So… how many are Methodists? “200 terror suspects in Canada,” by Bryn Weese for the Toronto Sun, May 12 (thanks to Paul):
OTTAWA – Canada’s spy agency is keeping tabs on more than 200 people within the country it says are suspected terrorists.
Richard Fadden, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, told the parliamentary public safety committee Tuesday that his clandestine organization’s “No. 1 priority” is protecting Canadians from the “threat of al-Qaida, its affiliates and its adherents.”
“In that regard, I can say that as of this month, CSIS is investigating over 200 individuals in this country whose activities meet the definition of terrorism as set out in the (Anti-Terrorism) act,” Fadden said, adding they are also monitoring people abroad.
“It is also worth mentioning that the service maintains an active interest in the threat-related activities of a number of non-citizens who have ties to Canada, whether through former residence here or family links.”
Since the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the spy agency’s budget has skyrocketed 72%, and Fadden said 45% of its overall budget is spent on “counter-terrorism” in Canada and internationally.
But the idea there are more than 200 people in Canada whose activities are technically terrorism doesn’t worry Public Safety Minister Vic Toews.
“I think it’s a credit to CSIS in terms of the work that they are doing monitoring certain individuals,” Toews said. It’s clear that there is a concern by CSIS and by other organizations that there is a radicalization occurring among certain individuals and that we need to take steps to ensure that Canadians are safe.
“I am confident in my briefings with CSIS that they have a good understanding of what is happening in Canada in that respect.”