[Français]
[Welcome Page] [Main Menu] [About CSIS]
"Terrorism remains the primary concern of security agencies around the world. We know that the terrorist threat is increasingly sophisticated and global in nature...Canada has been a keen and active participant in international co-operative efforts to combat terrorism."
The Hon. Herb Gray, Solicitor General Statement on National Security, May 14, 1996 |
Modern terrorism has exerted significant political influence, both internationally and domestically, for more than a quarter century. During that period the world's liberal democracies have had broad experience with the threat and have learned much about the motivations, tactics, strategies and goals of a diverse range of terrorist organizations. Much has been learned about how to respond to the threat, as well.
One major lesson is that terrorism represents a serious threat to the security, stability and well-being of democratic states, a threat which cannot be ignored or taken lightly. Terrorism has a truly global reach; it is not something that happens only in other places to other people.
Western-type democracies by their very nature are susceptible to terrorist activity. Openness, respect for individual rights and freedoms and the rule of law rightly place limits on the ability of democratic societies to curb terrorism through repression. Advanced technologies, improved communications and the ease of modern travel provide extremists with the tools and access they can exploit to carry out violent acts. Viewed from the perspective of a potential terrorist, democratic states have attractive vulnerabilities that present soft targets for aggression.
The extraordinary geopolitical developments of recent years, which seemed to hold such positive promise, have provided additional dangers for liberal democratic governments around the world. Without the constraining discipline of the old superpower rivalry, many regions have become unstable as a result of intense nationalist, ethnic, cultural, racial and religious pressures.
Re-emergent nationalism has become the most powerful motivational force behind terrorism, with religious extremism a close second. The two are often found in combination and will produce further instability, disruption and terrorism within and among states through the end of this century.
Optimistic projections about a New World Order have given way to the reality of an increasingly volatile and uncertain global security environment. According to data published by the US Department of State, international terrorist incidents rose in 1995 from 322 to 440. Fatalities declined, but injuries increased by a factor of ten. Domestic terrorism in a number of countries also was reported to have continued at a high level, but comparative statistics were not available.
The 1990s have been marred by indiscriminate violence on the part of religious extremists and apocalyptic groups, as well as by continuing attacks on tourists and the export of regional conflicts. Examples include the following incidents.
Politically motivated violence continues to find practitioners in established terrorist organizations, as well as in new and evolving groups. Old and undiminished enmities remain, like those in the Middle East, Turkey and the Punjab, as do associated terrorist groups, sponsors and international links. The growth of Islamic extremism, hostilities in the Balkans, conflict in a number of former Soviet republics, and turmoil in other areas represent some of the factors spawning new terrorist threats.
The terrorism of today is complex, with diminishing emphasis on formalized group structure. This is particularly true in the case of the less clearly defined threat rooted in extremist Islamic fundamentalism, identified in the World Trade Centre bombing and related events in the Philippines. The ad hoc, individualistic nature of those who form the amorphous membership is in direct contrast to more established terrorist groups.
The terrorists of today are often more sophisticated than their predecessors. Globally mobile and knowledgeable about communications, explosives technology and computers, they have contacts around the world. Their activities and targets are difficult to predict. The use of technology, always part of the terrorist arsenal, now has been augmented by encryption and the Internet to facilitate communication and to reach a wider audience.
The technology of terrorism is becoming more accessible, but the gun and the bomb retain their favoured status in terrorist attacks. An emerging concern, however, is the possibility of weapons of mass destruction being obtained or constructed by terrorist groups, including chemical and biological agents or nuclear weaponry.
Recent terrorist incidents, like the Oklahoma City bombing and the Tokyo subway nerve agent attack, indicate a disturbing trend toward less discriminate attacks and higher casualty rates. As the millennium approaches, more groups with an apocalyptic view of the world may emerge—adding yet another disconcerting element to an already uncertain and volatile environment.
The following trends suggest the threat of terrorism has not abated.
Terrorism is not a phenomenon unique to the modern era. Viewed from an historical perspective, examples of terrorist behaviour are abundant. The Jewish Zealots conducted a campaign of terror against the Romans in the first century AD; a Shi'ia Muslim sect known as the Hashshashin, which gave literal meaning to the word assassin in English, systematically murdered those in positions of leadership and influence in the eleventh century. The advent of modern terrorism as we know it appeared in the early 1960s, with 1968 marking the beginning of international terrorist incidents.
