OTTAWA, November 10, 2006 -- Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Stockwell Day, today announced that the Government of Canada has completed the mandatory two-year review of the Criminal Code list of entities.
“Canada's new government remains vigilant to the threat of terrorism and after undertaking a thorough review of the list, as required by the Criminal Code, it is our view that those entities have knowingly engaged in terrorist activity and should remain listed,” said Minister Day. “The recent listings of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eleam and the Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin demonstrate that we are taking action to safeguard our nation's security and combat terrorism by every means available.”
The Criminal Code requires that the Minister of Public Safety review the list every two years and make a recommendation to the Governor in Council on whether listed entities should remain listed.
The two-year review is part of a system of checks and balances to ensure that reasonable grounds still exist for an entity to remain listed. A recommendation has been made to the Governor in Council and a notice of the two-year review has been completed and will be published in the Canada Gazette on November 11, 2006.
The Criminal Code also provides an appeal process. A listed entity can apply to the Minister of Public Safety to be removed from the list, with provision for a review of the Minister's decision by the Federal Court.
Under the Criminal Code, any person or group listed may have its assets seized and forfeited. There may be severe penalties, upon conviction, for persons and organizations that deal in the property or finances of any listed entity. In addition, it is a crime to knowingly participate in or contribute to, any activity of a listed entity for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the entity to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity. This offence and other related offences are set out, in full, in the Criminal Code.
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For further information:
Media Relations
Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness Canada
613-991-0657
Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2863