by unsigned editorial
Source: The Globe and Mail
URL: [link]
Date: November 18, 2008


There is something about the story of secret agents following suspected terrorist Mohamed Harkat into an Ottawa washroom and sitting behind him and his wife in a movie - Bon Cop, Bad Cop - that nicely illustrates the way Canadian democracy bends over backward to ensure that due process and liberty survive in the age of terror.

Mr. Harkat's supporters say he is subject to severe conditions of house arrest: He may leave his home on preauthorized trips for only four hours at a time, and only 12 hours a week, and only if he is accompanied by his wife. He contends that these conditions are unnecessary and are ruining his life, and is challenging them in court. Canadian taxpayers may also wish to challenge them; it turns out that up to six officers for the Canadian Border Services Agency worked full-time tracking Mr. Harkat on foot, by car and electronically. The cost in 2006-07 was at least $576,886 ($868,700 was budgeted), plus $31,000 for a new car. Imagine all the displaced persons in refugee camps who could be brought to Canada for that amount.

There are no perfect alternatives. One option is to leave him in jail, but the Federal Court says, No, his risk can probably be managed in the community. Another is to drop the extra security and cross our fingers.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Colin Freeze
Source: The Globe and Mail
URL: [link]
Date: November 16, 2008


Keeping tabs on suspected al-Qaeda members who have been released into Canadian communities may be costing taxpayers $500,000 to $1-million a year in each case, according to new research.

A York University PhD sociology student has unearthed many of the controversial "security-certificate" program's specific costs by digging up the price the government pays for round-the-clock monitoring, including staffing costs, electronic bracelets, cars, gas and overtime.

In one case, federal department officials budgeted for six full-time agents to watch one released prisoner, at an annual cost of $868,700.

"It is a make-it-up-as-you-go-along policy and the Canadian cases are rather unique in this regard," said researcher Mike Larsen. "The government has adopted the worst of both worlds: You've got individuals subject to certificates in a legal limbo - and you've created this ongoing expensive policy with no end in sight."

Mr. Larsen said the government has never revealed the total cost of its surveillance programs. "It's interesting to note these costs aren't made public," he said. "They aren't part of the debate."

[ Read the rest ... ]

By Deyra Fontaine, Carelton University School of Journalism Date: October 29, 2008

Sophie and Mohamed Harkat were at home preparing for their pre-approved outing when an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) knocked on their door. It was 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 22 - seven hours until the old security certificate for Mr. Harkat would be quashed. As the CBSA officer handed over the new certificate and allegation report claiming Mr. Harkat was a terrorist threat to Canada, it became official. The Ottawa couple had lost their first battle. Security certificate law is an immigration proceeding housed in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. It allows the Government of Canada to detain any refugee, permanent resident or other non-citizen that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) consider a national security threat for an indefinite period of time. This includes anyone suspected of violating human or international rights, or of participating in organized crime or terrorist activities. If CSIS can prove its allegations, the person is deported to their country of origin. Closed proceedings ensure the subject of a security certificate can never see or hear the evidence against them. On February 23, 2007 the Supreme Court ruled that security certificates were unconstitutional because they didn’t provide sufficient protection for security certificate detainees. The government was given one year to rewrite the legislation before it was permanently struck down. A new bill was passed a year later, introducing the use of special advocates who get access to the evidence, but cannot share it with their clients without approval from a judge.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Laura Czekaj , Sun Media
Source: The Ottawa Sun
URL: [link]
Date: November 7, 2008


The wife of an alleged terrorist broke down in tears on the stand yesterday as she told a Federal Court how release conditions imposed on her husband have changed their lives.

Sophie Harkat spoke of how her life was turned upside down when her husband, Mohamed Harkat, was arrested in 2002 because of federal government suspicions that he had links to al-Qaida.

Since his release from prison in 2006, the couple has lived with strict conditions that require Sophie to shadow her husband's every move when Canada Border Services Agency grants him permission to leave his home.

Sophie is among a handful of sureties who must monitor Harkat to ensure he doesn't breach his conditions.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Andrew Duffy Source: The Ottawa Citizen URL: N/A Date: November 07, 2008 Sophie Harkat 'devastated,' court hears

Sophie Harkat says federal agents who monitor her husband's bail follow so close behind the couple that they're sometimes in the same line to order shawarmas. Ms. Harkat told Federal Court yesterday that she was ready to "explode" because agents from the Canada Border Services Agency had been so overzealous. Two agents sat behind them during a National Arts Centre performance and on three occasions were in the same movie theatre. [ PHOTO: Sophie and Mohamed Harkat sit in front of their former residence. Ms. Harkat pleaded with Judge Simon Noël to get Canada Border Services Agency agents to 'back off.' Wayne Cuddington, The Ottawa Citizen ] "It has been two years of non-stop CBSA in my face," she testified, adding: "I don't know who I need to explode to." She pleaded with Judge Simon Noël to order the agents to "back off."

