Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Canada

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Canada TERRORISM AND COUNTERTERRORISM IN CANADA Through close analysis of the Canadian context, Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Canada provides an advanced introduction to the challenges and social consequences presented by terrorism today. Featuring contributions from both established and emerging scholars, it tackles key issues within this fraught area and does so from multiple disciplinary perspectives, using historical, quantitative, and qualitative lenses of analyses to reach novel and much-needed insights. Throughout the volume, the editors and contributors cover such top- ics as the foreign fighter problem, far-right extremism, the role of the internet in fostering global violence, and the media’s role in framing the discourse on terrorism in Canada. Also included are essays that look at the struggles to develop specific counterterrorism policies and prac- tices in the face of these threats. In addition to offering a detailed primer for scholars, policymakers, and concerned citizens, Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Canada confronts the social and legal consequences of mounting securitization for marginalized communities. (Canada Among Nations) jez littlewood is an independent researcher and policy analyst in the Government of Alberta. lorne l. dawson is a professor in the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo. sara k. thompson is an associate professor in the Department of Criminology at Ryerson University. CANADA AMONG NATIONS Canada Among Nations is an established series produced by the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA), Canada’s oldest, largest, and top-ranked interdisciplinary graduate school of international affairs and a full and founding member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA). Canada Among Nations provides thematic reviews of key international policy issues affecting Canada and its place in the world, and volumes pub- lished in the series have been used extensively in university courses at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Canada Canada Among Nations, Volume 30 EDITED BY JEZ LITTLEWOOD, LORNE L. DAWSON, AND SARA K. THOMPSON UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS Toronto Buffalo London © University of Toronto Press 2020 Toronto Buffalo London utorontopress.com Printed in Canada ISBN 978-1-4875-0186-0 (cloth) ISBN 978-1-4875-1412-9 (EPUB) ISBN 978-1-4875-2170-7 (paper) ISBN 978-1-4875-1411-2 (PDF) Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Title: Terrorism and counterterrorism in Canada / edited by Jez Littlewood, Lorne L. Dawson, and Sara K. Thompson. Names: Littlewood, Jez, editor. | Dawson, Lorne L., 1954– editor. | Thompson, Sara K., 1971– editor. Description: Series statement: Canada among nations ; vol. 30 | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: Canadiana 20190192712 | ISBN 9781487521707 (softcover) | ISBN 9781487501860 (hardcover) Subjects: LCSH: Terrorism – Canada. | LCSH: Terrorism – Canada – Prevention. | LCSH: Terrorism – Government policy – Canada. | LCSH: Terrorism – Social aspects – Canada. Classification: LCC HV6433.C2 T47 2020 | DDC 363.3250971—dc23 University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial assistance to its publishing program of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario. .
Recommended publications
  • 2018 Csis Public Report
    /// 2018 CSIS PUBLIC REPORT Aussi disponible en français sous le titre : Rapport public du SCRS 2018 www.canada.ca Published in June 2019 © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, 2019. © Public Works and Government Services Canada 2019 Cat No. PS71-2018 ISSN: 1188-4415 /// 2018 CSIS PUBLIC REPORT 2018 CSIS PUBLIC REPORT 1 2 2018 CSIS PUBLIC REPORT /// TABLE OF CONTENTS MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR 8 THE RELEVANCE OF OUR WORK 13 Our Core Mandate, Partnerships, and Duties and Functions 14 Departmental Results Framework/Financials 15 The Intelligence Cycle 16 Threats to Canada’s National Security 19 The International Terrorism Landscape and Implications for Canada 24 Espionage and Foreign Influenced Activities 25 Protecting our Democratic Institutions 26 Economic Security 26 Cyber Threats to National Security 28 Security Screening 29 2018 CSIS PUBLIC REPORT 3 THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR PEOPLE 33 CSIS across Canada 34 Dedicated to Promoting Health and Wellness 35 Building Employee Resilience 36 Recruiting 37 Gender-Based analysis + 37 Demographics of CSIS Employees 39 THE CONFIDENCE OF CANADIANS 41 Accountabilities of the CSIS Director 42 Accountability and Retaining the Trust of Canadians 44 Transparency 45 Access to Information and Privacy statistics 45 CSIS Foreign Cooperation 46 Human Rights Considerations 46 Academic Outreach 48 New Legislation: C-59 – What does it mean for CSIS? 49 4 20182018 CSIS PUBLIC REPORT 2018 CSIS PUBLIC REPORT 5 /// OUR VISION “A SAFE, SECURE AND PROSPEROUS CANADA THROUGH TRUSTED INTELLIGENCE AND ADVICE”. 6 2018 CSIS PUBLIC REPORT 2018 CSIS PUBLIC REPORT 7 /// MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR Almost 35 years ago, on July 16, 1984, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) came into existence.
