Article content continued

Precisely the opposite is happening. Not only have very few of these terrorists been arrested, the Government of Canada is focusing resources on re-integrating them into Canadian society. Recently, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proudly announced that resources have been put in place to facilitate disengagement from violent ideologies.

Last week, in response to questions from the Leader of the Official Opposition, Andrew Scheer, about this critical issue of national security, the prime minister accused Conservatives of being discriminatory and Islamophobic. Hiding behind the rhetoric of “diversity and multiculturalism” to avoid answering legitimate questions about Canada’s national security is not good enough.

No one of goodwill believes there is any place in a diverse and multicultural Canada for ISIS terrorists. There is nothing bigoted or Islamophobic about arresting ISIS fighters.

The Prime Minister’s words are especially out of touch when you consider the case of 24-year-old John Maguire, by his own description “a typical Canadian kid” who grew up in a small town near Ottawa. Maguire traveled to Syria and Iraq in 2014 to join ISIS, where he recorded a six minute pro-ISIS propaganda video urging fellow Canadians to launch terror attacks on their own soil. Maguire was reportedly killed in 2015.

The Government of Canada is responsible for protecting its citizens, not allowing ISIS fighters to re-enter Canadian society without any consequences.

Canadians need to know that their families are safe and that the government is doing everything they can to protect them. Sadly, that is not the case.

Justin Trudeau needs to focus on the serious work that is required of the Prime Minister of a G-7 nation. This includes making it clear to all those who wish to take up arms for ISIS that they will not be welcomed back, that they will not be re-integrated into society and that there is no place in Canada for terrorist sympathizers.

— Linda Frum is a Conservative Senator representing Ontario.

@LindaFrum