With the explosion of extremist groups and incidents in the 1970s, terrorism ceased to be an abstract force sowing its horror only in faraway lands. Canada and Canadians were no longer observers.
The threat to Canadians and Canadian interests abroad from international terrorism continues to be largely a matter of being "in the wrong place at the wrong time." In terms of Canada, the threat is principally associated with homeland issues. Persons residing in Canada with links to international or former homeland domestic groups engage in a wide range of support activities, including providing safe haven, logistical support for operations, fund raising, and the procurement of weapons and materiel.
A number of the world's better-known terrorist groups have a presence in Canada, where they engage in a variety of ongoing activities in support of terrorism, including:
The foregoing are some of the immediate and future threats which face the democratic community despite progress in combatting terrorism. Well-established democracies such as Canada have inner strengths, but must be cognizant of terrorism's attempt to prompt a draconian response and to undermine the rule of law. Western democracies must remain vigilant and cooperative in their efforts to combat the insidious inroads of terrorism.
"None of our countries is immune to the effects of terrorism. The problem is global and the solution must also be global. Our objective can be met by convincing potential terrorists that violence is not only unacceptable to the international community, it is also not a viable solution to political disputes or a remedy to perceptions of disenfranchisement. We must also persuade them that we share the collective will to apprehend and punish those who commit terrorist acts, no matter where they occur."
The Hon. Herb Gray, Solicitor General Opening Statement at the P-8 Ministerial Meeting on Counter-Terrorism, Ottawa, December 12, 1995 |
Canada is an active participant in international fora established to fight terrorism.
In August 1995, Canada participated in a conference on terrorism in Buenos Aires together with the United States, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile.
In December 1995, ministers from the G-7 countries and Russia (P-8) attended a conference in Ottawa to discuss ways of combatting terrorism. The conference culminated in the Ottawa Declaration, a series of measures to increase international collaboration in combatting terrorism. The Ottawa Declaration urges all states:
In 1996, Canada reaffirmed its commitment toward greater cooperation between states in the fight against terrorism and participated in conferences on counter-terrorism in the Philippines in February, the Summit of the Peacemakers in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt in March and another G-7 and Russia (P-8) conference in Paris in July.
CSIS has a mandate to collect information and to advise government regarding activities that may constitute a threat to the security of Canada. This includes anyone who advocates the use of serious violence to further political objectives. In 1984, when CSIS was created, the ratio of operational resources devoted between the Service's Counter-Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism programs was 80% to 20% in favour of Counter-Intelligence. This ratio is now 60% to 40% in favour of Counter-Terrorism, making public safety, the protection of Canadian lives, the number one priority of CSIS.
CSIS uses the full force of the CSIS Act that established its duties and functions to help ensure that Canada does not become a focus of terrorist activity. It has developed new techniques and approaches within its Counter-Terrorism Program.
The purpose of this program is as follows:
CSIS' primary responsibility is to forewarn and advise, through the provision of accurate, relevant and timely information and analysis to government decision-makers.
As part of this, the Service prepares and disseminates time-sensitive evaluations of the scope and immediacy of terrorist threats posed by individuals and groups in Canada and abroad. Assessments are made of threats against Canadian VIPs travelling in Canada and abroad, foreign VIPs visiting Canada, foreign missions and personnel in Canada, Canadian interests abroad, public safety and transportation security, and special events.
In fiscal year 1995-96, the Threat Assessment Unit in the Counter-Terrorism Branch produced 602 threat assessments. CSIS has provided the government with comprehensive threat assessments related to the Commonwealth Summit of 1987, the Winter Olympics in 1988, the Summit of G-7 leaders in Toronto in 1988, the Francophonie Summit of 1993, the Summit of G-7 leaders in Tokyo in 1993, the APEC Summit in Seattle in 1993, the Commonwealth Games in Victoria in 1994, and the Summit of G-7 leaders in Halifax in 1995.
