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CANADIAN AUTHORITIES TAKE ACTION AGAINST TERRORISM

In an a interview with the Toronto Sun, Canadian Solicitor General, Andy Scott said the governent will take action to stop terrorist groups from raising money in Canada. According to Scott, Canada has become a panacea for terrorist front groups, who collect money in the guise of charity organizations. Not only do terrorists run front groups in Canada, but according to the 1997 Public report of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), they abuse the relative freedom of operation in Canada to operate safe houses, provide logistic support, and procure weapons for shipment abroad.

The CSIS report stated that nearly every known international terrorist organization has a base of some sort in Canada. Many of these operate a variety of fund raising agencies masquerading as humanitarian or social organizations. Such covert groups as a rule refrain from carrying out actions against their host countries, however this can change at any time. Many terrorist organizations possess the infrastructure to perpetrate attacks in Canada. Though Scott declined to name the particular charities, both Hamas and Hizbolla are known to operate Islamic "charity" agencies in Canada and in the U.S.

According to a press statement from the Solicitor General's Office, "Canada is developing a range of tough measures against terrorists", including:

• New laws on money laundering and cross-border currency controls aimed at organized crime will have benefits for counter-terrorism efforts.
• Introduction of major amendments to the laws governing extradition to help ensure Canada is not a safe haven for terrorists and other criminals.
• Ratification of the United Nations conventions on the suppression of terrorist bombing and on the safety of United Nations and associated personnel.
• Working with G-8 countries to develop approaches to curb terrorist fund raising.
• Making it more difficult for terrorists to enter Canada and abuse our immigration process to avoid justified removal from the country. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is developing proposals as part of the broader reform of the Immigration Act.

The Toronto Sun, quoting inside sources, stated that Canadian tax authorities may be called upon to help in investigating charity groups in order to find out which are legitimate and which are front groups for terrorist.

Source : Toronto Sun, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Solicitor General's Department

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