Ralph Goodale says Canada must be ‘world leader’ in tackling radicalization
2016/01/11 1 Comment
Strong messaging on the softer aspects of that strategy.
Will be interesting to see how the precise mandate and implementation of the Office of the Community Outreach and Counter-radicalization Co-ordinator:
Canada must become a “world leader” in stamping out radicalization, because our open, tolerant society is at stake, says Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale.
In a wide-ranging interview with CBC News Network’s Power & Politics, Goodale said Canada must become the “best in the world” at community outreach, engagement and counter-radicalization to avert a fundamental threat to Canadian values.
“We’re an open society, we’re one of the most plural societies in the world; the most inclusive, the most tolerant. In order to preserve that nature of our country, we need to be among the best in the world at identifying radicalization and the techniques for countering radicalization and working with all other Canadians to make sure that’s effective,” he told host Rosemary Barton.
Goodale could not provide the current number of individuals considered home-grown militants or “foreign fighters.”
But he said the government will make a “vigorous” effort to stamp out radicalization. The minister’s mandate letter includes an order to create an Office of the Community Outreach and Counter-radicalization Co-ordinator.
More money for the RCMP
Goodale also promised the Mounties would have the necessary resources to keep up the fight. Last year, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson said he was forced to divert 600 officers from white-collar crime and fraud files to focus on national security investigations.
“We cannot have a situation where your national police force has got to rob Peter to pay Paul,” he said. “When we call upon them to perform serious functions in the name of national security, crime prevention, law enforcement and all the other important things that they do, they need to have the physical resources, including budget, to do that well.”
Source: Ralph Goodale says Canada must be ‘world leader’ in tackling radicalization – Politics – CBC News
About Andrew
Multicultural Meanderings 
Opposing radicalization will I imagine require a broad-spectrum approach: theological arguments against it, and against the Apocalyptic-nihilistic vision which inspires much terrorism, and this to be conducted within the Islamic theological framework; cultural arguments to counter and ‘deconstruct’ the theme of ‘Western decadence’; ethical – and cultural and historical -arguments regarding the role of women in society and regarding too the desirability – or not – of violent, terrorist action; sociological and psychological arguments to counter and explain whatever experiences of racism or prejudice have been encountered; psychological arguments to dissect and counter various forms of ‘identity crisis’ and inner ‘identity conflict’ and ‘status anxiety’ felt by these young men and women; political arguments to counter the various themes of complaint – valid and less valid – about Western behavior and hypocrisy – the history of Western expansion and imperialism; the Israel-Palestine conflict; the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the apparent indifference to Muslim suffering in Bosnia and ex-Yugoslavia, the apparent indifference to the suffering and civil war in Syria, and etc. A critique, too, of the claims of ISIS and other terrorist groups, and a critical – very critical – analysis of their ethics, their aims, the means they use, and so on. A critique – perhaps humorous and satirical, too, of the ‘style’ and pretensions of ISIS and other such groups: make it ridiculous and not sexy; that would be fatal.. All of which will require, on our part, a considerable dose of self-criticism and self-awareness. This comes down to establishing a dialogue – an ‘I-thou’ relationship. Then, too, there the social and family and ideological contexts and the role of evil doctrines and seductive gurus and teachers, and the financial flows which promote and back the preachers of intolerance, hatred, and jihad, all of which must be countered too.