Latest news with #LeoHousakos
National Post
03-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Opinion: Samidoun exposes failures in Canada's anti-terror efforts
By Ches W. Parsons and Sheryl Saperia Article content On Oct. 15, 2024, Canada finally added Samidoun to its list of terrorist entities under the Criminal Code. Many observers had long called for this important step, given the group's well-documented ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a terrorist organization listed in Canada since 2003. The designation came only after mounting public pressure and disturbing events, including a Vancouver rally in which Samidoun-affiliated demonstrators chanted 'Death to Canada' and burned our national flag. Article content Article content Rather than signalling a firm stance against terrorism, the delayed listing highlighted Canada's reluctance to act until the political cost of inaction became too high. To make matters worse, eight months later, Samidoun continues to enjoy the privileges of a federally registered non-profit. Article content Article content As Sen. Leo Housakos pointed out last week, this contradiction undermines the very purpose of the terrorist designation process. How can a group be banned for terrorist activity while simultaneously maintaining legal status as a non-profit corporation under Canadian law? The answer lies in the fragmented structure of Canada's counterterrorism and regulatory systems. Article content While terrorist listings are administered by Public Safety Canada under criminal law, non-profit status falls under Corporations Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency — separate bodies with distinct mandates, timelines, and evidentiary thresholds. A terrorist designation does not automatically trigger the revocation of a group's corporate or non-profit status, as it should. Article content Article content Far from being a bureaucratic technicality, this disconnect has real-world implications. It allows listed entities like Samidoun to continue to benefit from the legal protections and legitimacy of a registered non-profit, even as their assets are meant to be frozen and their activities shut down. The longer Samidoun retains its status, the more it casts doubt on Canada's resolve — and capability — to enforce its own national security laws. Article content Article content Samidoun has operated openly in Canada for years, despite credible concerns about its affiliations and activities. Political and bureaucratic reluctance kept it off the terrorist list until public outrage erupted. Even now, no charges have been announced in Canada against key figures like Charlotte Kates or Khaled Barakat, despite their prominent roles in the organization. Article content As far back as 2016, Barakat publicly shared in a video interview: 'I am here to express the views of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.' Israeli authorities have reported that he has been involved in establishing terrorist cells in the West Bank and abroad. His wife, Kates, publicly applauds Hamas as 'heroic and brave' and proudly attended the funeral of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last year. None of this information is a secret to Canadian authorities. Article content In theory, terrorist designations should empower law enforcement to take clear actions. In practice, they appear to be used more for signalling than for systematically dismantling threats. Article content The issue is not a lack of legal authority. Canada has strong mechanisms on paper: designated groups cannot hold or use property, receive financial support or facilitate travel and recruitment. Banks are required to freeze their accounts. Article content There remain some gaps in the law. This includes the fact that membership in a terrorist group is not in itself illegal — nor is the glorification of terrorist violence (which is outlawed in the U.K.). Article content But in enforcing existing laws, the lack of integration between Public Safety, Corporations Canada and the CRA creates a loophole that delays meaningful enforcement. That delay erodes public confidence and gives dangerous individuals with room to manoeuvre. Article content It also renders the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act even more essential legislation — as Canadian terror victims can turn to civil lawsuits to find justice when the authorities have failed to do so. Indeed, some Canadian family members of October 7 victims have filed a lawsuit against several defendants including Samidoun, Kates and Barakat. Article content Canada is not alone in recognizing the threat posed by Samidoun. The group has been banned in Germany and the Netherlands, as well as labelled a sham charity by U.S. authorities. Canada should be a leader in this space, not a laggard. We cannot afford for terrorist listings to be seen as symbolic gestures without real consequences. Article content It's time for reform. The government should establish a streamlined process to ensure that once a group is listed as a terrorist entity, it triggers a whole-of-government response to sanction the organization. This includes ensuring its non-profit status is immediately reviewed and — where appropriate — revoked. Inter-agency co-ordination must be improved so that criminal law and administrative oversight are not operating in silos. Article content National security cannot be selectively applied. If we are serious about combating terrorism, we must ensure that our enforcement measures are not only robust in theory, but swift and seamless in practice.
CBC
25-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
Sen. Brazeau collapses during debate of major projects bill
Sen. Patrick Brazeau collapsed in the Senate chamber late Wednesday afternoon during a debate on the government's major projects bill. Brazeau had posed a question to Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos. When he stood to ask a second question, Brazeau could be heard over the microphone deeply exhaling before saying, "Oh shit," and falling over. Senators and staff could be seen quickly standing up or rushing over to Brazeau's seat as the proceedings were suspended. A statement from a Senate spokesperson said Brazeau was receiving medical attention and that "he appears to be recovering." Ottawa paramedics were called and Brazeau was taken away in an ambulance. Paramedics told CBC News that they responded to a "non-life-threatening" incident on Rideau Street — which is where the Senate building is located. A senator told CBC News that Brazeau was conscious when paramedics helped him out of the building. Proceedings resumed nearly half an hour later. Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagné thanked security and emergency personnel for their quick action before debate continued.
