmonton Police Service, City of Edmonton, and
Organization for the Prevention of Violence An organization or organisation (Commonwealth English; see spelling differences), is an entity—such as a company, an institution, or an association—comprising one or more people and having a particular purpose. The word is derived from ...
"to prevention and intervention that draws on trusted community and organizational relationships to prevent violent extremism." *
Calgary Re-Direct Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, makin ...
— a partnership between the City of Calgary, Community and Neighbourhood Services, the Calgary Police Service, and others that "uses a multidisciplinary approach to intervention with youth and young adults who are vulnerable to radicalization to violence." * Social Polarizations — a team of mental-health professionals who specialize in interventions to counter radicalization to violence, based in a local Integrated Health and Social Services Centre in Quebec. * Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence (CPRLV; often called the Montreal Centre) * John Howard Society of Ottawa


List of international threats and attacks


List of domestic threats and attacks


Suspected terrorism

* March 5, 2015 — While new anti-terrorism law was under consideration and months before federal election, four
Conservative Party The Conservative Party is a name used by many political parties around the world. These political parties are generally right-wing though their exact ideologies can range from center-right to far-right. Political parties called The Conservative P ...
Members of Parliament (
Denis Lebel Denis Lebel (born May 26, 1954) is a Canadian politician and who served as mayor of Roberval, Quebec and deputy leader of the Official Opposition. Lebel was born in Roberval, Quebec. Political career Lebel was elected to the House of Commons ...
, Steven Blaney, Christian Paradis and Maxime Bernier) in Quebec received letters with white powder ( Anthrax hoaxes) and message "''Conservateurs, vous serez anéantis''," which translates to "Conservatives, you will be annihilated" at their constituency offices.


Terrorism abroad

Canadian victims of non-Canada-related extremism abroad include: * September 11, 2001 — 9/11 attacks (
USA The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
): United Airlines Flight 175 and American Airlines Flight 11 were purposefully crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, killing thousands of people, including Garnet Bailey (53), a Canadian professional ice hockey player and scout who was a member of
Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
and Memorial Cup winning teams. *August 19, 2003 — Canal Hotel bombing ( Iraq): A
suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...
truck bombing in Baghdad supposedly carried out by Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad killed 22 people, including two Canadians—Christopher Klein-Beekman (31), a UNICEF representative, and Gillian Clark (47), an
aid worker Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-term help by the government and other institutions replaces it. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and v ...
for the
Christian Children's Fund ChildFund, formerly known as Christian Children's Fund, is a child-focused international development organization that provides assistance to children facing poverty and other challenges in 24 countries, including the United States. ChildFund's h ...
(CCF). *September 2013 —
Westgate shopping mall attack On 21 September 2013, four masked gunmen attacked the Westgate shopping mall, an upscale mall in Nairobi, Kenya. There are conflicting reports about the number killed in the attack, since part of the mall collapsed due to a fire that starte ...
( Nairobi, Kenya): An attack carried out by Al-Shabaab killed 68 people, including two Canadians—a businessman and a Government of Canada official. *June 13, 2016 — Killing of Robert Hall ( Philippines): On 21 September 2015, Canadian citizen Robert Hall (66) was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines and beheaded nine months later near Patikul, Sulu. *January 15, 2006 — Killing of Glyn Berry ( Afghanistan): A
car bomb A car bomb, bus bomb, lorry bomb, or truck bomb, also known as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), is an improvised explosive device designed to be detonated in an automobile or other vehicles. Car bombs can be roughly divided ...
attack in Afghanistan killed
Glyn Berry Glyn Raymond Berry (June 14, 1946 – January 15, 2006) was a Canadians, Canadian diplomat killed by a suicide attack, suicide car bombing attack in Afghanistan. He was the first Canadian diplomat to be killed while on duty in Afghanistan. Two othe ...
, the first Canadian diplomat to be killed while on duty in Afghanistan. Two other civilians were killed in the incident and 10 people were wounded, including three Canadian soldiers, MCpl. Paul Franklin, Pte. William Edward Salikin and
Cpl. Corporal is a military rank in use in some form by many militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. The word is derived from the medieval Italian phrase ("head of a body"). The rank is usually the lowest ranking non- ...
Jeffrey Bailey.Ceremony honours Canadian diplomat killed in Afghanistan
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Extremists with Canadian connections abroad

