Understanding the Threats to National Security and Public Safety in Canada

• In Event: Government Responses to Terrorism Across the Globe

Abstract

Threats to national security remain a priority for policymakers and law enforcement organizations in Canada. However, more needs to be done by the Canadian government to define what actions constitute a threat to national security and public safety. Specifically, actions involving Far-Right violent extremism (VE), terrorism, and hate-related offences. As well as the societal impact of perceived or actual hateful ideologies expressed by extremist and VE organizations. Hate crimes and hate-motivated acts often fall through the cracks of national security and public safety policies. As such, this project furthers the theoretical and practical understanding of the continuum from hate crimes and hate groups to extremist entities and terrorist entities. Methodologically, this project uses semi-structured interviews with Canadian law enforcement and intelligence personnel to close the national security and public safety gap. Interviews focus on understanding the current threat environment by thematically analyzing how respondents define and understand the three threat categories: Hate, VE, and terrorism. Ultimately, this project offers an unprecedented way for law enforcement, intelligence organizations, and policymakers to examine threats posed by ideological extremist groups.

Author

• Garon Mulyk, Ontario Tech University