    [Show full text]
  • 595 an Empirical Study of Terrorism Prosecutions in Canada
    EMPIRICAL STUDY OF TERRORISM PROSECUTIONS IN CANADA 595 AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF TERRORISM PROSECUTIONS IN CANADA: ELUCIDATING THE ELEMENTS OF THE OFFENCES MICHAEL NESBITT* AND DANA HAGG** It has now been over 15 years since Canada enacted the Anti-Terrorism Act, codifying what we think of today as Canada’s anti-terrorism criminal laws. The authors set out to canvass how these provisions have been judicially interpreted since their inception through an empirical analysis of court decisions. After exploring how courts have settled initial concerns about these provisions with respect to religious and expressive freedoms, the authors suggest that courts’ interpretations of Canada’s terrorism offences still leave us with many questions, particularly with respect to the facilitation and financing offences. The authors explore these questions and speculate about future challenges that may or may not be successful with the hopes of providing guidance to prosecutors and defence lawyers working in this area. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ............................................. 595 II. TERRORISM PROSECUTIONS TO DATE ............................ 599 III. JUDICIAL INTERPRETATIONS OF THE ELEMENTS OF TERRORISM OFFENCES .................................... 608 A. DEFINITIONS (SECTION 83.01)............................. 608 B. OFFENCES ............................................ 620 IV. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS ....................... 647 I. INTRODUCTION It has now been over 15 years since Canada expeditiously enacted the Anti-Terrorism
    [Show full text]
  • AN ANTI-ORIENTALIST DISCOURSE ANALYSIS of the ANTI-TERRORISM ACT of CANADA by Shaista P
    LEGALIZING THE RACIALIZATION OF MUSLIMS: AN ANTI-ORIENTALIST DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF THE ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF CANADA by Shaista Patel B.Sc, McMaster University, 2001 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Society, Culture and Politics in Education) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA July 2007 © Shaista Patel, 2007 ABSTRACT The central argument in this research is that the knowledges produced through the Anti• terrorism Act naturalize the Orientalist construction of male Muslim bodies as threats to the nation, while simultaneously legitimizing the Canadian nation as white. This study disrupts the binary of the security versus civil liberties debates surrounding the dominant discourses about the Anti-terrorism Act. Using race, space and the law as critical tools of analysis, I examine the Orientalist rationalities underpinning the successful mobilization of the Anti• terrorism Act as a "juridical discourse" of the Canadian nation. I read for the racialized power in the Act in order to argue that the seemingly neutral language of the Act disguises the way it represents the Orientalist construction of male Muslim bodies as inherently violent, and as a threat to the spaces of the white nation. Within this discussion, I also examine how the Orientalist imagining of Muslim women's bodies has been deployed by the Canadian state to reify the image of Muslim man as 'barbaric' and 'uncivilized'. I situate my analysis of the Act within the broader socio-political history of colonized Canada to argue that the Anti-terrorism Act is part of the historically racist and exclusionary discourses of the nation built on stolen land where mythologies of white supremacy are still rampant as official narratives of the nation.
    [Show full text]
  • Terrorism in Canada
    Journal of Military and Strategic VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3, Spring 2011 Studies Terrorism in Canada Michael Zekulin September 11th 2011 will mark the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks which toppled the World Trade Center buildings in New York City and killed approximately three thousand people. These attacks marked the beginning of an escalation of global Islamic terrorism which shows no signs of fading in the near future. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether Islamic terrorism has seen a marked increase in Canada since 9/11 and further identify what this might mean for Canadians and policymakers moving forward. Investigating the terrorist incidents which have unfolded in Canada over the past ten years not only provides valuable information about the threats and challenges Canada has experienced since 9/11, it also provides clues about what we might expect moving forward. This paper argues that an analysis of terrorist incidents in Canada from 9/11 until today reveals a disturbing trend. However, it also provides a clear indication of several areas which need to be investigated and addressed in order to mitigate this threat moving forward. This paper begins by summarizing six high profile terrorist incidents which have unfolded in Canada over the past ten years. These include plots linked to the “Toronto 18,” as well as Misbahuddin Ahmed, Khurram Sher and Hiva Alizadeh, collectively referred to as the “Ottawa 3.” It also examines individuals accused of planning or supporting terrorist activities such as Said Namouh, Mohammad Khawaja, Mohamed Harkat and Sayfildin Tahir-Sharif. These case studies are presented to show the reader that Canada has faced significant threats in the ten years since 9/11, and further, that these incidents appear to be increasing.
