TORONTO - Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau confused holding a passport
with citizenship - but doesn't think the government should be able to
take away either from Canadians suspected of being involved in
terrorism.
The issue of homegrown terrorists has been in the spotlight since the
onslaught of terror group Islamic State (ISIS), which claims to have
established a caliphate - or Islamic state - in parts of Syria and Iraq
and which has had alarming success in recruiting Western youth to fight
for its cause.
Speaking with reporters Saturday at the Liberal Party of Ontario's
annual general meeting in Markham, Trudeau said he believes the Canadian
justice system is currently well enough equipped to handle homegrown
terrorism.
Legislation passed in June allows the federal government to strip
citizenship from dual citizens who are convicted of terrorism at home or
abroad.
Trudeau and his Liberals opposed the legislation. He has often
expressed his concern the bill creates a "two-tiered" system of
citizenship.
Asked for his thoughts on revoking or denying passports to would-be
terrorists, Trudeau appeared to conflate citizenship with having a
passport, but ultimately said he believes the Criminal Code is the best
tool to fight terrorism.
"I think that a lot of Canadians, including very conservative
Canadians, should be worried about the state willing to, and taking the
power to, arbitrarily remove citizenship from people," he said. "That's a slippery slope that I don't thin...(Click for more)
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