Canada introduces measures against high-risk travelers

Canada Thursday announced the introduction of the Prevention of Terrorist Travel Act and changes to the Canadian Passport Order (CPO), new measures designed to protect Canadians by preventing the travel of those seeking to engage in terrorist activity abroad.

"Our Government has seen the troubling evidence of Canadians traveling overseas to participate in terrorist activities, particularly with the so-called Islamic State. We cannot ignore the danger posed by high-risk travelers looking to travel to places like Syria, only to potentially return back to Canada with training and experience necessary to threaten the safety of Canadians by engaging in jihadi terrorism here at home," Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Steven Blaney, said.

"The international jihadi movement has declared war on Canada, and we will provide our police forces and national security agencies with the tools they need to address the evolving threat of terrorism in order to protect Canadians and their families," Blaney said when announcing the measures jointly with Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander.

"With these amendments, we will be able to take swift action to prevent individuals from traveling abroad for terrorism-related purposes or to commit a sexual offense against children," said Alexander.

Amendments to the CPO will provide the Canadian government with a strengthened ability to cancel, refuse or revoke passports as a preventative measure against high-risk travelers and transnational child sex offenders, in alignment with the Criminal Code of Canada.

The measures proposed under the Prevention of Terrorist Travel Act will enable a federal court judge presiding over proceedings for passport cancellation, refusal or revocation decisions related to national security or terrorism to protect sensitive information from disclosure, but also use that information in making their decision.

Under the Prevention of Terrorist Travel Act (and consequential amendments to the Canada Evidence Act), the Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness has the authority to cancel, refuse or revoke a passport if that action is necessary to prevent an individual from committing a terrorism offense, as defined by the Criminal Code.

The Canadian government will create a new mechanism to protect sensitive information from disclosure if, in the judge's opinion, its disclosure could be injurious to national security or endanger the safety of any person.

The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration has the authority to cancel, refuse or revoke a passport if that action is necessary to prevent a sexual offense against children in Canada or abroad.

Passport investigations for cancellation, refusal and revocation will continue to be conducted in close collaboration with security partners, including the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.