    [Show full text]
  • The Canadian Intelligence Dilemma and the Securitisation of Terrorism
    THE CANADIAN INTELLIGENCE DILEMMA AND THE SECURITISATION OF TERRORISM Maj L.J.H. Clifford JCSP 42 PCEMI 42 Exercise Solo Flight Exercice Solo Flight Disclaimer Avertissement Opinions expressed remain those of the author and Les opinons exprimées n’engagent que leurs auteurs do not represent Department of National Defence or et ne reflètent aucunement des politiques du Canadian Forces policy. This paper may not be used Ministère de la Défense nationale ou des Forces without written permission. canadiennes. Ce papier ne peut être reproduit sans autorisation écrite. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as © Sa Majesté la Reine du Chef du Canada, représentée par represented by the Minister of National Defence, 2016. le ministre de la Défense nationale, 2016. CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE – COLLÈGE DES FORCES CANADIENNES JCSP 42 – PCEMI 42 2015 – 2016 EXERCISE SOLO FLIGHT – EXERCICE SOLO FLIGHT THE CANADIAN INTELLIGENCE DILEMMA AND THE SECURITISATION OF TERRORISM Maj L.J.H. Clifford “This paper was written by a student “La présente étude a été rédigée par un attending the Canadian Forces College stagiaire du Collège des Forces in fulfilment of one of the requirements canadiennes pour satisfaire à l'une des of the Course of Studies. The paper is a exigences du cours. L'étude est un scholastic document, and thus contains document qui se rapporte au cours et facts and opinions, which the author contient donc des faits et des opinions alone considered appropriate and que seul l'auteur considère appropriés et correct for the subject. It does not convenables au sujet. Elle ne reflète pas necessarily reflect the policy or the nécessairement la politique ou l'opinion opinion of any agency, including the d'un organisme quelconque, y compris le Government of Canada and the gouvernement du Canada et le ministère Canadian Department of National de la Défense nationale du Canada.
    [Show full text]
  • Canada 2020 Crime & Safety Report: Calgary
    Canada 2020 Crime & Safety Report: Calgary This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Consulate in Calgary, Canada. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Northwest Territories. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s Canada country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Travel Advisory The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Canada at Level 1, indicating travelers should exercise normal precautions. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Calgary as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Calgary continues to have a relatively low crime rate, when compared to similar-sized cities (pop: 1.3 million) in the United States, but there has been an increase over the past year in property crimes and violent crimes. Through 2019, Calgary continued to see a high volume of drug activity relating to fentanyl and methamphetamines, with most property crimes, homicides, and gang violence related to these drug activities. Hate crimes declined in 2019, but continue to take place at a higher rate in Calgary relative to other Canadian cities, according to Calgary Police Service’s (CPS) dedicated hate crimes unit. Domestic violence has also declined but is still a problem.
