Public Security Minister Dominic Leblanc and other government officials will find themselves in a tough position later this morning when lawmakers begin investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged thwarted planned terror attack in Toronto, an incident that has raised questions about Canada’s security vetting process.
Last month, police charged 62-year-old Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi and his 26-year-old son Mostafa Eldidi with nine offences, including conspiracy to murder for the benefit of or at the direction of a terrorist group.
When police announced the arrests late last month, they said the two were “in the final stages of planning a serious and violent attack in Toronto.”
Police say the father has Canadian citizenship but the son does not, and the father is also suspected of committing aggravated assault on behalf of the Islamic State somewhere outside of Canada in 2015.
Authorities say the case involves, in part, a video showing the alleged violent acts.
Earlier this month, lawmakers on the House of Commons Public Safety Committee unanimously agreed to investigate the incident. The hearings are expected to focus on which officials knew what and when, as well as Canada’s immigration process, security screening capabilities and how security agencies respond to domestic threats.
The committee is scheduled to hear Wednesday from LeBlanc, Vanessa Lloyd, interim director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Agency, Ted Gallivan, acting commissioner of the Canada Border Services Agency, Brian Larkin, deputy commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other officials.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who is due to testify at the committee later, said he was considering whether Eldidi’s citizenship should be revoked.
The minister said he had instructed his deputy minister to review the timeline of events, including what was discovered and when.
“I’m as disgusted as every other Canadian,” Miller said earlier this month. “Canadians deserve an explanation.”
Asked Tuesday whether the timeline had been completed, a spokesman for the ministry said there was nothing new to add.
