Threat of violent extremism rising in Canada, MPs told & More News Here

The risk of violent extremism has elevated in Canada in the course of the pandemic — fuelled by misinformation and ensuing in threats to politicians and public servants — prime safety and policing officers told members of Parliament on Thursday.

But whereas police and intelligence companies are taking steps to detect extremists and forestall them from finishing up assaults, the federal government should additionally work proactively to counter the extremism in the primary place, they added.

Testifying earlier than the general public security and nationwide safety committee, Cherie Henderson, assistant director, necessities for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) described the rise of ideologically motivated violent extremism (IMVE) over the previous two years.

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, IMVE activity has been fuelled by an increase in extreme anti-authority and anti-government rhetoric, often rooted in the weaponization of conspiracy theories,” Henderson told the committee.

“CSIS has noted a marked increase in violent threats addressed at elected officials and public servants.”

Henderson stated CSIS has moved extra assets to observe IMVE.

The listening to got here solely a pair of days after an unpleasant altercation in Peterborough, Ont., the place protesters shouted profanities at NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh after a provincial election marketing campaign occasion.

That incident appeared to weigh on the minds of some committee members Thursday as they wrapped up their hearings on IMVE.

“This has been a very sombre time for the NDP caucus,” stated New Democrat MP Alistair MacGregor.

“Our leader Jagmeet Singh had to wade through a group of people who were calling him a traitor. They were hurling expletives at him, saying they hoped that he would die,” he stated. 

“This is the exact same kind of behaviour that we saw littered throughout the occupation of Ottawa and it’s time for us to wake up to the fact that this kind of behaviour has real, physical manifestations and real threats.”

Liberal MP Pam Damoff stated she and different MPs have obtained threats however that they do not essentially result in legal expenses.

“It feels like it’s a matter of time before this rhetoric and this kind of aggressive anger turn into something more violent,” she stated.

RCMP Deputy Commander Michael Duheme stated the Mounties have additionally seen an increase in IMVE incidents, most by individuals “who are not clearly affiliated with a group and who are motivated by very individualized ideologies.”

Duheme stated the RCMP has recognized gaps in the way it has handled IMVE and has developed a technique to handle them over the subsequent three years and to work with native police forces and different teams.

By “improving information sharing and building up our own intelligence capacities,” particularly on-line, the RCMP will “be in a better position to identify individuals and groups who pose a threat before they are motivated to violence,” he stated. 

Leslie Soper, director basic of nationwide safety coverage for the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, described IMVE as “a serious threat” to Canada.

While some individuals on the precise of the political spectrum are drawn to IMVE, such extremists come from a variety of political views, she stated.

“It may be aligned to what we might traditionally call right-wing extremism. It may be motivated by other factors; anti-mandate. It could be motivated by other societal factors,” Soper stated. 

Earlier, Conservative MP Dane Lloyd challenged Soper and CSIS officers to inform him what they had been doing to analyze 30 church buildings that had been set on hearth in 2021. Both responded that these had been police issues. 

Richard Fadden, a former nationwide safety adviser and director of CSIS, stated IMVE has been round for some time however it’s now extra intense, organized and co-ordinated.

Fadden stated if Canada desires to counter IMVE, it should get to the roots of the dissatisfaction felt by these drawn to it, and their feeling that their views aren’t being heard.

Fadden known as for extra dialogue with these being drawn to IMVE, saying countering it must transcend the federal authorities to provinces, municipalities and faculties.

However, he additionally acknowledged it may be troublesome nowadays to speak brazenly about some issues.

“I really do think that political correctness has reached the point today where it’s almost impossible to have a conversation about a whole raft of issues and if you’re frustrated with government and with society to begin with, this is not helpful,” he stated. 

I’ve tried to provide every kind of information to all of you latest news today 2022 by this web site and you’re going to like all this information very a lot as a result of all of the information we at all times give in this information is at all times there. It is on trending subject and regardless of the newest information was

it was at all times our effort to achieve you that you simply hold getting the most recent information and also you at all times hold getting the data of information by us without spending a dime and in addition let you know individuals. Give that no matter info associated to different varieties of information will likely be

made accessible to all of you so that you’re at all times related with the information, keep forward in the matter and hold getting today news every kind of information without spending a dime until at present to be able to get the information by getting it. Always take two steps ahead