    [Show full text]
  • Criminalizing Terrorism in Canada: Investigating the Sentencing Outcomes of Terrorist Offenders from 1963 to 2010 Joanna Amirault
    Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 106 | Issue 4 Article 4 Fall 2016 Criminalizing Terrorism in Canada: Investigating the Sentencing Outcomes of Terrorist Offenders From 1963 to 2010 Joanna Amirault Martin Bouchard Graham Farrell Martin A. Andresen Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/jclc Recommended Citation Joanna Amirault, Martin Bouchard, Graham Farrell, and Martin A. Andresen, Criminalizing Terrorism in Canada: Investigating the Sentencing Outcomes of Terrorist Offenders From 1963 to 2010, 106 J. Crim. L. & Criminology (2016). https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/jclc/vol106/iss4/4 This Criminology is brought to you for free and open access by Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology by an authorized editor of Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. 4. AMIRAULT 4/6/2017 7:05 PM 0091-4169/16/10604-0769 THE JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL LAW & CRIMINOLOGY Vol. 106, No. 4 Copyright © 2017 by Joanna Amirault, Martin Bouchard, Graham Farrell, & Martin A. Andresen Printed in U.S.A. CRIMINALIZING TERRORISM IN CANADA: INVESTIGATING THE SENTENCING OUTCOMES OF TERRORIST OFFENDERS FROM 1963 TO 2010 JOANNA AMIRAULT,* MARTIN BOUCHARD,** GRAHAM FARRELL*** & MARTIN A. ANDRESEN**** Despite having endured significant terrorist incidents over the past 50 years, terrorism-specific offenses were not criminalized in Canada until the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) in 2001. One of the primary goals of this legislation was to provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to proactively prevent terrorist incidents; however, the effectiveness of these new legal measures in preventing terrorist incidents, and the potential for the increased punishment of offenders sanctioned under them, remains unclear.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding the Impact of Surveillance and Security Measures on Muslim Men in Canada
    Understanding the Impact of Surveillance and Security Measures on Muslim Men in Canada Understanding the Impact of Surveillance and Security Measures on Muslim Men in Canada Tabasum Akseer Centre for International and Defence Policy, Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada 2018 This project has been financed through the Community Resilience Fund of Public Safety Canada. Opinions expressed in this document do not necessarily represent official policy of the Government of Canada. Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Title: Understanding the impact of surveillance and security measures on Muslim men in Canada / Tabasum Akseer. Names: Akseer, Tabasum, 1984- author. | Queen’s University (Kingston, Ont.). Centre for International and Defence Policy, issuing body. Series: Martello papers ; 42. Description: Series statement: Martello papers, 1183-3661 ; 42 | Includes bibliographical references. Identifiers: Canadiana 20189065117 | ISBN 9781553396079 (PDF) Subjects: LCSH: Muslim men—Canada—Attitudes. | LCSH: Muslim men—Canada—Social con- ditions. | LCSH: National security—Canada. | LCSH: Terrorism—Prevention—Government policy—Canada. Classification: LCC FC106.M9 A58 2018b | DDC 305.6/97071—dc23 Abstract This study explores the effects of national security measures, in par- ticular security certificates, on the Canadian Muslim male population. While the constitutionality and use of certificates have been widely debated, few studies have explored the impact of security certificates and other national security measures on the Muslim/Arab population in particular. This Martello Paper explores the perceptions of surveil- lance experienced by this group and notes significant quantitative and qualitative differences on Muslim men compared to non-Muslim men. Survey data (50n) illustrate a “chilling effect” among Muslim men in the study, who are significantly less likely to exercise their civil liber- ties.
    [Show full text]
  • Canada 2020 Crime & Safety Report: Vancouver
    Canada 2020 Crime & Safety Report: Vancouver This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver, British Colombia. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Western Canada. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s Canada country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Travel Advisory The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Canada at Level 1, indicating travelers should exercise normal precautions. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Vancouver as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. While 2019 reports saw upward trends in some indices, overall criminal activity in Vancouver remains lower than cities of comparable size (approximately 675,000 residents) in the U.S. Property crimes remain by far the biggest threat to residents and visitors alike. Organized crime, including gang-related crime, is an ongoing issue in the lower mainland of British Columbia (BC). Asian gangs have long had a dominant presence in BC, and there are indications that Mexican cartels are gaining a foothold in the region. Asian organized crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs operate throughout BC, trafficking goods to the U.S., Australia, and Japan. The rate of violent crime remains low in Vancouver, although there was an overall increase of 9% in 2019.
