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By Sheryl Saperia

Canada, like its Western allies, is facing the problem of radicalization as both a domestic and foreign policy concern.

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While the term has yet to be legally formulated, I define radicalization here as the process by which an individual comes to adopt an extremist ideological belief system that overtly or implicitly promotes violence.

Put simply, radicalization is the fuel of terrorism. In a new report, CSIS reviewed approximately 100 cases of radicalized Canadians and determined that it takes an average of one year for a radicalized person to be “mobilized to violence” or terrorism.

While an untold number of radicalized individuals reside and remain in Canada, approximately 190 people with links to Canada are suspected of travelling overseas to engage in terrorist activity. The government estimates that roughly 60 of these foreign fighters have returned to Canada, but has not been transparent about who the individuals are, what crimes they may have committed, and what is being done to protect Canadians from these unrepentant returnees.