Thirteen new additions, including the Proud Boys, have been made to the Canada’s Criminal Code list of terrorist entities
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced the move yesterday.
“Violent acts of terrorism have no place in Canadian society or abroad. Today’s additions to the Criminal Code list of terrorist entities are an important step in our effort to combat violent extremism in all forms. Canadians expect their Government to keep them safe and to keep pace with evolving threats and global trends, such as the growing threat of ideologically motivated violent extremism. The Government of Canada will continue to take appropriate actions to counter terrorist threats to Canada, its citizens and its interests around the world.”– The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Proud Boys is a neo-fascist group founded by a Canadian and formed in 2016.
The 13 groups include four ideologically motivated violent extremist groups: Atomwaffen Division, the Base, the Proud Boys and Russian Imperial Movement.
In addition, Canada has also listed:
- three Al Qaida affiliates: Jama’at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimin, Front de Libération du Macina, and Ansar Dine
- five Daesh affiliates: Islamic State West Africa Province, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, Islamic State in Libya, Islamic State East Asia, and Islamic State – Bangladesh
- Hizbul Mujahideen
Based on their actions, each group meets the legal threshold for listing as set out in the Criminal Code, which requires reasonable grounds to believe that an entity has knowingly participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity, or has knowingly acted on behalf of, at the direction of, or in association with such an entity.
The Criminal Code mandates severe penalties for people and organizations that deal with property or finances of a listed entity. A listing can also support the denial or revocation of a Canadian organization’s charitable status if it maintains connections to listed entities. Furthermore, persons seeking entry into Canada may be inadmissible if they are found to be associated with a listed entity. A listing also helps to facilitate the removal of an entity’s online content.
As threats evolve both here at home and around the world, we’re taking action to keep you safe and combat violent extremism. Today, Minister @BillBlair announced that we’re declaring 13 groups as terrorist entities in Canada. More on what this means: https://t.co/O7r1r96j0Q
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 3, 2021
Canadians can be confident in the work our agencies do every day to keep our communities safe from all forms of violent extremism.
For more information on today’s announcement: https://t.co/iSv9TF9Hwu
— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) February 3, 2021
The listings process is guided by the work of our national security agencies. The listing of an entity sends a signal that Canada will not tolerate violent extremism. A listing also carries significant consequences, and enables the application of measures…
— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) February 3, 2021