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Trudeau and his cabinet are currently on a three-day retreat in Kananaskis, Alta.

“Canada condemns without reservation the brutality of the hostage takers,” he said. With three hostages still in captivity, Trudeau added, the government will “not comment or release any information to compromise ongoing efforts.”

News of Ridsdel’s death came hours after a deadline set by the Islamic extremist group for the payment of ransom money for the four hostages. Abu Sayyaf was demanding more than $8.1 million for Ridsdel and the other three.

Gar Pardy, former head of consular services at the department of foreign affairs, now known as Global Affairs Canada, said governments always say they will not negotiate with terrorist groups and foreign criminals who kidnap their citizens. “But the simple rule is: you always pay,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”

There was reason for hope. Earlier this month, Abu Sayyaf released an Italian missionary taken in a separate kidnapping after receiving a ransom of $630,000. So why not Ridsdel?

Former Ontario premier Bob Rae, who was friends with Ridsdel, confirmed that he had been working with the family to try to secure his release. Appearing on CTV’s Power Play program, Rae said the government was “very directly involved” in helping Ridsdel’s family deal with the kidnappers, but that Abu Sayyad refused to lower their demands.

“A ransom was paid for (the Italian captive), but it was nowhere near the amounts of money that continued to be bandied about (for Ridsdel),” he said. “It’s been an extremely frustrating and very, very difficult situation for the families to navigate.”