Canada introduces anticipated Protection of Canada From Terrorists Act

Tweet New Anti-Terrorism Measures The Government of Canada released its proposed new anti-terrorism legislation today, entitled the Protection of Canada From Terrorists Act, Bill C-44 (the “PCFT“). The material part of the PCTF amends the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act and is quite short. It does as follows: Clarifies that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (“CSIS“) has […]

Canada to adopt terrorism law to spy on homegrown terrorists – will it be challenged?

Tweet New proposed terrorism surveillance law The government of Canada will announce proposed legislation tomorrow to increase its counter-terrorism measures in response to the national security threats from the Islamic State. The proposed law will give more power to CSIS agents in Canada to detect and track persons associated with, or suspected to be associated […]

Auditor General of Canada says $3.1 billion in funding to combat terrorism unaccounted for

Tweet The Auditor General of Canada, Michael Ferguson, released his Spring 2013 Report (the “Report“) today and among the key findings, found that $3.1 billion in funding to programs to combat terrorism in Canada is unaccounted for. Moreover, the Report found that some of the $12.9 billion approved for fighting terrorism in Canada went to pay […]

Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act comes info force in Canada

Tweet As anticipated, the federal Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act (the “Act“) came into force in Canada on March 13, 2013 without much fanfare. The Act creates a cause of action that allows victims of terrorism to sue natural and legal persons (and of particular interest, listed entities) and certain foreign states, in a Canadian court […]

Omnibus crime bill receives Royal Assent and impacts anti-terrorism laws

Tweet The Safe Streets and Communities Act, (Bill C-10), also known as the omnibus crime bill received Royal Assent today in Parliament and is significant from an anti-terrorism perspective. Justice for Victims of Terrorism Bill C-10 enacts the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act (the “Act”) which creates a cause of action that allows victims […]

Two Somali foreign nationals in the US convicted of terrorist financing

Tweet Two Somali women, who became US naturalized citizens, were convicted today in federal court in Minnesota of terrorist financing for providing material support to al-Shabaab, a listed terrorist entity in both the US and Canada. The two women collected funds from Somali foreign nationals in Canada and the US during a three year period […]

Canada appeals decision staying extradition of Khadr to Supreme Court of Canada

Tweet The Canadian government has applied for leave to appeal a decision staying the extradition of Abdullah Khadr to the Supreme Court of Canada. In May of this year, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a lower court decision staying Khadr’s extradition. The Canadian government is arguing that it’s ability to comply with international obligations […]

Supreme Court of Canada agrees to hear appeal of terrorism law

Tweet The Supreme Court of Canada has granted leave to Mohammed Khawaja to appeal the decision of Ontario Court of Appeal that upheld his conviction for terrorist activity financing and other terrorism-related charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The Ontario Court of Appeal called Khawaja’s initial 101/2 year sentence manifestly unfit and substituted it for a sentence of […]

BC Court of Appeal upholds terrorist financing sentence

Tweet The Court of Appeal for British Columbia has upheld a six month prison sentence imposed on a former Sri Lankan refugee in Canada for terrorist activity financing. In 2008, Prapaharan Thambaithurai solicited funds from members of the Tamil community in Vancouver to support the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a designated terrorist group in […]