Article content

The government has a duty to stop Canadians from travelling overseas to commit terrorism, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said Wednesday at the opening of a conference on countering violent extremism.

As both Algeria and Bulgaria were investigating terrorist attacks attributed to Canadian citizens, Mr. Toews called violent homegrown extremism “one of the greatest threats” facing democratic nations.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Government must prevent Canadians from travelling overseas to commit terrorism: Vic Toews Back to video

“There is a real concern that new and evolving conflicts in the world may lure youth to engage in violent extremist activities at home and abroad,” according to speaking notes of the address released by his staff.

“Canada, like all nations, has a responsibility to guard against its citizens travelling to areas of turmoil and participating in terrorist acts. … We must actively work to prevent individuals from being recruited overseas to learn a terrorist trade.”

The RCMP confirmed last week that two of the suspected armed Islamists who attacked a gas plant in eastern Algeria in January were Canadians. Both were found dead after Algerian forces recaptured the facility.