McLEOD — Another step to protect Canada from terrorism

A Speech by Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod in the House of Commons Friday, Jan. 30:

Mr. Speaker, first of all I want to clarify that we are discussing Bill C-44
today. Bill C-51 was recently tabled, and we look forward to some very
important debate on this complementary legislation for protecting Canadians.

I rise in support of the protection of Canada from terrorists act, which is
another important step taken by our government to protect Canada against
terrorism. We are looking at amending two key pieces of legislation. This
bill would strengthen our response to so-called extremist terrorist
travellers and confirm the tool kits of our security agencies.

Before highlighting the most important amendments, let me situate this
legislation within a global context and explain how it would build on our
existing legislation and policy.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, has become a household
name around the world. It is destabilizing Iraq and Syria while carrying out
horrific acts against innocent people. As members know, as part of
international coalition, Canada’s CF-18 fighter jets are targeting ISIL
forces in Iraq. We have joined our allies in this fight because we know that
groups like ISIL pose a serious threat not just to regional security but to
the citizens of Canada as well.

However, the fight against terrorism does not take place only under foreign
skies. Every day, along our borders, in front of our computer screens,
within our communities, and with our partners, Canada’s intelligence
security and law enforcement agencies are standing on guard against
terrorism. They carry out their work guided by the four tenets of Canada’s
counterterrorism strategy, which are prevent, detect, deny, and respond.
They are supported by legislation passed by Parliament, which includes the
Combating Terrorism Act, for example, which makes it illegal to leave or
attempt to leave Canada with a view to committing certain terrorism offences
outside the country. Indeed, the RCMP laid its first charges under that act
last summer.

The landscape for terrorism, however, is rapidly evolving, and our agencies
need better tools to keep Canadians safe and secure. Members may want to
consider the findings of the 2014 Public Report on the Terrorist Threat to
Canada. In 2013, Canada added six groups to the list of terrorist entities,
bringing the total to 53. Moreover, as early as 2014, the government had
identified approximately 145 individuals with terrorism connections who may
have been involved in terrorism-related activities in foreign countries.
These are Canadians that groups like ISIL are trying to recruit through sick
propaganda.

When Canadians are lured into fighting for a terrorist cause, they can
inflict harm on innocent people in a foreign country. What is more, with the
training that they receive and the propaganda that they are subjected to,
extremist travellers may return home motivated to carry out terrorist acts
on our own soil. Thus, while our brave men and women take part in combat
missions overseas, it is our responsibility here to prevent, detect, deny,
and respond to terrorism in all of its forms.

This brings me to Bill C-44, the protection of Canada from terrorists act.

This act addresses two key pieces of legislation that are essential in our
fight against terrorism. As members will recall, the Strengthening Canadian
Citizenship Act received royal assent in June and expanded the grounds for
the revocation of Canadian citizenship. It also streamlined the process for
making those decisions. Once in force, there will be authority to revoke
Canadian citizenship from dual citizens convicted of terrorism, high
treason, and treason or spying offences, depending on the sentence that is
imposed. It will also provide authorities with the authority to revoke
citizenship from those who have served as members of an armed force of a
country or an organized armed group engaged in an armed conflict against
Canada.

Those convicted cannot get time off for good behaviour. These individuals
will never be allowed to become Canadian citizens again.

The amendments of Bill C-44 introduced technical changes to the
Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act that would allow the government to
bring into force the revocation provision of the act earlier than, and
separate from, the remaining provision.

I would also note that there is a second important change included in the
strengthening Canadian citizenship bill. It relates to the process for
revoking citizenship. Without these new provisions, the process for revoking
citizenship can take up to three years, which I believe, and I believe many
Canadians believe, is much too long. Let us imagine a dual citizen who has
been radicalized. We may have the evidence to revoke citizenship, but we
cannot do it in a timely way because the process is so lengthy. It was vital
to streamline the process for revoking citizenship, while respecting the
rights of the people involved.

To that end, depending on the grounds for the decision, once the provisions
are in force, there would be authority for the Minister of Citizenship and
Immigration or the Federal Court to decide on revocation cases.

These amendments to our citizenship laws introduced in the strengthening
Canadian citizenship bill would protect the safety and security of Canadians
and value and safeguard of value of Canadian citizenship.

Bill C-44 would also amend another piece of legislation, the CSIS Act. We
heard earlier that when the CSIS Act was introduced 30 years ago, the
expression “extremist traveller” was not part of our lexicon, and neither
was “social media.” Who could have imagined that messages of intolerance and
hate would one day be transmitted without filters to a mobile telephone? Who
could have foreseen how this propaganda could turn someone with mainstream
views into an extremist?

However, this is the world we now live in. We must adapt, and adapt
quickly, to ensure that CSIS has the tools it needs to investigate threats
in a new world. To do this, we must affirm key elements of CSIS’ mandate
that have been brought into question by recent court decisions. That is
really what Bill C-44 is all about. It is not about new powers.

First, this bill would confirm CSIS’ existing authority to undertake
investigative activities outside of Canada in relation to the security of
Canada or to security assessments.

Second, it would confirm the existing jurisdiction of the Federal Court to
issue warrants to authorize CSIS to undertake certain intrusive
investigative activities outside of Canada.

Third, it would clarify that in determining whether to issue warrants for
activities outside of Canada, the Federal Court need only consider relevant
Canadian law.

Fourth, it would ensure that the identities of CSIS’ human sources would not
be disclosed in legal proceedings, except in certain circumstances. This
provision is similar to the common law privilege protections that already
exist for front-line police informers.

In addition to protecting the identity of CSIS sources during legal
proceedings, it would also protect the identity of CSIS employees who are
likely to become involved in future covert operations.

Taken together, the amendments proposed in Bill C-44 address recent court
decisions related to CSIS and ensure that CSIS has the tools it needs to
fulfill the mandate it was given by Parliament 30 years ago.

Canadians depend on our government to protect them from terrorist
activities, and we must not fail them. I urge all members to join me in
offering unconditional support for Bill C-44, a much-needed response to a
rapidly changing security environment.