Conservative MP slams security officials for ignoring church burnings in 2021

TL;DR

Security officials did not give a specific explanation for why the burning of over 30 Canadian churches in 2021 was absent from the cited CSIS public report. Witnesses instead described jurisdictional limits, referred investigative questions to the RCMP, and explained that ITAC assesses threats using intent, opportunity, and capability. Read on for the officials’ responses about investigations, threat assessments, community outreach, and the evacuation described by the MP.

Transcript

thank you mr chair my first question for uh miss soper are you aware that over 30 churches were burned down in canada in 2021 yes i am and can you answer are you is public safety currently investigating the burning of over 30 churches in canada last year public safety does not have an investigative mandate uh to uh that might be better directed tow... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤨 The church burnings in Canada in 2021 raised alarms among community members about safety and the adequacy of governmental responses.
• 🥺 Public safety is not directly responsible for investigating the incidents, leading to potential gaps in accountability.
• 😑 Agency officials expressed a lack of awareness regarding the inclusion of such incidents in security assessments and reports on ideological extremism.
• 🫥 The line of questioning highlighted concerns about the adequacy of governmental support for communities impacted by acts of violence.
• 👮 The testimony underscored the need for clear communication and collaboration between security services and law enforcement agencies regarding violent events.
• 🤙 Community leaders and advocacy groups called for more awareness and recognition of the hate-driven nature of such incidents.
• 😨 The lack of acknowledgment in public safety reports may suggest a disconnect between community fears and governmental threat assessment criteria.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why were the 2021 church burnings not mentioned in the CSIS public report?

The officials did not provide a specific reason for the omission. They said their work focuses on understanding underlying threats and preventing future violence, while one witness clarified that ITAC relies on intelligence collected by other organizations.

Q: How many churches did the MP say were burned down in Canada in 2021?

The MP repeatedly said that over 30 churches were burned down in Canada in 2021. He questioned why those incidents did not merit a mention in the cited CSIS public report.

Q: Was Public Safety investigating the church burnings?

The Public Safety witness said the department does not have an investigative mandate and is not the police of jurisdiction. She directed questions about any investigation to the RCMP.

Q: What role did the RCMP have in relation to the church burnings?

Witnesses repeatedly referred questions about criminal investigations to the RCMP. They indicated that the RCMP might be the police of jurisdiction for some of the incidents.

Q: How does ITAC evaluate whether something poses a threat?

The ITAC representative said the organization uses a detailed methodology that considers the intent, opportunities, and capabilities of potential threat actors. ITAC also bases its assessments on intelligence collected by other organizations.

Q: Did officials say the church burnings were terrorist attacks or extremist activity?

The officials did not definitively characterize the church burnings as terrorist attacks. A CSIS representative said the incidents had entered the criminal realm and emphasized concern about violent extremist activity and serious violence that could affect national security.

Q: Did CSIS confirm outreach to the affected church communities?

No official confirmed whether CSIS had contacted the affected communities to offer support and solidarity. The CSIS representative said operational activity and possible ongoing investigations could not be discussed in an unclassified setting.

Q: What danger did the MP describe from a church fire in his town?

The MP said a church burned at 4 a.m. in his town and more than 50 people had to be evacuated from their homes. He said a nearby seniors’ apartment building was at risk and credited 50 local volunteer firefighters with bringing the blaze under control.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• In 2021, over 30 churches were burned down in Canada, provoking questions regarding public safety and the investigative mandates of government agencies.

• Officials from CSIS and ITAC expressed their inability to specifically address ongoing investigations related to these incidents, suggesting that it falls under the jurisdiction of the RCMP.

• The lack of mention of church burnings in public reports regarding ideological extremism raised concerns about governmental awareness and response to violent acts impacting communities.