Feds reject House committee advice to review no-ransom rule for kidnappings abroad
The government’s response to calls for consular-service reform is being panned by critics as a “middle of the road,” “status quo” approach that skirts two fundamental problems in the current system. Critics say the current rules leave Canadians open to discrimination in terms of the support they get from their government abroad, and keep families […]
The terrorist attack that wasn’t, and one that may have been
OTTAWA—If you’re like me—and I really hope you’re not for many, many reasons—you probably read the news with a certain slant and through a certain filter. In my case, I read almost everything via a terrorism lens—except maybe the comics—since I write about terrorism every day. When I read news from around the world, I […]
Rural Liberal chair says he’s putting his faith in Blair as gun ban decision looms
The chair of the Liberal rural caucus says he trusts Border and Organized Crime Minister Bill Blair to take the “right approach” as he prepares to announce whether the government will ban handguns and assault-style weapons following a lengthy consultation. Liberal MP Francis Drouin (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Ont.), who now chairs the Liberal rural caucus, said […]
The scourge of white racism
OTTAWA—The death toll from the white supremacist terrorist attack on Muslims in New Zealand had only just risen on the weekend when United States President Donald Trump was tweeting his full-throated support for a Fox News host who had been suspended for on-air Islamophobic comments. “Bring back [Judge Jeanine] Pirro,” the president tweeted from the […]
Why Canada’s counter-proliferation framework needs an update
Over the past 70 years, few concepts have had as big a role in safeguarding humanity against the use of weapons of mass destruction than counter-proliferation. It is a national and international priority, arguably on par with climate change. Counter-proliferation is best understood as preventing the global spread of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons—collectively […]
Reading, writing, and radicalism: schools and the links to terrorism
OTTAWA—One of the many beauties of living in a liberal, secular democratic society is the freedom to disagree and debate. There are always many sides to an issue and we have the liberty to express our opinions without the fear of being arrested. Many citizens in many countries do not have this right. But what […]
Security certificate cases and Canada’s failure to use the intelligence it collects
OTTAWA—If there is one legal tool that divides Canadians like few others it is the so-called “national security certificates.” These are administrative processes whereby the government can remove those who are not Canadian citizens and who are seen as “undesirable.” To cite Public Safety Canada: “The security certificate process within the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) […]
Senate Conservatives plan to ‘gut’ Liberal gun bill, and they may have the numbers to do it
The Liberals’ firearms legislation is going to get a rough ride in the Upper Chamber, according to the Conservative Senate critic, who says the opposition is planning a set of amendments to “gut” Bill C-71. A 12-member Senate committee, composed of five Conservatives and at least one unaffiliated Senator who, like the Tories, has criticized […]
Finally, some clarity on Canada’s foreign fighter problem
OTTAWA—If there is one thing in the world of terrorism that touches Canada the most, at least in the minds of average Canadians, it is the issue of those among us who elected to leave to join violent extremist groups abroad. Some of these participated in acts of terrorism in which innocent people died, others […]
What’s next on the cannabis-legalization road?
Repealing close to a century of laws prohibiting the use of cannabis has not been without challenges. That’s no surprise to anyone familiar with the process of developing and implementing public policy. At only three months in, we have only begun to implement the Cannabis Act. The status of retail sales most clearly illustrates this […]
