Canadian Ani-Terrorism Act Research Paper

Canadian Ani-Terrorism Act Research Paper

Introduction 

The occurrence of the 9/11 events in the United States of America made the Canadian government come up with the Anti-Terrorism Act in an attempt to combat terrorism acts in the country. The Act aims at strengthening laws against hate crimes and propaganda. Also, through the legislation new investigative tools have been availed to the security agencies by increasing the use of electronic surveillance[1].  Besides, the introduction of the legislation created a platform for the amendment of the Security of Information Act.

Methodology

A study was conducted to investigate the views of Canadians on the effects of the Anti-Terrorism Act in Canada. The study made good use of 31 potential participants who were contacted through email. These individuals had professional backgrounds on law, political science, and conflict studies. Participants were expected to answer questions on the impacts of the Act in the country, emerging trends in terrorism, and how to respond to the given threats[2]. During the study, participants were encouraged to give their honest opinions and focus on the given issues and especially those they were most familiar with.

Hindrances to the Act

According to the study, 50% of the participants cited that the Act has a higher possibility of disproportionately affecting certain groups in the country. These individuals agreed on the issue that individuals of Muslim and Arabian origin living in the country were at an increased risk of being unfairly targeted. Participants also agreed that organizations in the country doing charitable work in the Middle East had higher chances of unfairly being targeted[3]. Such actions can be regarded as partisan and if not well handled can lead to an exacerbation of inter-ethnic and religious enmity in the country. It is therefore the role of the government to do due diligence to ensure that there are no wrongful accusations of terrorist affiliation.

The study also notes that the legislation does not clearly stipulate the standards to be used in deciding individuals and organizations to be investigated for terrorist-related activities. Through this, law enforcement agencies can violate the rights of innocent persons. For instance, the war against terrorism can pay much of its attention to Muslims living in the country. Evidence shows that since the introduction of the legislation, cases of ethnic profiling have been on the increase in the country[4]. It is therefore essential for the government to be particularly careful when listing groups as terrorists. Also, due to the stigmatization associated with being on the terrorist list, law enforcement officers should prove beyond reasonable doubt that the said individuals and organizations are linked to terrorism during criminal trials.

Throughout the study, the majority of the participants raised issues related to the oversight mechanisms under the legislation. For instance, individuals argued that listing persons and organizations as linked to terrorism are not subject to an appropriate evaluation. Rendering to Whitaker, one of the disadvantages of the policy is the government’s letdown to come up with comprehensive accountability to cover all the aspects of the national security policy function[5]. The study also notes that the legislation gives the executive branch of the government too much power to designate individuals and groups as terrorists which can lead to wrongful convictions.

Emerging trends in terrorism in Canada

During the study, more than 50% of the participants noted that the events following the 9/11 attacks signaled a new era in the fight against terrorism.  According to the participants, there is a dire need for the relevant authorities and especially planners to consider the possibility of extremist groups using weapons of mass destruction. “Participants also noted that there is a possibility of a long-term increase in the willingness of the relevant groups to use the given weapons on soft targets to drive a point[6].” One can therefore conclude that acts of terrorism will continue to rapidly increase not only in Canada but also in other parts of the world. Therefore, symbolic targets will be vulnerable.

According to Martyn, in the recent past, the world has experienced a decline in revolutionary terrorism.  However, the world has experienced visible trends in religious fanaticism thus increased terrorists’ attacks[7].   Al-Qaeda was mentioned as posing the greatest threat to security. A significant number of the participants also noted that the military fight against the group by military forces has played an essential role in diffusing the network of the extremist group which can make it hard for the relevant authorities to counteract.

Level of threat to Canada

Participants gave divergent views regarding the issue of whether the threat of terrorism is increasing in the county. Alternatively, Canada’s involvement in the war against the Al-Qaeda was regarded by some of the individuals as an increasing threat to Canadian troops.  Although it was noted that the country is not a primary target of extremist attacks, instances have been reported where attacks have been unleashed on certain groups of people[8].

The world has always faced terrorism threats since time immemorial A significant number of the participants argued that the country’s diversity exposes it to potential terrorist threats. For instance, individuals in the country can actively engage in funding extremist groups. Through the study also, an individual can realize that Canada’s proximity to the US, the country’s engagement in the Afghanistan War, and the country’s economic integration with the US, make Canada an easy extremist target.

The nature of threats and specific targets in Canada

Studies show that terrorists pose different threats in Canada.   For instance, Canadian’s can be attacked directly both locally and internationally. An attack on the critical infrastructures in both the US and Canada can negatively impact the economies of both countries. “It is therefore essential for the government to protect critical infrastructure in the country to ensure that public health is safeguarded[9].” Participants also noted that Canada can be a victim of weapons of mass destruction due to the terrorists’ access to information essential in weapon production.

