Public safety minister reveals how, when Toronto terror plot suspects came to Canada
Two men facing terrorism charges for allegedly plotting an attack in Toronto have been in Canada for years, with one securing citizenship just a few months before his arrest, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc revealed Wednesday.
On July 28, the RCMP arrested Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, 62, and his son, Mostafa Eldidi, 26, in Richmond Hill, Ont. – foiling allegedly "advanced" plans to enact a "serious, violent attack" in this country's most populous city.
The case prompted serious questions about the circumstances of how the suspects came to Canada. In the first special hearings into the matter, LeBlanc shared a chronology of the two men's interactions with border and immigration officials that shed key light on those details.
The father first arrived in Canada via Pearson Airport in February 2018, after being granted a temporary resident visa, according to documents tabled with a committee probing the suspects' screening.
The elder Eldidi then made an asylum claim, and was deemed eligible in July 2018. Within months, he was granted a work permit and a year after entering the country, was granted refugee status. He became a permanent resident in September 2021, applied for citizenship two years later, and became a Canadian citizen in May 2024.
The son, after being denied a study permit in 2019, entered Canada in 2020 at the Fort Erie U.S. land border. He also made an asylum claim, and was granted refugee status in July 2022. The documents indicate both men were born in Egypt.
At various stages through the father and son's interactions with federal citizenship officials, biometrics were collected but did not match any existing criminal records, and while at times additional security assessments were conducted and undisclosed "risk indicators" flagged in the father's case, no serious concerns arose, until June.
That's when the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) became aware of the potential threat allegedly posed by these individuals, LeBlanc testified.
"Security screening is the first, but not the only, line of defence," LeBlanc said, noting federal agencies engage a variety of methods, including relying on international partners.
The minister said he was informed of the national intelligence forces' close surveillance of the two men "based on recent intelligence," in a briefing with top RCMP officials four days before charges were laid.
The RCMP previously said its Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) became aware of the alleged threat in early July, and arrested the men the night after they allegedly acquired an axe and a machete. A occurred the same evening they were taken into custody.
Police have laid a total of nine charges in the case, including conspiracy to commit murder for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a terrorist group.
'Obviously a colossal failure': Conservatives say
"This is the way that the investigative and national security system should work," LeBlanc testified, commending the work of federal intelligence, counterterrorism and law enforcement partners in thwarting the alleged attack.
The minister's position was swiftly challenged by opposition MPs who led the charge for hearings to press top federal officials about what they knew, when they knew it, and what they were doing to plug potential gaps in screening processes.
"What we have here minister is obviously a colossal failure. I'll be direct. How did somebody slide under the radar for so long?" Conservative MP Frank Caputo asked.
"This person was brought into Canada six years before a terrorist plot was foiled, just days before they would have killed people in Toronto. And you're telling Canadians that you're satisfied with the screening processes in place?" Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman asked.
LeBlanc said while he is confident all relevant agencies completed all the normal checks and that no information came to light to trigger an investigation until this spring, a broader internal public safety and immigration review is ongoing.
That review is aimed at understanding what information was available at the time officials made decisions about the Eldidis' status in Canada.
"Once we obtain this understanding, we will move rapidly to make the necessary changes to our systems so as to strengthen them," LeBlanc said.
Expressing concern over the alleged plot being in the advanced stages before it was thwarted, NDP MP Alistair MacGregor called for the federal government's internal investigation to be conducted "with haste and with thoroughness."
"Because we absolutely do want to make sure that a situation like this never occurs again."
Questions over alleged predating ISIS ties
Wednesday's hours-long hearings also featured testimony from a series of senior federal officials, including interim CSIS Director Vanessa Lloyd, executive vice-president of the Canada Border Services Agency Ted Gallivan, deputy RCMP Commissioner Bryan Larkin, and deputy minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Harpreet S. Kochhar.
Among the central questions these officials faced, was how the elder Eldidi secured citizenship given his alleged predating ISIS ties.
In addition to the charges stemming from alleged activities undertaken in Canada, the father was also charged with committing an aggravated assault outside the country in June 2015 for the benefit of the Islamic State. It has been reported that this charge stems from a propaganda video depicting him allegedly taking part in ISIS violence overseas.
MPs were told Wednesday that as far as federal officials are aware, the video in question was not available to the federal employees who screened the father, and that the CBSA only obtained an independent copy of it from the dark web "more recently."
"We are trying to see if there are other instances of that video, or if it could have been obtained in other ways. And we're also asking ourselves the question around the feasibility of finding a video like that, if you don't know about it," Gallivan said.
"What type of message does that send to Canadians … a video that was widely distributed some eight years previous was not flagged against any advanced biometrics?" Conservative MP Larry Brock asked. "Is CSIS not tracking these videos? What other terrorists are walking the streets here in Canada right now, waiting to commit terrorist acts?"
Responding to this, LeBlanc said as a former Crown attorney Brock should be cautious commenting about the alleged "dramatic" video that "may form part of the evidence in an upcoming trial."
"I'm not sure you would on the steps of a courthouse in the middle of an ongoing trial have been as dramatic as you were for your social media clip now," LeBlanc said.
The minister later told reporters that he had "never been on the dark web," and it's not like the videos on it "come with credits at the end and contact information for people in the videos."
"The minute CSIS was informed about the existence of this alleged video I saw up close, and in a very reassuring way, how rigorous was their investigation, how they had these suspects under the appropriate surveillance to mitigate any risk," LeBlanc said.
CSIS was also repeatedly asked how it took until June for the men to hit the agency's radar, something its interim director wouldn't comment on. Nor would the agency confirm reporting that it was France that tipped off Canadian authorities.
"I will not comment on specifics of this case in order to protect the integrity of our operations," Lloyd said.
"What I can tell the committee is that there is an increasingly complex and intensifying global threat environment, and this does include instances where individuals are mobilizing to violent extremist activities."
The men remain in custody, and the charges against them have not been proven in court.
Kicking off the meeting, Liberal MP and committee chair Ron McKinnon made a point of noting there is a publication ban on the case and as a result, information surrounding the bail conditions, and related evidence or materials that may be relied on in those proceedings, could not be disclosed.
MPs on the committee unanimously agreed earlier this month to strike the special study into the case, and have further hearings planned in which former public safety minister and current U.K. High Commissioner Ralph Goodale, as well as Immigration Minister Marc Miller, are expected to appear.
After MPs struck the study, Miller told reporters he was looking into revoking the elder Eldidi's citizenship.
The federal government has the power to revoke citizenship if a person is found to have in the process of obtaining it.
In the documents presented Wednesday, the federal immigration department indicated it is monitoring the progress of the criminal investigation and court proceedings, and would take "appropriate corresponding action," under the Citizenship Act, as necessary.
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
Scientists looked at images from space to see how fast Antarctica is turning green. Here's what they found
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by Â鶹´«Ã½ Toronto show.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
A Michigan man is charged with killing and dismembering a janitor he met on the Grindr dating app
Prosecutors have charged a Michigan man with killing and dismembering a janitor he met on the dating app Grindr.
NEW
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Haitian gang kills at least 70 people, including 3 infants, UN says
Armed men belonging to the Gran Grif gang killed at least 70 people, including three infants, as they swept through a Haitian town shooting automatic rifles at residents, a spokesperson for the United Nations' Human Rights Office said on Friday.
DEVELOPING
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.
Local Spotlight
Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.
From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.
A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.
The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.
A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.
Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north
What does New Westminster's təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.
The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.
New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.