Statement from Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Blaney

OTTAWA, April 23, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Steven Blaney, Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, issued the following statement on Bill C-44, the Protection of Canada from Terrorists Act, receiving Royal Assent:

"I am very pleased to announce that Bill C-44, the Protection of Canada from Terrorists Act, has been given Royal Assent by His Excellency, the Governor General. This important legislation helps ensure that our security and intelligence agencies have the tools they need to address the ever-evolving threat of terrorism.

Past events and current threats from terrorist organizations, such as ISIS, remind us that Jihadi terrorism is not a future possibility; it is a present reality. These threats reinforce why we need to strengthen our laws to better protect our national security. This new law enhances our Government's ability to protect Canadians by responding to important issues raised in court decisions and confirming CSIS's existing authority to work abroad to investigate threats to the security of Canadians. The measures will strengthen and protect the rights of Canadians against jihadi terrorists who seek to destroy the very principles which make Canada the best country in the world in which to live.

This legislation:

• Confirms CSIS's authority to conduct investigations outside of Canada;
• Confirms that the Federal Court can issue warrants for CSIS to investigate threats to our national security outside of Canada;
• Gives the Federal Court authority to operate within the scope of relevant Canadian law when issuing warrants to authorize CSIS to undertake certain activities to investigate a threat to the security of Canada outside of Canada;
• Protects the identity of CSIS human sources from disclosure, similar to protections afforded to informants to Canadian law enforcement agencies;
• Protects the identity of CSIS employees who may engage in covert activities in the future; and also
• Implements provisions of the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act to revoke Canadian citizenship from dual citizens who are convicted of terrorism, high treason, and treason or spying offences, depending on the sentence received.

The international jihadi movement has declared war on Canada and its allies. Our Government has never hesitated to call jihadi terrorism what it is. Just as we are not afraid to condemn it, we are not afraid to confront it. The Protection of Canada from Terrorists Act provides our security agency with further tools to investigate and respond effectively to terrorism."

An electronic version of the legislation can be found at www.parl.gc.ca.

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SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

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