    [Show full text]
  • Canada's Inadequate Response to Terrorism: the Need for Policy
    Fraser Institute Digital Publication February 2006 Canada’s Inadequate Response to Terrorism: The Need for Policy Reform by Martin Collacott CONTENTS Executive Summary / 2 Introduction / 3 The Presence of Terrorists in Canada / 4 An Ineffective Response to the Terrorism Threat / 6 New Legislation and Policies / 16 Problems Dealing with Terrorists in Canada / 21 Where Security Needs To Be Strengthened / 27 Problems with the Refugee Determination System / 30 Permanent Residents and Visitors’ Visas / 52 Canada Not Taking a Tough Line on Terrorism / 60 Making Clear What We Expect of Newcomers / 63 Working With the Muslim Community / 69 Concluding Comments and Recommendations / 80 Appendix A: Refugee Acceptance Rates / 87 References / 88 About the Author / 100 About this Publication / 101 About The Fraser Institute / 102 Canada’s Inadequate Response to Terrorism 2 Executive Summary Failure to exercise adequate control over the entry and the departure of non-Canadians on our territory has been a significant factor in making Canada a destination for terror- ists. The latter have made our highly dysfunctional refugee determination system the channel most often used for gaining entry. A survey that we made based on media reports of 25 Islamic terrorists and suspects who entered Canada as adults indicated that 16 claimed refugee status, four were admitted as landed immigrants and the channel of entry for the remaining five was not identified. Making a refugee claim is used by both ter- rorists and criminals as a means of rendering their removal from the country more difficult. In addition to examining specific shortcomings of current policies, this paper will also look at the reasons why the government has not rectified them.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 PUBLIC REPORT on the Terrorist Threat to Canada BUILDING a SAFE and RESILIENT CANADA
    2018 PUBLIC REPORT ON THE Terrorist Threat to Canada BUILDING A SAFE AND RESILIENT CANADA 3rd revision, April 2019 2018 PUBLIC REPORT ON THE TERRORIST THREAT TO CANADA i © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2019 Cat. No.: PS1-16E-PDF ISSN: 2562-2242 2018 PUBLIC REPORT ON THE Terrorist Threat to Canada 3rd revision, April 2019 Table of Contents 1 Ministerial Foreword 3 Executive Summary 5 The Current Terrorist Threat Environment 5 The Current Terrorist Threat to Canada 12 The International Threat Environment 15 Threat Methods and Capabilities Observed Globally in 2018 22 Canada’s Approach to Countering Terrorism 22 Managing Canadian Extremist Travellers 23 Arrests and Prosecutions in Canada for Committing Terrorism Offences 25 Bill C-59 – An Act Respecting National Security matters & Bill C-21 – An Act to Amend the Customs Act 26 Enhanced Passenger Protection Program 27 Immigration Security Screening 27 The Listing of Terrorist Entities 28 Countering Radicalization to Violence 28 Addressing Online Threats 29 Canada’s International Partnerships and Cooperation 31 Conclusion Ministerial Foreword I am pleased to provide the annual update on the threat to Canada from terrorism and violent extremism – part of our commitment to being open and transparent through a balanced and frank assessment of the current threat environment. In many ways, this year’s threat update is similar to those of the recent past. The threat posed by those espousing violent interpretations of religious, ideological or political views persists, but has remained stable. The National Terrorism Threat Level – a broad indicator of the terrorist threat to Canada – remains at Medium, unchanged since 2014.
    [Show full text]
  • An Events Data Base on Political Terrorism in Canada: Some Conceptual and Methodological Problems1 by Jeffrey Ian Ross
    Conflict Quarterly An Events Data Base on Political Terrorism in Canada: Some Conceptual and Methodological Problems1 by Jeffrey Ian Ross INTRODUCTION While terrorism is hardly a new phenomenon,2 there has been a worldwide increase in the amount of attention paid by the media, governments and academics to this type of behavior for the last two decades.3 This increased interest has lead to an increasing number of studies of political terrorism in advanced industrialized democracies. Very few studies, however, analyze political terrorism in Canada. Undoubtedly, Canada has had a limited experience with terrorism com­ pared to other forms of political conflict.4 The majority of studies that do focus on Canada suffer from a multitude of problems. These studies, like those of the subject as a whole, are for the most part descriptive, atheoretical, and devoid of empirical analyses. The very few empirical analyses of terrorism5 generally focus on either international or transna­ tional terrorist events while other types of terrorism, for example, in­ terstate, state, and domestic, have been seriously underrepresented. Moreover, these studies have a number of methodological problems. While there are a variety of methodologies for studying terrorism6 the most popular is the events data approach. While the reliability and validity of events or conflict data in general has been criticized,7 a data set on political terrorism has definite advantages. From a statistical analysis of terrorist incidents researchers should be able to: a) show that terrorists
    [Show full text]