Canada is not immune from international terrorism, as is painfully clear from cases of Canadians who have died in terror attacks abroad in recent years. Research also reveals that Canadians involved in foreign terrorism have murdered or maimed more than 300 people since 2012.
Justice Canada provides funding for Canadian victims of overseas terrorism, but experience suggests these resources are inadequate. Police agencies have a mandate to arrest and charge Canadian terrorists returning to our country. But this cannot happen without sufficient evidence, which is often lacking.
Recommendation
Parliament should launch a study into Canadian victims and perpetrators of foreign terrorism to identify gaps and propose solutions in two areas: federal support for victims, and evidence collection on perpetrators.