MPs to Probe Alleged Terrorists’ Admittance to Canada

Liberal MP Ron McKinnon chairs a meeting of the House of Commons public safety committee in Ottawa on Aug. 13, 2024. (House of Commons/screenshot via The Epoch Times)

A House of Commons committee is launching a probe to help determine how alleged terrorists were allowed to immigrate to Canada.

MPs on the public safety committee voted unanimously to start the study on the issue at the end of August, and are calling Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Immigration Minister Marc Miller to testify.

Conservative and NDP MPs had requested an urgent meeting be held on Aug. 13 to discuss the issue.

The move follows the arrest of a father and son on July 31, who the RCMP said were in advanced stages of planning a “serious, violent attack” in Toronto, for the benefit or at the direction of the ISIS terror group.

Ahmed Eldidi, 62, and Mostafa Eldidi, 26, were each charged with four offences, including two related to terrorism. They were found in possession of an axe and a machete, the RCMP said at the July 31 press conference.

Ahmed Eldidi, who is a Canadian citizen while his son is not, was charged with a separate count of aggravated assault.

“He was granted citizenship after he had been videoed dismembering a prisoner on behalf of ISIS in 2015,” the Conservatives said in a statement, drawing on reporting from Global News. “The fact that this was ever allowed to happen is a shocking national security failure that needs to be addressed immediately.”

The case is covered by a publication ban and the dismembering allegation has not been confirmed by police.

The federal departments involved in screening prospective immigrants, Public Safety and Immigration, are currently conducting a review of the matter.

“This is obviously a very serious situation that the minister of public safety is ensuring there are a full follow-up and understanding on exactly how this happened,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Aug. 12.

MPs on the public safety committee will now be conducting a parallel review after holding their meeting.

Liberal MP Jennifer O'Connell tabled a motion at the committee meeting calling on LeBlanc, Miller, and relevant officials to testify “as soon as possible” on the foiled terror plot and the security screening process for permanent residents and citizens.

Conservative MP Frank Caputo tabled an amendment providing a specific list of officials, such as former public safety minister and current Canadian High Commissioner to the UK Ralph Goodale, RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme, and interim CSIS Director Vanessa Lloyd.

Caputo said the study should start the last week of August and be comprised of six meetings. MPs on the committee unanimously approved the motion as amended.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.