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Andrew Duffy Source: The Ottawa Citizen URL: [link] Date: November 06, 2008 Accused terrorist tells judge strict bail terms impose undue 'pressure' on his family

Accused terrorist Mohamed Harkat says he can be trusted not to violate any bail conditions because he's scared of being deported to Algeria. Mr. Harkat has asked Federal Court Justice Simon Noël to liberalize his strict bail terms and permit him to remain home alone. He told court yesterday that he knows any misstep would disappoint his family and supporters, put him back in jail and increase the likelihood of his deportation. "My life is on the line," Mr. Harkat testified. "If I am deported to Algeria, it's a nightmare: I look at it like an execution." The federal government has issued a security certificate against Mr. Harkat that declares him an al-Qaeda member and a danger to national security.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Andrew Duffy, Canwest News Service
Source: The Ottawa Citizen
URL: [link]
Date: November 06, 2008


OTTAWA - The wife of accused terrorist Mohamed Harkat says federal agents who monitor her husband's bail follow the couple so closely, they're sometimes in the same line to order shawarmas.

Sophie Harkat told Federal Court Thursday that she was ready to "explode" because agents from the Canada Border Services Agency had been overzealous.

Two agents sat behind them during a theatre performance and on three occasions were in the same movie theatre, once for a screening of Good Cop, Bad Cop.

"It has been two years of non-stop CBSA in my face," she testified, adding: "I don't know who I need to explode to."

She pleaded with Judge Simon Noel to order the agents to "back off."

Earlier this week, the judge commended the border agency for its work in ensuring that the court's bail order was respected.

Sophie Harkat spent more than three hours on the witness stand Thursday, describing some of the "humiliations" she had suffered because of the unusual conditions.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Laura Czekaj, Sun Media Source: The Ottawa Sun URL: N/A Date: November 5, 2008 Accused used fake passport, 'lied' about his past, court told

Canada's federal spy agency says Mohamed Harkat has ties to al-Qaida and met with key members of the Osama bin Laden network. That was some of the rare insight offered yesterday by a CSIS agent who testified in Federal Court that Harkat's alleged interactions with Islamic terrorists gave authorities reason to believe he was a terrorist sleeper agent. A federal agent -- identified as John -- testified CSIS was suspicious of Harkat from the time he arrived in Canada in 1995 when he was found in possession of a fake Saudi Arabian passport and "lied" about his past. In his refugee claim, Harkat confirmed he supported the Algerian-based Front Islamique du Salut (FIS) and offered his family home for the group's use as an office. With the Algerian government searching for Harkat, he fled to Pakistan where he said he worked for a Muslim charitable organization until 1994. Harkat arrived at the Toronto airport using the phony Saudi Arabian passport which was considered to be the documentat of "choice" for al-Qaida, the federal agent said.

[ Read the rest ... ]

by Andrew Duffy (for Canwest News Service) Source: The Calgary Herald URL: [link] Date: November 05, 2008 Terror suspect in contact with bin Laden aide, 'John' says

A senior Canadian spy says Mohamed Harkat operated as an al-Qaeda sleeper agent in Ottawa and remained in contact with Osama bin Laden's main banker. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service official, identified only as John, told a Federal Court hearing yesterday that Mr. Harkat's behaviour was consistent with an al-Qaeda sleeper: He kept a low profile, denied his known use of aliases and lied about his connections to Islamic extremists. "Mr. Harkat showed the characteristics of being a sleeper agent after arriving in Canada," John testified. John, a section chief in the Middle East branch of the spy agency, has spent 10 years investigating and analysing Islamic terrorism. He is the first CSIS agent to testify against Mr. Harkat in open court. Mr. Harkat, 40, an Ottawa pizza delivery man, was arrested in December 2002 on the strength of a security certificate, seven years after his arrival in Canada. Federal Court Justice Simon Noël must now decide whether the government made a reasonable decision in labelling him a terrorist. CSIS alleges that Mr. Harkat served as a soldier in Afghan-istan during the early 1990s and has links to terrorist groups associated with the bin Laden network, including the Algerian GIA and the Egyptian Islamic Group. John also testified that the spy agency recorded a phone conversation between Mr. Harkat and a man named Haji Wazir. In that conversation, Mr. Harkat described himself as a Canadian Muslim and inquired about Chechen mujahedeen leader Ibn Khattab and other "brothers." John told court that CSIS believes Haji Wazir was, in fact, Pacha Wazir, a financial kingpin from the United Arab Emirates upon whom Mr. bin Laden relied to move money around the world.

[ Read the rest ... ]

Stephen Harper,
Prime Minister of Canada

Mailing Address:

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
Canada
K1A 0A2

Email: [email]
Phone: (613) 992-4211
Fax Number: (613) 941-6900

---------------------

The Honourable Jason Kenney
Citizenship, Immigration & Multiculturalism
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
(no postage required)

Telephone: (613) 992-2235
Fax: (613) 992-1920
E-Mail: [email]

-----------------------

The Honourable Vic Toews,

Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A6
(no postage required)

Telephone: (613) 996-7752
Fax: (613) 992-8351
E-Mail: [email]