Vancouver Sun
16-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Liberals to pass major projects bill this week with Conservative support
OTTAWA — Conservatives will be supporting the Liberal government's internal trade and major projects bill that is expected to be passed before Canada Day, revealed Leo Housakos, the leader of the Opposition in the Senate. Housakos confirmed the news as he was questioning Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland during a pre-study of the bill on Monday afternoon. 'Obviously, the Conservative opposition in the House (of Commons) supports this bill, as the opposition does in this chamber,' he said, before criticizing current Liberals who were in his party's view a 'little bit overzealous' under Justin Trudeau's government in putting in place 'impediments and red tape' for projects in the energy sector. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Freeland thanked Housakos for 'recognizing and highlighting that Conservatives are supporting this legislation' and went on to say how proud she was as finance minister to have completed the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline which she said will add $1.25 billion to government coffers this year alone. Bill C-5 would give the federal government sweeping powers for five years to quickly approve natural resource and infrastructure projects once cabinet deems them to be in the national interest, as well as break down internal trade barriers and make it easier for workers to work in other provinces. Conservatives had so far hinted that they were in favour of the bill, which aligns with many of their election commitments, but had not confirmed that they would be voting for it. 'Of course, we Conservatives hope the government can show Canadians that big, audacious, nation-building projects can get approved and built in competitive timelines by the private sector, not by taxpayers,' said Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs, who is the party's energy and natural resources critic, in a speech in the House last week. Stubbs said she expects Liberals to 'fix' C-5 and 'make it transparent, clear and certain.' Amendments include adding a clear definition of what is in the 'national interest,' a concrete two-year timeline between the final decision by cabinet on a project and its completion and ensuring project deliverables are achieved on time and on budget. Liberal MP Judy Sgro defended her government's decision to fast-track the legislation, saying that 'it's an opportunity for Canada to really become the economic engine that we know it can be in consultation with all of the various groups that matter to us.' 'The Conservatives are working with us,' she added. On Monday, Conservatives voted with the governing Liberals to speed up debate on C-5 — despite intense criticism from the Bloc Québécois, the NDP and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May — and are expected to support the bill at second reading later this evening. May said she has never seen a process to push through legislation so quickly and urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to let the bill be studied thoroughly during the summer. 'The idea that this bill will be done and dusted by Friday must be resisted,' she said during a press conference on Monday with Indigenous chiefs and environmental lawyers. 'What is the rush to pass bad legislation that will lead to court challenges?' NDP MP Leah Gazan said her party cannot support C-5 in its current form. While she said the first part of the bill on lifting internal trade should be reviewed, the fast-tracking of major projects section deserves more scrutiny. 'The second part is riddled with lack of oversight, constitutional violations against Indigenous peoples, violations against the health and safety of workers. We are saying a clear 'no,' while the Liberals and Conservatives are saying a clear 'yes' to corporations.' So far, at least one Liberal MP has publicly raised some concerns about the bill and another one said he has heard concerns from his constituents. B.C. MP Patrick Weiler said while C-5's extraordinary powers are justified to deal with the trade war, those powers will be in effect for five years and said parliamentarians need to consider how this legislation 'could be used in bad faith by a future government.' Marcus Powlowski, an MP from Northern Ontario, said he has also heard some concerns from his constituents that C-5 will be used to push through projects without sufficient environmental controls and oversight, and input from Indigenous communities. Powlowski said he supports the fast-tracking of the bill. 'I think a lot of people kind of see malice in it, but I don't see malice in it,' he said. The bill is expected to be studied at the House of Commons transport committee on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bloc MP and committee member Xavier Barsalou-Duval, in an attempt to hear from more witnesses, has tabled an amendment for the committee to sit from 10 a.m. until midnight on Tuesday and to hear from Carney and various ministers. 'It appears to me, and it remains to be seen, that Mr. Carney's new majority coalition is Liberal-Conservative, delivering Pierre Poilievre policies with a more friendly face,' said May. With files from Stephanie Taylor. National Post calevesque@ Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what's really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. 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Edmonton Journal
16-06-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Liberals to pass major projects bill this week with Conservative support
Article content OTTAWA — Conservatives will be supporting the Liberal government's internal trade and major projects bill that is expected to be passed before Canada Day, revealed Leo Housakos, the leader of the Opposition in the Senate. Housakos confirmed the news as he was questioning Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland during a pre-study of the bill on Monday afternoon.
Calgary Herald
16-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Liberals to pass major projects bill this week with Conservative support
Article content OTTAWA — Conservatives will be supporting the Liberal government's internal trade and major projects bill that is expected to be passed before Canada Day, revealed Leo Housakos, the leader of the Opposition in the Senate. Article content Housakos confirmed the news as he was questioning Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland during a pre-study of the bill on Monday afternoon. Article content Article content Article content 'Obviously, the Conservative opposition in the House (of Commons) supports this bill, as the opposition does in this chamber,' he said, before criticizing current Liberals who were in his party's view a 'little bit overzealous' under Justin Trudeau's government in putting in place 'impediments and red tape' for projects in the energy sector. Article content Article content Freeland thanked Housakos for 'recognizing and highlighting that Conservatives are supporting this legislation' and went on to say how proud she was as finance minister to have completed the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline which she said will add $1.25 billion to government coffers this year alone. Article content Bill C-5 would give the federal government sweeping powers for five years to quickly approve natural resource and infrastructure projects once cabinet deems them to be in the national interest, as well as break down internal trade barriers and make it easier for workers to work in other provinces. Article content Article content Conservatives had so far hinted that they were in favour of the bill, which aligns with many of their election commitments, but had not confirmed that they would be voting for it. Article content 'Of course, we Conservatives hope the government can show Canadians that big, audacious, nation-building projects can get approved and built in competitive timelines by the private sector, not by taxpayers,' said Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs, who is the party's energy and natural resources critic, in a speech in the House last week. Article content Stubbs said she expects Liberals to 'fix' C-5 and 'make it transparent, clear and certain.' Amendments include adding a clear definition of what is in the 'national interest,' a concrete two-year timeline between the final decision by cabinet on a project and its completion and ensuring project deliverables are achieved on time and on budget.
