Canada
and the Fight Against Terrorism
The Honourable David Kilgour, P.C.
M.P. for
Edmonton-Southwest
Secretary
of State (Africa and Latin America)
l'Institut
diplomatique et des relations internationales
[institute
for diplomacy and international relations]
Algiers,
Algeria
January 13,
2002
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delivery
I am pleased
to take this opportunity today to outline
the actions Canada has taken in the fight
against terrorism following the tragic events
of September 11, 2001.
These events
have rallied the international community
and united us not only in our grief and
indignation, but also in our commitment
and determination.
As horrifying
as the September 11th atrocities were, this
was not the world’s first act of terrorism.
Sadly, all too many of us here today are
very well aware of this fact.
Terrorism
is meaningless and speaks for no one but
criminals and murderers. It serves only
to damage the causes that terrorists claim
to be fighting for. Terrorism represents
neither religion nor the wishes of governments
or their citizens.
This morning,
I would like to focus on the significance
and scope of the measures that we have taken
since September 11, from military commitments
and foreign aid to new laws, the freezing
of terrorist assets, and major investments
for tightening our security infrastructure
within Canada.
Within 45
minutes of the terrorist attacks in New
York City and Washington, D.C., Canada threw
open its doors across the country to receive
what would eventually total 224 diverted
planes carrying over 33,000 passengers and
crew members.
The Government
of Canada then responded swiftly with its
anti-terrorist plan, which has five objectives:
- to prevent terrorists from entering Canada;
- to protect Canadians against terrorist acts;
- to activate tools to identify, prosecute
convict and punish terrorists;
- to maintain secure borders while keeping
them open for legitimate trade activity;
- finally, to work with the international
community to bring terrorists to justice
and address the root causes of terrorism.
The Government
of Canada plans to inject C$7.7 billion
over the next five years to enhance the
security of Canadians and make Canada’s
borders more secure, open and efficient.
Another priority
for Canada is the prevention of illegal
migration and the efficient management of
legitimate movement.
On December
3, 2001, the governments of Canada and the
United States signed a Joint Statement of
Cooperation on Border Security and Regional
Migration Issues.
The government
has moreover tabled legislation of vital
importance. The Anti-Terrorism Act, introduced
October 15, includes measures aimed at:
- identifying, prosecuting, convicting and
punishing terrorists;
- providing new investigative tools for law
enforcement and national security agencies;
- ensure that Canadian values of respect and
fairness are maintained through stricter
laws against hate crime and propaganda.
The Public
Safety Act, introduced November 22, will
amend some 18 federal laws in order to further
strengthen the government’s ability
to protect Canadians, prevent terrorist
attacks and respond swiftly should a significant
threat arise.
Canada acted
rapidly to support Resolution 1373, adopted
by the United Nations Security Council to
freeze the assets of individuals who commit
or facilitate the commission of terrorist
acts and to prohibit the provision or collection
of funds for terrorist activities.
The government
has invested an additional C$73 million
since September 11 in the Financial Transactions
and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)
to strengthen its ability to contribute
to the freezing of possible terrorist financing.
Canada has
contributed direct military support, through
its Operation Apollo, to the international
anti-terrorism campaign led by the United
States.
Canada’s
Minister of National Defence, Art Eggleton,
announced January 7 that a contingent of
750 Canadian Armed Forces personnel would
be joining the American forces to aid in
the effort to remove the remaining Al-Qaida
and Taliban fighters from southern Afghanistan.
The first
reconnaissance groups are already on their
way to the Kandahar region in Afghanistan.
We are expecting the whole contingent to
be in Central Asia between now and February
15.
Several Canadian
warships have already joined the American
fleet in the Sea of Oman, and Canada has
also promised to supply transport and patrol
aircraft.
Canada is
also working together with other countries
on the diplomatic and humanitarian fronts,
on both an individual and a multilateral
basis, with a view to broadening the anti-terrorism
coalition.
Canada is
working to foster the rebuilding of Afghanistan
and the establishment of an administration
and government in that country that will
be representative, responsible, stable,
inclusive and multi-ethnic.
Moreover,
Canada has provided C$16 million in emergency
aid to Afghanistan since September 11. This
amount is in addition to the more than C$12
million contributed this year before the
crisis and over C$160 million over the past
ten years.
Conclusion
Though the
events of September 11 have created new
challenges and further fuelled some of our
concerns about the future, these events
have also given the international community
some very clear common objectives.
We must maintain
the unprecedented solidarity and determination
that have been so obviously demonstrated
over the last few months in the coalition
of States that have taken a definite stand
against terrorism and terrorists, particularly
as regards Asia, the Middle East, and this
region, North Africa.
Solidarity—a
common cause and united action—is at
the heart of the campaign to eliminate terrorism
and the reason that the campaign must and
will succeed.
Thank you.
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