Canada's senate tables report against radicalization and terrorism

Canada's Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence Wednesday tabled its interim report on security threats facing Canada.

The report, titled Countering the Terrorist Threat in Canada, examines terrorist recruitment, operations, financing, prosecutions and other aspects of the security threats Canadians face at home and abroad.

The report notes that the terrorist threat is real, and at a time of increasing international mobility and proliferating weapons and material of mass destruction, the trends call for citizens and policy-makers alike to seriously consider both the dangers and solutions which might be available.

For the report which took nine months of study focused on terrorism related issues, the committee heard from over 100 witnesses, including experts on terrorism, radicalization and violent extremism, as well as many individuals with first-hand experience of radicalization in Canada.

"We are grateful to all the witnesses who came forward to share their knowledge and experience and offer recommendations on what should be done. All Canadians are in this together and we must be vigilant against the threat posed by terrorists; extremists; supporters or sympathizers," said the Committee Chair Senator Daniel Lang.

The committee is deeply concerned about the threats Canadians face and the measures which will be required to address them. Specifically, the financial and operational costs are significant given that it takes between 20-25 security officials to monitor one highly radicalized individual on a 24/7 basis.

During its hearings, the committee learned that there are over 318 radicalized Canadians supporting the extremist jihadist movement or seeking to leave Canada to join it. This number is increasing. Eight Canadian charities have lost their charitable status as a result of links to terrorism. And between 2009 and 2014, the government identified 683 financial transactions linked to terrorist financing. In all these cases, there were very few charges, prosecutions or convictions.