Canada’s response to terrorism

A large number of participants noted that the issue of terrorism in Canada is intricate and requires a multifaceted approach. It is therefore essential for the government to employ proactive intelligence collection, vigilant law enforcement, and the protection of critical infrastructure designed to safeguard the well-being of Canadians[10]. A significant number of participants advocated for the monitoring of health public health concerns ranging from food to water safety. Protection of food and water safety can protect individuals against the risk of terrorism. Ensuring the availability of effective response to calamities can ensure that individuals are protected through which the government can avoid instances where the Anti-Terrorism Act can violate human rights.

The participants pointed out the significance of cooperation among different law enforcement agencies and other relevant bodies in the country in the fight against terrorism. There is a dire need for the government to prioritize all threats in the country through which they can effectively and cost-effectively respond to the various threats promptly. The government should also engage in assessing risk management methodologies through which they can realize the intentions of the terrorists and the target populations[11]. Also, risk assessment can be essential in allocating funds to the relevant departments based on the criticality of their operations.  Nevertheless, the participants noted the substantiality of a measured response by the government. For instance, overreaction to threats can be financially draining and can alienate some of the people which can make them an easy target for recruitment by extremist groups. This does not necessarily mean that the authorities should loosen their stand in the fight against terrorism but insists on the need for a response that resonates with the intensity of the attacks.

In the study, the participants characterized intelligence as the country’s first line of defense in the fight against terrorism. It is essential for the country to deploy additional resources in counterterrorism efforts. Through this, the government can raise the profile of intelligence in the country through which the government can promptly respond to terrorism threats and prevent security breaches in the country. However, there is a dire need for the government to involve the private sector in intelligence sharing as the sector owns over 80% of the critical infrastructure in the country[12]. Also, there is a need for collaboration with foreign actors through which intelligence capacity can be enhanced. As a result, the country can advance the quality of intelligence received from Canada’s international allies.

According to the study, viewing individuals from certain ethnic groups as posing a high-risk to the security of the country is counterproductive. There is a dire need for the government to involve the community leaders in the fight against terrorism to avoid instances of ethnic profiling. Also, it is essential for the government to empower individuals from all groups in the country to avoid exposing them to potential recruitment by extremist groups[13]. The participants also noted that criminal law has a role to play in the fight against terrorism. Before the enactment of the legislation, there was the availability of tools for the prosecution of crimes and especially terrorism. Although the act increases the severity of punishment, what one should note is pre-emption depends on the certainty of punishment and assumes that extremists are rational actors. It therefore essential for punishment to be directed to organizations funding terrorist groups through which attacks can come to an end.

The impacts of the Anti-Terrorism Act

The legislation has played an essential role in deterring terrorist activities in Canada. Before the inception of the Act, radicalized individuals and especially young individuals supported the now illegal organizations that supported terrorist activities in the country. However, since the legislation came to be, the relevant authorities have managed to outlaw incitement in the country, the radicalization of individuals, and money laundering activities[14]. As a result, individuals in the community have desisted from the given activities thus bringing a state of peace to the country. Also, an individual can note that the above steps by the government played an essential role in encouraging individuals to avoid extremist rebellion of communal institutions.

The Act has also played an essential role in enhancing intelligence in the country. Through intelligence, authorities in the country have managed to intercept terrorist communication. However, what one should realize is the fact that intelligence must discover certain potential hidden facts which should be analyzed to make it easier for law enforcement agencies to act promptly. Also, the given intelligence information should be obtained in time to prevent a situation where it is likely to be unhelpful or the interpretation cannot be made on time. Effective information analyses can play an essential role in disrupting terrorist activities and plans not only in the country but also, in other parts of the world.

According to the study, the Act has produced substantial symbolic benefits not only in the country but other neighboring nations in its efforts to curb terrorism. According to the study, the bare enactment of the Act reassures America that Canada is taking the threat of terrorism with the seriousness it deserves. As a result, the two countries are able to effectively engage in intelligence information sharing through which they are able to deal with issues related to terrorism. The law enforcement agencies in the two countries are able to coordinate and share information related to acts of either domestic or international terrorism[15]. Nevertheless, to achieve their mission, the respective authorities must first access, receive and examine the given information through which they can recognize and evaluate the nature and scope of the given terrorists’ attacks. According to Martyn, the legislation also played an essential role in sending a message to terrorists that the country is not a safe haven for terrorists through the signing of international conventions like the Suppression of Terrorist Bombing Conventions[16]. The legislation also made individuals in the country realize that those who would be found guilty of supporting terrorist activities in the country would be dealt with according to the law.

