Canada becomes first country to designate Proud Boys a terrorist group
By: Payton Smith | U. Pittsburgh School of Law, US
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Canada becomes first country to designate Proud Boys a terrorist group
© WikiMedia ( Anthony Crider )
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Canada formally added far-right extremist group the Proud Boys to its list of terrorist entities on Wednesday, according to a news release from Public Safety Canada, making it the first country to do so. The Proud Boys were among 13 new groups placed on Canada’s Criminal Code list of terrorist entities, including al-Qaeda, ISIS and al-Shabab affiliates.
Under Canada’s Anti-Terrorism Act , it is a crime to “knowingly deal with the assets” of a designated terrorist entity. Canada’s Criminal Code mandates “severe penalties” for dealing with the property or finances of the terrorist listing. Among the various financial consequences for the designated terrorist groups, banks and financial institutions can freeze the assets of the listed entity. The listings also criminalize certain support of the terrorist groups’ activities and authorize the removal of an entity’s online content. Additionally, group members of a terrorist organization may be denied entry into Canada.
A statement by Public Safety Canada describes the Proud Boys as “a neo-fascist organization that engages in political violence.” One of the founders is Canadian writer Gavin Miles McInnes, who moved to the US in 2001. Public Safety Canada’s statement explains that members of the Proud Boys have “encouraged, planned, and conducted violent activities,” citing the organization’s role in the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair noted that the “listing of an entity sends a signal that Canada will not tolerate violent extremism.”
Public Safety Canada’s announcement follows a warning issued by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week about a “heightened threat” from “ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition.” DHS released its warning due to ongoing concerns that “Homegrown Violent Extremists” remain a threat against critical US infrastructure.
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Canada criminalizes hate speech, and is not so tolerant of domestic terrorism as the USA is.
canada should be concerned about domestic terrorists here, since the border is wide open from the great lakes west, and most of the right wing rambo wannabes here are white guys too. canada shouldn't have any problems building a huge data base of right wing extremists in the US, but it would be a good idea to enforce a formal no affiliation declaration at border crossings. that way canada can tag them coming in and provide their room and board for a few decades before sending them back. oh wait, we don't accept known terrorists here...
Yes!
There is zero social value in the Proud Boys. Their schtik is to threaten people.
Bravo, Canada !
Only 'The Proud Boys ( Boiz ) ?
A bullet in the head of government officials is not a terrorist action?
Good for Canada. Apparently the US still fears the Trump cult.
Nearly half of the U.S. is the Trump cult.
If your 50% is correct then the Trumpian base beats the Nazi base of 1938 by 12%.
Mind blowing, isn't it?
Seems that Canada is a step ahead of the US again.
Was there a time that it wasn't?