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The document listed past affiliation with the mosque among numerous factors in a “Matrix of Threat” developed to assess whether detainees at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, might be a threat to American interests.

Mr. Blaney, in a press release from his ministerial office, accused the Liberal leader of “pandering for votes amongst religious extremists in our own communities.”

But Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale said Mr. Trudeau’s visit to the mosque occurred in March 2011, the month before the document was made public by the Times.

No one at the mosque could be reached to confirm the date of the visit. There is no evidence Mr. Trudeau knew of the alleged connection to Al-Qaeda or that anyone he met with from the mosque had any Al-Qaeda links.

“If it was a real threat, then surely it’s the Harper government’s job is to act on it, rather than throwing around smears and innuendo,” Mr. Goodale said. “They should be dealing with the security issue. Instead, they smear Mr. Trudeau. That just shows how petty and irresponsible this government is.”

‘If it was a real threat, then surely it’s the Harper government’s job is to act on it, rather than throwing around smears’

The same line of attack on Mr. Trudeau was in a fundraising email sent out by the Conservative Party. The party’s director of political operations, Fred DeLorey, highlighted the story as an example of Mr. Trudeau’s poor judgment and unsuitability to become prime minister, writing “it’s still hard to believe he’d sink this low.”

Mr. DeLorey also cited the Boston Marathon comments, adding: “But seeking support from a place where extremists were recruited? That would be one giant, shocking step further.”

Mr. Blaney’s office would not say what, if any, action the government has taken against the mosque since the U.S. report.

“I cannot comment on operational matters related to national security,” said spokesman Jean-Christophe de Le Rue in an email. “What I can say is that our Government is working to combat radicalization leading to violent extremism through stronger legislation and strengthening relationships with Canada’s allies in the world.”

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