CSIS has developed close communications links with several ethnic communities in Canada. The Service's Community Interview Program helps to assess the likelihood of violence taking place in response to international political developments and so helps the Service identify emerging threats to Canadians. The interviews provide community members with a forum to make their concerns and opinions known, to assist CSIS in determining whether there are threats or counter-threats to particular communities and to sensitize them to the role and mandate of CSIS.
Under its Government Screening program, the Service provides a legislated security screening service to various government institutions in accordance with guidelines set up in the Government Security Policy. Clearances may be needed for public sector employees or for private sector contractors. CSIS performs this function for all federal departments and government institutions, except the RCMP and the Department of National Defence.
CSIS assists Citizenship and Immigration Canada by participating in the process of screening Canadian visitor visa applicants and prospective immigrants. The first line of defence against terrorism is to prevent terrorists from entering Canada. CSIS maintains liaison offices in a number of Canadian missions abroad. Applicants and prospective immigrants whose background presents security concerns are subject to more in-depth examinations. In 1995-96, the Service reviewed 51,010 applications from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
CSIS provides inputs to the Enforcement Information Index, an automated system administered by Citizenship and Immigration Canada that acts to alert Immigration and Customs officers abroad and at ports of entry to the identity of suspected and known terrorists seeking admission to Canada. CSIS information enables Canadian immigration officials to refuse applications from individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activity, effectively barring their entry into Canada.
Despite efforts made to identify and intercept suspected terrorists, a limited number still manage to enter Canada. CSIS continues to take the initiative to launch formal judicial proceedings, in cooperation with Canadian Immigration authorities, to remove terrorists from Canada. Security certificates are issued jointly by the Solicitor General and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and reviewed by the Federal Court, after which terrorists may be deported.
In a first example, CSIS provided information to Citizenship and Immigration Canada about an individual who is a member of an organization known to have been involved in several terrorist attacks around the world, and who had been involved directly in terrorist activities. The individual was arrested by Immigration authorities and subsequently deported.
In 1996, CSIS developed intelligence about an individual in Canada who was a member of an organization involved in terrorism, and who had been personally involved in crimes against humanity. CSIS passed this information to Immigration authorities who were then able to arrest and deport this individual.
The Service's intelligence also helped Immigration authorities to proceed in the arrest and deportation of two leaders of organizations known to have engaged in terrorism.
Ongoing exchanges of information between departments and agencies of government in Canada is of prime importance in fighting terrorism. Owing to its violent underworld nature, terrorism is frequently tied to other criminal activity. In the course of its investigations, CSIS often obtains ancillary information regarding criminal matters, which it turns over to law enforcement agencies. Extensive and timely liaison with the RCMP and other police authorities has helped to apprehend criminals.
Cooperation and coordination is recognized as essential in managing terrorist threats or incidents. In this regard, CSIS works closely with other government departments and agencies at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. The prime example of this integration and coordination can be found in the National Counter-Terrorism Plan (NCTP), which provides for a central coordination of Canada's Counter-Terrorism Program in connection with threats or incidents. CSIS, along with more than a dozen departments and agencies of government have a coordinated role to play under the NCTP.
International cooperation enables CSIS to be in a better position to analyse global terrorist trends and incidents which may or do impact on Canada. CSIS has long-standing, well-established exchange of information with over 100 countries and therefore is in a unique position to have access to information which might not be otherwise available to other departments and agencies in Canada.
One of the primary values of intelligence-gathering is the timely delivery of accurate and relevant information to policy-makers. The Service produces reports, studies and briefs on specific issues, including issues relating to public safety. The Service's analysis occurs at two levels: operational and strategic.
Operational analysis combines the Service's intelligence with information from other sources, including government agencies and other intelligence services. The result is a finished evaluation which lends context to, and weighs the significance of, the original raw information.
Strategic analysis aims to develop comprehensive policy-relevant intelligence assessments. The Service's intelligence assessments appear either as stand-alone documents or in conjunction with assessments from other agencies in Canada's intelligence community. These latter documents are published collectively by the Intelligence Advisory Committee, an interdepartmental committee under the auspices of the Privy Council Office.
[Welcome Page] [Main Menu] [About CSIS]
Disclaimer: The Canadian Security Intelligence Service assumes no responsibility for the use of the information at this World Wide Web (WWW) site.
