Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc rises during Question Period, in Ottawa, on Sept. 23.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
The federal government says it is awaiting guidance from national-security agencies before making a decision on a group the Conservative opposition wants listed as a terrorist entity.
At issue is Samidoun, which, according to its website, works to build solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, has chapters in Toronto and Vancouver and is affiliated with Anti-Imperialist Action Ottawa.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc was asked during Question Period on Wednesday about how the government is dealing with the Conservative request.
Mr. LeBlanc said decisions around listing terrorist entities are made based on the advice of national-security and intelligence officials, and that he had spoken to representatives that morning.
The minister said he had requested an “expedited” review of the issues around Samidoun. “We hope to come back to Canadians with information very soon,” Mr. LeBlanc told the Commons.
The minister’s press secretary, Gabriel Brunet, did not specifically answer questions about which agencies are conducting the review, and how long it is expected to take. But he said in a statement that the government is “examining the evidentiary record available and considering all options.”
Deputy Conservative Leader Melissa Lantsman said the federal decision should be easy.
“It should not be a difficult decision to immediately list this hateful terrorist group which is operating in Canada as a subsidiary of a terrorist entity which has already been banned here for more than 20 years,” Ms. Lantsman said in a statement.
At least one Liberal MP called for Samidoun to be named a terrorist organization.
“I have been working on this file for a year and pushing on it almost every day,” Anthony Housefather, the government’s special adviser on Jewish community relations and antisemitism, said in a posting on X.
Earlier this week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called for the terrorist listing for Samidoun, stating that the group is a “front” for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which Canada has placed on a list of terrorist entities since 2003.
As Mr. Poilievre announced his proposal on Tuesday, B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad, now campaigning in the provincial election, also called on the federal government to designate Samidoun as a terrorist organization, seize its assets and investigate its funding sources.
B.C. NDP Leader David Eby has also denounced comments made at a pro-Palestinian protest in Vancouver, where speakers expressed solidarity with terrorist groups. The rally was organized by Samidoun.
Vancouver Police said Tuesday they are investigating a pro-Palestinian protest where the force says speakers expressed “solidarity with terrorist groups.”
Samidoun director Charlotte Kates was arrested by Vancouver police last year in a hate-crime investigation, then released on an undertaking to appear in court, but no appearance has been scheduled. She was arrested for praising the Oct. 7 attack as “heroic and brave” in a speech at a rally.
The Globe and Mail reached out to Samidoun for comment, but did not receive any response.
With a report from The Canadian Press