Government says imprisoned Canadian terror suspects must face consequences

OTTAWA – The Trudeau government appears to be in no hurry to help Canadians who voluntarily joined Islamic terrorists and are now imprisoned abroad.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says such individuals must face the consequences of having traveled to Syria to join what he calls a “vile and heinous and atrocious terrorist operation.”

He says Canadian police, security and intelligence officials will work with their international counterparts to collect evidence that will be usable in a court of law and, where possible, will lay charges against individuals and prosecute them to the full extent.

But Goodale isn’t saying whether the government will make any effort to return imprisoned individuals to Canada if it can’t compile enough evidence to prosecute them here.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau notes that it’s an offence under Canada’s Criminal Code to travel abroad to commit terrorism.

However, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is questioning why consular officials initiated contact with one imprisoned British-Canadian man, dubbed Jihadi Jack, about bringing him to Canada. He asked the question repeatedly in the Commons today, only to have Trudeau sidestep the query.

“Mr. Speaker, we condemn the horrific and cowardly acts of Daesh and take with the utmost seriousness the threats posed by traveling extremist and returnees,” the Prime Minister said, referring to the terrorist organization commonly known as ISIL or ISIS.

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