Posted on 24 March 2011
Ottawa, March 24, 2011 – The longstanding absence in Canada of appropriate and in-depth national security parliamentary oversight and the lack of a strong research basis specific to the transition from radicalization into violence in our country are but two of the main concerns expressed in the latest Special Senate Committee on Anti-terrorism report. Entitled “Security, Freedom and the Complex Terrorist Threat: Positive Steps Ahead”, the report deals with the changing threat environment in Canada, the challenges associated with terrorism investigations and prosecutions and parliamentary oversight of national security.
“Canada now lags significantly behind its allies on the issue of parliamentary oversight and there is an urgent need to remedy the situation,” stated the chair of the committee, Senator Hugh Segal. “Our committee strongly believes that parliamentarians must be fully informed about national security activities so that they can more effectively defend the interests of Canadians”. The committee report therefore recommends that, consistent with the practices in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, the Netherlands and the United States, the federal government constitute, through legislation, a committee composed of members from both Chambers of Parliament, to execute parliamentary oversight of national security. The committee shall report to the Prime Minister, who would make that report public within 60 days of receipt.
The report also asserts that the purpose of detecting, preventing, acting lawfully against and prosecuting terrorist acts is to keep Canada and Canadians, who have a strong history of commitment to human rights and the rule of law, safe from those who would imperil our democratic freedom, core values and tolerant way of life through acts of violence. “It is critical that we Canadians keep vigilant and more specifically that we understand how the radicalization of extremists leads to violence,” said Senator Serge Joyal, deputy chair of the committee. In that respect, the report recommends that, given the lack of a strong research basis specific to the transition from radicalization into violence in Canada, the federal government provide support, including financial support, to conduct such research, in order to better understand and prevent violent extremism.
To read the full report, please visit the committee website: http://senate-senat.ca/anti-t-e.asp.
Members of the Special Senate Committee on Anti-terrorism also include Senators George Furey (Newfoundland and Labrador), Mobina S.B. Jaffer (British Columbia), Elizabeth Marshall (Newfoundland and Labrador), Pierre Claude Nolin (De Salaberry – Quebec), David P. Smith, P.C. (Cobourg – Ontario), David Tkachuk (Saskatchewan) and Pamela Wallin (Saskatchewan).
For further information:
Jean-Pierre Morin
Media Relations
613-943-4597 or 1-800-267-7362
morinj@sen.parl.gc.ca
Barbara Reynolds
Committee Clerk
613-990-4995 or 1-800-267-7362
reynob@sen.parl.gc.ca