ARCHIVED - Launch of Building Resilience Against Terrorism: Canada's Counter-Terrorism Strategy

Ottawa, Ontario
February 9, 2012

Check against delivery

Thank you ladies and gentleman for being here today.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, as well as the Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, we are very pleased to welcome you all to our nation's capital for what should be an interesting and informative two days.

Although you represent nations with diverse histories, priorities and cultures, we all face a shared threat to the safety and security of our citizens — and that threat is terrorism.

Canada has been unwavering in its commitment to protect Canadians and to support the global fight against terrorism.

That is why we work closely with international partners, like those gathered here today, to combat terrorism and its perpetrators.

I have said on many occasions that the most fundamental job of any government is to provide for the safety and security of its citizens.

Today, I am pleased to have the opportunity to make an announcement that underscores just how fundamental this responsibility is, and how seriously our Government takes it.

Anyone who has studied our history should know that Canada has not been immune to terrorism; several hundred Canadians have been killed or injured in terrorist incidents in the past several decades.

This includes the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182, which was planned and executed on our soil, and killed 280 Canadians; and, of course, the tragic events of September 11th, when 24 Canadians lost their lives.

While our capacity to counter threats on all fronts has increased significantly over the past decade, the threat persists and evolves.

That's why building resilience against terrorism remains an ongoing priority.

As Canada's Minister of Public Safety, I have been privileged to witness "resilience" across our country — when communities devastated by storms, fires or floods have regrouped and rebuilt.

In these communities, everyone does their part and, together, they refuse to allow their community and their spirit to succumb to powerful forces of nature.

We now need to ensure that such resilience is in place to withstand acts of terrorism.

Which brings me to today's announcement.

I am pleased to present Building Resilience Against Terrorism, a national Counter-Terrorism Strategy for Canada.

It speaks frankly about the terrorist threats we face at home and abroad.

And it underscores Canada's contribution to the global efforts to counter this threat.

A society resilient to terrorism is able to challenge and reject the factors that pull thought and action in the direction of violent extremism.

In a resilient society, everyone — including governments, first responders, critical infrastructure operators, communities and individuals — knows what they need to do when faced with a terrorist attack, ensuring a rapid return to ordinary life.

As outlined in our Strategy, respect for the rule of law prevails in a resilient society.

And I would emphasize that these laws include privacy protections and respect for human rights.

This means that the temptation to stigmatize and stereotype are held in check.

It means recognizing that terrorism is not specific to any one religion, community or ethnic group.

It also means that terrorists are charged and prosecuted for the crimes they commit, and not for the politics or ideology that may have motivated their actions.

Canada's Counter-Terrorism Strategy is comprised of four elements: prevent, detect, deny and respond to terrorism.

First and foremost is prevention — because preventing terrorist ideologies from taking hold of vulnerable individuals is the best scenario.

The Strategy also lays out how Canada works every day to detect individuals and organizations who may pose a terrorist threat; to deny terrorists the means and opportunities to carry out their attacks; and to respond to acts of terrorism in a manner that mitigates their effects.

The success of our overall Strategy depends on strong partnerships, which is why it calls on local governments, communities, leaders, academics and citizens to be part of the national effort.

This begins with a frank discussion and the common acceptance of this vision we have for a society that is resilient to terrorism in all its forms.

For the first time, this Strategy enshrines Canada's existing approach to counter-terrorism. 

It describes our nation's various counter-terrorism programs and activities, many of which have existed for some time.

This Strategy brings together all the elements of the current approach in a way that can promote deeper engagement with Canadians.

Our goal in sharing this information with all Canadians is to build awareness, not fear.

And through awareness, we can build a stronger foundation for resilience.

Our Government recognizes that there is still much to learn about countering and preventing terrorism in the Canadian context.

While there are many counter-terrorism programs in place, there is currently little information on how to measure their effectiveness. 

In an era of global fiscal uncertainty, we need to know that we are directing our efforts and resources toward programs that are having a positive impact on our world.

We need to ask ourselves hard questions.

How do we define and measure effectiveness?

And, how do we determine if our programs are in fact working when success is measured by the absence of an event?

Faced with these questions, it is more important than ever for governments to collaborate and share information with experts in other fields, from other nations, and from the private and academic sectors.

Canada is well-positioned to make an important contribution to meeting this challenge.

Last year, we launched the Kanishka Project to fund Canadian research on all aspects of countering and preventing terrorism.

On January 25th, the first call for research proposals was announced.

The Kanishka Project will enrich the conversation we are having here today.

Ultimately, we hope this initiative will create a vibrant network of scholars across the country that will inform more effective policies for countering terrorism.

As I said earlier, our government believes we can build a society that is resilient against terrorism in all its forms — by talking to Canadians about the security threats we face as a country, and by collaborating with our partners to build knowledge and capacity.

In addition to these actions, our government will also table legislation today to amend Canada's Criminal Code in order to provide strong judicial tools that will help fight terrorism and safeguard our national security.

This legislation will help ensure that our law enforcement officials have the means to anticipate and respond effectively to terrorist threats.

It also includes provisions to make it an offence to leave or attempt to leave Canada for the purpose of committing a terrorism offence.

The reality is that no government can guarantee it will be able to prevent all terrorist attacks, all the time.

Nevertheless, through the Counter-Terrorism Strategy, through Kanishka and through stronger legislative measures, Canada is committed to taking all reasonable measures to address terrorism in its many forms.

On that note, I will conclude by thanking you all again for being here.

It's very encouraging to see the level of interest and the depth of expertise in our delegates.

I wish you great success over the next two days. 

Together, we can make our world a safer place for now and for the future. Thank you.

Date modified:

2015-11-26