The ''
Combating Terrorism Act The ''Combating Terrorism Act'' (the ''Act'') is an Act of the Parliament of Canada that renewed some provisions to the Criminal Code that had expired under a sunset clause for a new five-year term, and to introduce new crimes for leaving Canada t ...
'', which came into force in July 2013, was put in place with the intent to prevent and deter individuals from leaving Canada for particular terrorism-related purposes. In 2018, the Canadian government states that there has not been an increase, nor does it expect an increase, in the number of Canadian Extremist Travellers (CETs) who have returned to Canada. The total number of CETs identified by the government includes around 190 individuals who have a nexus to Canada, and near 60 who have returned. The following are some extremists around the world with Canadian connections. * Xristos Katsiroubas and Ali Medlej ( Algeria) — two high school friends from London, Ontario who went to Morocco in 2011, and then onwards to
Mauritania Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...
, Niger, and Libya, where they are said to have trained under Algerian terrorist Mokhtar Belmokhtar. Both were killed after taking part in a terrorist attack in the
In Amenas hostage crisis The In Amenas hostage crisis began on 16 January 2013, when al-Qaeda-linked terrorists affiliated with a brigade led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar took expat hostages at the Tigantourine gas facility near In Amenas, Algeria. One of Belmokhtar's senior ...
in January 2013, which killed 38 hostages at an Algerian gas plant. * Andre Poulin (
Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
) — a man from Timmins, Ontario who subscribed to violent extremist views in 2008. Arriving in Syria in 2012, he is considered to have been killed fighting at the al-Minakh airfield in August 2013. * Ali Mohamed Dirie (Syria) — a former member of the "
Toronto 18 Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anchor ...
" previously imprisoned for plotting terrorist attacks in Ontario. Within a year of his release, Dirie travelled to Syria and joined a terrorist group. * Damian Clairmont or Mustafa al-Gharib (Syria) — a man Calgary, Alberta who subscribed to violent extremist views. He is presumed to have been killed in infighting between terrorist groups in Syria. * Mahad Ali Dhore ( Somalia) — a man who crossed into Somalia while visiting Kenya to join an al-Shabaab training camp. He is considered to have been killed while helping conduct an April 2013 terrorist attack in Mogadishu.


See also

*
Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre The Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre (ITAC; ) is an independent federal organization tasked with assessing threats of terrorism to Canada and Canadian interests abroad. It is the only federal organization with the specific responsibility of a ...
* National Terrorism Threat Level *
Charkaoui v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) ''Charkaoui v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration)'', 2007 SCC 9, is a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on the constitutionality of procedures for determining the reasonableness of a security certificate and for review ...
*
Anti-Canadian sentiment Anti-Canadian sentiment is hostility towards the government, culture, or people of Canada. Historical Voltaire reputedly joked that Canada was "a few acres of snow." He was in fact referring to New France as it existed in the 18th century. The ...
* Anti-abortion violence in Canada * Crime in Canada * Law enforcement in Canada * List of conflicts in Canada * List of unsolved murders *
Terrorism in the United States In the United States, a common definition of terrorism is the systematic or threatened use of violence in order to create a general climate of fear to intimidate a population or government and thereby effect political, religious, or ideolog ...
* List of attacks on legislatures


References


Further reading

* Bell, Stewart. 2007. ''Cold Terror: How Canada Nurtures and Exports Terrorism around the World''. * Hamilton, Dwight. 2006. ''Inside Canadian Intelligence: Exposing the New Realities of Espionage and International Terrorism''. Dundurn Press.
Preview
at Google Books. * Jiwa, Salim, and Donald J. Hauka. 2006. ''Margin of Terror: A Reporter's Twenty-Year Odyssey Covering the Tragedies of the Air India Bombing''. * Kellett, Anthony. 2004. "Terrorism in Canada, 1960-1992" Ch. 10 in ''Violence in Canada: Sociopolitical Perspectives''. * Roach, Kent. 2003. ''September 11: Consequences for Canada''. McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 0-7735-2584-X
Preview
at Google Books. * Ross, J. I. 1988. "An Events Data Base on Political Terrorism in Canada: Some Conceptual and Methodological Problems." ''Conflict Quarterly'' 8(2):47–65. * —— 1988. "Attributes of Domestic Political Terrorism in Canada, 1960-1985." '' Terrorism: An International Journal'' 11(3):213–33. * —— 1992. "Attacking Terrorist Attacks: Initial Tests of the Contagion Between Domestic and International Terrorism in Canada." ''Low Intensity Violence and Law Enforcement'' 1(2):163–83. * —— 1994. "Low-Intensity Conflict in the Peaceable Kingdom: The Attributes of International Terrorism in Canada, 1960-1990." ''Conflict Quarterly'' 14(3):36–62. * —— 1995. "The Rise and Fall of Quebecois Separatist Terrorism: A Qualitative Application of Factors from two Models." '' Studies in Conflict & Terrorism'' 18(4):285–97.


External links


''The Anti-terrorism Act''
- Department of Justice
Terrorism and Canada
at ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'', accessed September 6, 2019
Canadian Incident Database
— a publicly-accessible database describing terrorism and violent extremism incidents with a Canadian connection, between 1960 and early 2015. {{Americas topic, Terrorism in Conflicts in Canada Canada Unsolved murders in Canada Human rights abuses in Canada