Minister Blaney speaks to the Canadian Club of Toronto on anti-terrorism measures to better protect Canadians

TORONTO, April 29, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Steven Blaney, Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, delivered a keynote speech today at the Canadian Club of Toronto that highlighted the Harper Government's actions to protect Canadians from the threats posed to Canada by jihadi terrorist organizations like ISIS and by cyber terrorism.

Minister Blaney outlined the strong stance our Government is taking to ensure security and stability in the face of serious national security threats. Recent measures include the introduction of the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015, which would enhance information sharing for national security purposes, provide police forces with the additional tools they need to prevent, detect, deny and respond to the threat, and further prevent travel for terrorist purposes. The anti-terrorism legislation would also target terrorist recruitment by creating a new offence of advocating or promoting terrorism generally.

In his remarks, the Minister talked about the Harper Government's efforts to tackle the evolving threat of terrorism online. The Anti-terrorism Act, 2015 would give our courts the authority to order the removal of terrorist propaganda online. This important step would help our Government restrict the spread of terrorist propaganda in Canada for the purpose of radicalizing individuals and obtaining new recruits.

Quick Facts

• As part of Economic Action Plan 2015, the Harper Government is investing $292.6 million over five years in intelligence and law enforcement agencies for additional investigative resources to counter terrorism.
• On April 23, 2015, the Protection of Canada from Terrorists Act received Royal Assent.This legislation contains targeted amendments to the CSIS Act to ensure our intelligence agency has the tools it needs to investigate threats to the security of Canada and ensure our collective safety and security.
• In 2013, the Combating Terrorism Act made it a criminal offence to leave or attempt to leave Canada for the purposes of participating in or facilitating terrorist activity.
• In 2012, the Government of Canada released Canada's Counter-terrorism Strategy, which guides more than 20 federal organizations to prevent, detect, deny and respond to the threat of terrorism.

Quotes

"Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism, as demonstrated by the cowardly terrorist attacks in Ottawa and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu last October. Protecting Canadians and securing our institutions against terrorist threats remains a top priority for our Government. We will continue to stand with our international allies and take decisive action to keep Canadians safe."

–The Honourable Steven Blaney, Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Related Products

• Canada's Counter-terrorism Strategy
• PM announces anti-terrorism measures to protect Canadians
• The Government of Canada Introduces Protection of Canada from Terrorists Act
• Important Measures to Strengthen Counter-Terrorism Legislation Pass Parliament

Associated Links

• Countering ISIS
• Anti-Terrorism Act, 2015

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SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

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www.publicsafety.gc.ca