Conclusion

Conclusively, terrorism is not a new phenomenon in contemporary Canadian society. Terrorism is a threat to the growth and development of Canada. Individuals engage in terrorist activities for different reasons ranging from religious reasons to revolutionary reasons. The 9/11 events made Canada come up with stringent measures to prevent the occurrence of terrorism in the country.  The enaction of the Anti-Terrorism Act has played an essential role in the fight against terrorism in the country. A study was conducted to collect the opinions of Canadians regarding the impacts of the Act in the fight against terrorism. Since the enaction of the Act, the country has managed to increase intelligence sharing both locally and internationally making it possible for law enforcement agencies to respond to potential threats promptly. However, scholars still insist that there is a dire need for the government to share security burdens with the international community to promote informational sovereignty. Also, there is a dire need of involving community leaders in the fight against terrorism to avoid instances of ethnic and religious profiling in the fight against terrorism. Through this, the government can protect people from being easy targets for radicalization which can put the security of the country in jeopardy.

Bibliography

Charters, David Anderson. The (un) peaceable kingdom?: Terrorism and Canada before 9/11. IRPP, 2008.

Jacoby, Tami Amanda. “How the War Was ‘One’: Countering violent extremism and the social dimensions of counter-terrorism in Canada.” Journal for Deradicalization 6 (2016): 272-304.

Lemyre, Louise, Jennifer EC Lee, Michelle C. Turner, and Daniel Krewski. “Terrorism preparedness in Canada: a public survey on perceived institutional and individual response to terrorism.” International Journal of Emergency Management 4, no. 2 (2007): 296-315.

Lovitz, Dara. Muzzling a movement: The effects of anti-terrorism law, money, and politics on animal activism. Lantern Books, 2010.

McCoy, John, and W. Andy Knight. “Homegrown terrorism in Canada: Local patterns, global trends.” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 38, no. 4 (2015): 253-274.

[1] Charters, David Anderson. The (un) peaceable kingdom?: Terrorism and Canada before 9/11. IRPP, 2008.

[2] Lovitz, Dara. Muzzling a movement: The effects of anti-terrorism law, money, and politics on animal activism. Lantern Books, 2010.

[3] Jacoby, Tami Amanda. “How the War Was ‘One’: Countering violent extremism and the social dimensions of counter-terrorism in Canada.” Journal for Deradicalization 6 (2016): 272-304.

[4] Jacoby, Tami Amanda. “How the War Was ‘One’: Countering violent extremism and the social dimensions of counter-terrorism in Canada.” Journal for Deradicalization 6 (2016): 272-304.

[5] Lovitz, Dara. Muzzling a movement: The effects of anti-terrorism law, money, and politics on animal activism. Lantern Books, 2010.

[6] Lovitz, Dara. Muzzling a movement: The effects of anti-terrorism law, money, and politics on animal activism. Lantern Books, 2010.

[7] McCoy, John, and W. Andy Knight. “Homegrown terrorism in Canada: Local patterns, global trends.” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 38, no. 4 (2015): 253-274.

[8] McCoy, John, and W. Andy Knight. “Homegrown terrorism in Canada: Local patterns, global trends.” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 38, no. 4 (2015): 253-274.

[9] Jacoby, Tami Amanda. “How the War Was ‘One’: Countering violent extremism and the social dimensions of counter-terrorism in Canada.” Journal for Deradicalization 6 (2016): 272-304.

[10] Jacoby, Tami Amanda. “How the War Was ‘One’: Countering violent extremism and the social dimensions of counter-terrorism in Canada.” Journal for Deradicalization 6 (2016): 272-304.

[11] Charters, David Anderson. The (un) peaceable kingdom?: Terrorism and Canada before 9/11. IRPP, 2008.

[12] Lemyre, Louise, Jennifer EC Lee, Michelle C. Turner, and Daniel Krewski. “Terrorism preparedness in Canada: a public survey on perceived institutional and individual response to terrorism.” International Journal of Emergency Management 4, no. 2 (2007): 296-315.

[13] Charters, David Anderson. The (un) peaceable kingdom?: Terrorism and Canada before 9/11. IRPP, 2008.

[14] Lemyre, Louise, Jennifer EC Lee, Michelle C. Turner, and Daniel Krewski. “Terrorism preparedness in Canada: a public survey on perceived institutional and individual response to terrorism.” International Journal of Emergency Management 4, no. 2 (2007): 296-315.

[15] Lovitz, Dara. Muzzling a movement: The effects of anti-terrorism law, money, and politics on animal activism. Lantern Books, 2010.

[16] McCoy, John, and W. Andy Knight. “Homegrown terrorism in Canada: Local patterns, global trends.” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 38, no. 4 (2015): 253-274.

Assignment Topic:
Canadian Ani-Terrorism Act Research Paper
Subject:
Other
Sources:
Citation Style: Chicago