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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
National security begins with you
Security awareness is part of daily life in Israel. Citizens understand that their bags and purses can be inspected almost anywhere, and they instinctively scrutinize their surroundings for signs of possible danger. If an attack occurs, Israelis immediately call family members to let them know they are OK.
Canadians have not been asked to adopt similar attitudes in the new security-conscious environment, not yet, but a new federal report says that resilient people are the country's best defence against terrorism. Citizens must build strong communities, confront extremist ideologies and "challenge those who espouse them," the report, Building Resilience Against Terrorism: Canada's Counter-Terrorism Strategy, says.
The report, released by National Security Minister Vic Toews on Thursday, fails to discuss the case of the three Winnipeg men who went to Pakistan for terrorist training five years ago, but their stories should have been presented as examples of how communities, families and neighbours can fail to identify threats in their midst.
A new collective awareness is overdue on this kind of problem.
The report also pledges to ensure seamless co-operation between the vast array of federal, provincial and municipal agencies involved in ensuring the security of Canadians. Such a commitment should not be underestimated, since inter-agency rivalry and secrecy is a recognized impediment to effective counter-terrorism.
The report says Sunni Islamist extremism is the greatest foreign threat, but it properly identifies home-grown threats as equally dangerous. These include every conceivable menace, from organized crime and radicalized environmentalists to the mentally deranged and "lone-wolf" attackers.
Terrorism, of course, is not new to Canada. More than 300 Canadians were killed in a single incident during the Air India bombing in 1985, but it is far from the only example of violence inflicted on civilians for political, religious or ideological reasons.
Canadians have been slowly adapting to the challenges of the post-9/11 world, which has involved a delicate balance between respect for individual rights and the need for increased security. The government cannot guarantee that a terrorist attack will never occur on Canadian soil, but it has a duty to prepare for such an event.
Citizens can do their part by becoming informed and engaging with the diverse array of peoples, organizations and ideas that are part of the fabric of Canada's ever-evolving society.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 11, 2012 A16
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