A Senate committee says Canada needs to go much further in cracking down on radicalism and terrorism, including a process to certify, or verify, the credentials of Muslim imams as a means of stamping out “extreme ideas.”
The recommendation from the Senate committee on national security and defence represents the view of its Conservative majority but is not supported by members who are Liberal senators.
Intervening in the training of imams, leaders in the Muslim faith, is a surprising suggestion for the Harper Tories, who normally advocate a clear separation of church and state in Canada.
Muslim leaders immediately decried the idea...
Actually, the recommendations are different and substantially more extensive than The Globe suggests. Some of the recommendations are long overdue, including the investigation of Muslim Brotherhood affiliated entities in Canada, and establishing whether they should be designated as terrorist groups.
One interesting recommendation would be the proposed changes to Canada's Hate Laws to include the glorification of terrorists and terrorist symbols. If implemented, it would land the terrorist-supporting human garbage behind the Khomeinist al Quds Day rallies, with their calls for violence and glorification of terrorism, in jail. As tempting as that proposal is, using Hate Laws for that is a slippery slope best not descended.
The recommendations of The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defense are below, and you can read the entire report HERE.
Recommendation 1 – The Government make it a criminal offence to be a member of a terrorist group in Canada.
Recommendation 2 – The Government investigate and discourage the spread of violent extremism in Canada as a priority, especially the ideology promoted by the global Islamist fundamentalist movement.
Recommendation 3 – The Government work with “at-risk communities”, especially women, to encourage and support practices which are in keeping with Canadian values.
Recommendation 4 – The Government work to establish a program which provides information about clear and specific indicators of radicalization to front line workers including teachers, police officers, prison workers, nurses and doctors. It should do more to encourage Canadians to anonymously report information regarding terrorism, criminal extremism or suspicious activities which could pose a threat to safety and security by calling the national security tip line – 1-800- 420-5805.
Recommendation 5 – The Government establish a program to support families who report radicalization and are seeking help.
Recommendation 6 – The Government work with Muslim communities to create an effective counter-narrative to denounce the ideology of Islamist fundamentalism.
Recommendation 7 – The Government establish a publicly accessible “No-Visit List,” which identifies ideological radicals who pose a threat to the security of Canada and who will be prohibited from visiting.
Recommendation 8 – The federal government establish a regular dialogue with the provinces for the purpose of preventing extremism and radicalization within areas of provincial jurisdiction including, but not limited to schools, colleges, universities and prisons.
Recommendation 9 – The federal government work with the provinces and the Muslim communities to investigate the options that are available for the training and certification of imams in Canada.
Recommendation 10 – The Government establish a publicly accessible database of those organizations which have had their charitable status removed on the basis of links to terrorism.
Recommendation 11 – When the Government removes charitable status on the basis of terrorism, it holds individuals responsible for being party to, or providing material support, for terrorist activity.
Recommendation 12 – The Government update the hate laws of Canada and consider including a prohibition on the glorification of terrorists, terrorist acts and terrorist symbols connected to terrorism and radicalization.
Recommendation 13 – The Government inform Canadians of the threat to the security of Canada, and that the communications be clear, quantitative, and unambiguous in providing a realistic overview of the national security situation in Canada and abroad.
Recommendation 14 – The Government publish a “Wanted Terrorist List,” of those Canadians for whom a warrant (national or international) has been issued on grounds of terror related activities.
Recommendation 15 – The Government develop measures to prevent foreign funds from entering Canada, where such funds, donors or recipients have been linked to radicalization.
Recommendation 16 – The Government work with Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the National Security Advisor to ensure a briefing is available to appropriate federal and provincial leaders, at least once per year, to ensure they are aware of threats to the security of Canada within their jurisdiction.
Recommendation 17 – Government authorities establish a protocol with Canadian Security Intelligence Service to require mandatory screening of citizens involved in public outreach.
Recommendation 18 – The Government establish a specialized team of lawyers within the department of the Attorney General of Canada to prosecute terrorism cases and ensure judges who are selected to hear terrorism cases have specialized background and training about terrorism.
Recommendation 19 – The Government encourage police and Crown prosecutors to enforce provisions of the Criminal Code in all relevant matters involving terrorism in the criminal and precriminal space.
Recommendation 20 – The Criminal Code be amended in order to empower relevant law enforcement agencies to lay terrorism charges, without first requiring approval of the Attorney General of Canada or any other federal or provincial minister of the Crown.
Recommendation 21 – The Muslim Brotherhood and entities closely associated with it, be reviewed by CSIS as a priority, with the intent of determining whether it should be designated a terrorist entity.
Recommendation 22 – The Government should encourage provincial governments to implement legislation that protect Canadians who are participating in the public discourse from vexatious litigation.
Recommendation 23 – The Government develop and implement statutory authorities among the national security review bodies, in order to provide for the exchange of operational viii information, referral of investigations, conduct of joint investigations and coordination in the preparation of reports and that independent reviews be implemented for any department or agency involved in national security where none currently exists;
Recommendation 24 – The Government redesign the Kanishka Project in partnership with provinces and municipalities on a cost shared basis to emphasize practical projects that empower “at-risk communities” – especially women – and encourage post-secondary institutions to work on issues related to terrorism and radicalization.
Recommendation 25 – The Government encourage greater coordination, on the part of Public Safety Canada, for the purposes of facilitating terrorism-related emergency preparedness with municipalities, provinces and the private sector, and this effort include an analysis of the continuing utility and appropriateness of the Emergencies Act.
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