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432-00723 (Foreign affairs)

Paper petition

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the House of Commons

Whereas, the House of Commons passed a motion in June of 2018 to immediately list Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization;

Whereas, in response to the storming of Capitol Hill in January 2021, the Liberal government listed 'Proud Boys' as a terrorist organization within less than a month, thus demonstrating that listing a group as a terrorist organization can be done quickly and efficiently;

Whereas, nearly 3 years have passed since the motion calling for the listing of the IRGC was passed in the House of Commons, and no action has been taken by the government.

Therefore we, the undersigned citizens of Canada, call on the House of Commons to:

1. Immediately list Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization; and

2. Explain why there has been a 3-year delay.

Response by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Joël Lightbound, M.P

In Canada our public safety and national security officials use a full suite of measures to protect our country and to keep Canadians safe from any threat, including the threat posed by terrorism and religiously or ideologically motivated violent extremism. These measures can include additions to the Criminal Code list of terrorist entities which are the result of an expert process and a determination based on evidence, intelligence and the law.

In order for an entity to be added to the list, explicit criteria must be met. An entity may be added if there are reasonable grounds to believe that it has knowingly carried out, participated in, or facilitated a terrorist activity, or has knowingly acted on behalf of, at the direction of, or in association with a terrorist entity. We continuously review the criminal legislation that allows for the listing of certain organizations. Furthermore, our national security and law enforcement agencies are actively engaged in monitoring the activities of these groups, and gathering the evidence required to support a determination of listing as a Terrorist Organization. Terrorist designations are not political exercises.

With respect to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Canada continues to have in place a series of strong measures to hold both it and Iran accountable.

Canada continues to list the IRGC-Qods Force as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code, which is Iran’s primary mechanism for cultivating and supporting terrorist groups abroad.

The Government also continues to list a number of other terrorist entities that have benefited from the Qods Force’s patronage and who help advance Iran’s interests and foreign policy. These include Hizballah, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Taliban. These designations impose significant consequences.

In June 2019, Canada added three new Iran-backed groups to the Criminal Code list of terrorist entities: al-Ashtar Brigades, Harakat al-Sabireen and the Fatemiyoun Division. Iran provides these three groups with substantial resources, including training and weapons to carry out terrorist acts that advance its goals in the region.

Additionally, Canada lists Iran as a state supporter of terrorism under the State Immunity Act (SIA) and has implemented restrictive measures against entities and individuals within the IRGC which have a similar effect to a listing.

The Government continues to impose sanctions on Iran and the IRGC targeting all four of its branches as well as members of its senior leadership under the Special Economic Measures Act in response to Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Individuals and entities listed under the Special Economic Measures Act are prohibited from any dealings with Canadians, which effectively freezes their assets in Canada. Canada’s sanctions measures on Iran also consist of an arms embargo and prohibitions on the export, sale, and supply of specified goods, as well as technical assistance in relation to these goods.

In February 2020, Canada placed 13 new groups on the Criminal Code list of terrorist entities, including four ideologically motivated violent extremist groups: the Proud Boys, Atomwaffen Division, the Base and Russian Imperial Movement. In addition, Canada has also listed:

  • three Al Qaida affiliates: Jama’at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimin, Front de Libération du Macina, and Ansar Dine;
  • five Daesh affiliates: Islamic State West Africa Province, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, Islamic State in Libya, Islamic State East Asia, and Islamic State – Bangladesh;
  • one international terror group: Hizbul Mujahideen.

Canadians can be confident in the work performed by our security agencies, who are alert to evolving threats and will not hesitate to take necessary action.

Presented to the House of Commons
Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan)
March 24, 2021 (Petition No. 432-00723)
Government response tabled
May 7, 2021
Photo - Garnett Genuis
Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan
Conservative Caucus
Alberta

Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.