ARCHIVED - Harper Government announces third round of projects funded through the Kanishka Project

OTTAWA, May 9, 2013 — Today, the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, met with researchers and Air India victims' families to announce the successful recipients of the third round of funding from the Kanishka Project, worth over $1.7 million. The Kanishka Project is a multi-year investment from the Government of Canada in terrorism-focused research.

On June 23, 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the Kanishka Project, an initiative named after the Air India Flight 182 plane that was bombed on June 23, 1985, killing 329 people, most of them Canadians. Research supported by the project will increase our understanding of the recruitment methods and tactics of terrorists, which will help produce more effective policies, tools and resources for law enforcement and people on the front lines.

"Our Government is committed to keeping our streets and communities safe, providing law enforcement the tools they require to do the job we ask of them, and to protecting this country from terrorists and the fear they hope to generate," said Minister Toews. "Terrorism and violent extremism pose real threats to Canada and as these threats evolve, we must improve our ability to better prevent and disrupt attacks."

The Government of Canada has committed a total of $10 million over five years to the Project as a way to honour the memory of the victims.

The 11 projects receiving funding under the third round of the Kanishka Project will provide valuable contributions towards improving our understanding of terrorism. These projects will study a range of issues, including internet use by terrorist groups, airport security, and support for victims and survivors of terrorist acts.

"Preventing, countering, and prosecuting terrorism are priorities for our Government," added Minister Toews. "We continue to be vigilant and take the steps necessary to protect Canadians and their families in order to prevent a tragedy like the bombing of Air India flight 182 from ever happening again."

Canada's Counter-terrorism Strategy sets out how the Government as a whole organizes its efforts to prevent, detect, deny and respond to the threat of terrorism. The success of the Strategy relies on strong partnerships with experts in different fields, including the academic community. In support of the Government of Canada's efforts under the Strategy to prevent individuals from engaging in terrorism, the Kanishka Project strives to create a vibrant network of scholars that will inform more effective policies for preventing and countering terrorism.

The fourth call for proposals through the Kanishka Project Contribution Program closed on April 15, 2013, and is currently being assessed. The call for proposals for the fifth round of funding will be announced at a future date.

See also:

Backgrounder: Third round of successful Kanishka Project research proposals

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Information:
Julie Carmichael
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2924

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657

Date modified:

2015-11-20