Trudeau should offer better explanation for meeting Boyle, otherwise he looks ‘foolish,’ House should launch review of PMO screening process, say political players
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should reveal all the facts surrounding his now controversial meeting with former Afghan captive Joshua Boyle last month on the Hill because without a clear explanation the prime minister looks “foolish,” say political players, who also say the House should launch an inquiry to review the PMO’s screening process. “I don’t […]
PMO must open up more about Boyle affair, Trudeau’s judgment rightly questioned
OTTAWA—Who thought the Showtime hit drama Homeland was fiction? Because it seems we now have a copycat program playing out for real in Canada. Yes, the Joshua Boyle-Justin Trudeau meeting and the subsequent charges laid against Boyle have the feel of life imitating art. The oddity of Joshua Boyle and his lived experience has been […]
We need to ignore most jihadi propaganda
In the lead up to New Year’s a lot of people were very nervous that festivities would be interrupted by a terrorist attack. To be fair, the fear was not completely unfounded as last year’s celebration in Turkey a gunmen opened fire in an Istanbul nightclub killing 39 and wounding more than 70. Some states […]
War with an ‘ism’ is a bad idea
OTTAWA—Last week, I was invited to a conference in the U.K. hosted by the Henry Jackson Society, a U.S.-U.K. think tank that looks at a variety of issues. At this particular conference, entitled “A wake-up call for all: creating a trans-Atlantic network to battle radical Islam,” there was a host of speakers from both sides […]
Lessons for a new RCMP commissioner
PARLIAMENT HILL—The federal government is seeking a new commissioner for the RCMP. Canada’s national police force needs new management and, last June, former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna was tasked with developing a short list for the prime minister. Prospective candidates be warned: this will not be an easy job. Before accepting the position, any […]
Counter-terrorism and the evidentiary chain in Canada
We in Canada do not have a lot of experience when it comes to terrorism. That is, of course, a good thing as the opposite scenario would be tragic. No, despite the fact that the Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre (ITAC) in Ottawa has pegged the threat level at medium, where it has been since Oct. […]
Is Saudi Arabia serious about combating terrorism?
An awful lot has been happening in Saudi Arabia of late. There is a new sheriff-to-be in town, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman—or MBS as he is known—and he is not wasting any time in making changes about the place. Scores of senior princes have been arrested on corruption charges, women have been allowed to […]
‘Repressive,’ ‘risk-averse’ corrections system needs parliamentary oversight, says Sen. Pate
Almost every day since she was named to the Senate last November, Kim Pate has received a letter or phone call from an inmate. In her Ottawa office, there are boxes full of messages from prisoners who the longtime advocate said she feels a responsibility to serve. Many have her cellphone number, she said, and […]
In a world beset by too much terrorism, perspective is more important than ever
OTTAWA—It is not hard to understand why many are obsessed with terrorism these days. Every news day brings us yet another attack, more misery, and more deaths. No wonder some may want to scream “make it stop!” And yet there is a very significant difference related to where you live in the world when it […]
Can Canadians trust CSIS to help keep us safe?
OTTAWA—This piece was never going to be an easy one to write. The organization where I proudly worked for more than 15 years—CSIS—is now the subject of a $35-million lawsuit by five employees alleging racism, Islamophobia and homophobia. Canadians may very well ask whether an agency apparently “rife” with these problems should be allowed to […]
