Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Trudeau has 'confidence' in RCMP to investigate Canadian extremist travellers

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Jun, 2019 06:29 PM

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government has confidence in the RCMP to investigate Canadians who travelled to fight alongside extremists in Iraq and Syria.

    Speaking in France following a D-Day anniversary ceremony, Trudeau said the Mounties and intelligence agencies in Canada and abroad face the difficult challenge of presenting the information they gather in court as evidence of crimes.

    Trudeau says the government is ensuring Canadian agencies have the necessary resources and opportunities to collaborate with foreign allies on such cases.

    The latest annual federal report on extremism says some 190 people with connections to Canada are suspected of terrorist activity abroad and, in addition, approximately 60 have returned.

    The activities of these Canadians in various countries could involve front-line fighting, training, logistical support, fundraising or studying at extremist-influenced schools.

    A small number of the 60 returnees have come back from Turkey, Iraq or Syria, and many who went abroad now lack valid travel documents, find themselves on a no-fly list or fear being arrested on Canadian soil.

    "We fully respect the role of the RCMP to make determinations independently on how it will proceed with prosecutions with its approach in various investigations. We have confidence in the RCMP," Trudeau said.

    "One of the challenges when it comes to international issues of this sort is always making the translation from intelligence-gathering activities to presenting evidence of crimes," he added. "That is something that the RCMP, our intelligence agencies, and indeed agencies around the world, are struggling with and working on very hard."

    The RCMP says relationships with foreign police are fundamental to Canada's ability to deal with extremist travellers.

    "While our ultimate goal is criminal prosecution, we look at every tool at our disposal to disrupt the threat," said Cpl. Caroline Duval, an RCMP spokeswoman.

    Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale has stressed that Canadians who travelled to join overseas extremists chose to abandon the democratic advantages of Canada in favour of pursuing terrorist activities.

     

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Woman takes federal border agency to court after trusted-traveller pass pulled

    Mei Dong, a Chinese citizen with permanent-resident status in Canada, is asking a court to rule that she has not breached the law against money-laundering and terrorist-financing.

    Woman takes federal border agency to court after trusted-traveller pass pulled

    Environment groups say oil industry asks will lead to 'climate chaos'

    The different visions for Canada's economic and environmental policies are a preview of the federal election campaign to come, in which the fossil-fuel sector and environment groups are expected to play central and conflicting roles.

    Environment groups say oil industry asks will lead to 'climate chaos'

    Ottawa's spring floods put last round of repairs to the test

    Water levels on the Ottawa River remain a metre above normal and crews working for the National Capital Commission are just beginning to assess the damage to infrastructure near the Ottawa River.

    Ottawa's spring floods put last round of repairs to the test

    World has 'positive lesson to learn' after MMIWG inquiry: Trudeau

    Trudeau said that the work of the commission was important to establish what has happened, adding the focus now needs to be on respect for Indigenous Peoples and putting an end to terrible violence in Canada and elsewhere in the world.

    World has 'positive lesson to learn' after MMIWG inquiry: Trudeau

    Toronto kicks off series of ceremonies marking 75th anniversary of D-Day

    The city commemorated the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of France that turned the tide of the conflict.

    Toronto kicks off series of ceremonies marking 75th anniversary of D-Day

    Alberta introduces amended Education Act; Opposition says LGBTQ kids at risk

    A bill introduced Wednesday by Education Minister Adriana LaGrange is meant to replace the 31-year-old School Act and governs everything from school attendance to district boundaries and trustee voting.

    Alberta introduces amended Education Act; Opposition says LGBTQ kids at risk

    PrevNext