By: Hayleigh Cudmore, Elliot Holzman, Andrea Mannell, and Sarah Miller

PDF Version: Anti-Terrorism Law Reform: Required Changes to the Terrorism Financing Provisions

Provisions Commented on: Sections 83.02, 83.03 and 83.04, Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46

Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of three posts on Reviewing Canada’s National Security Framework.

This law reform proposal is focused on the “Financing of Terrorism” provisions in the Criminal Code of Canada, RSC 1985, c C-46. The government is currently engaged in public consultations and substantive review of the controversial aspects of Bill C-51, the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015. The purpose of this post is to consider the structural problems within the Criminal Code and the current anti-terrorism financing regime, discuss the apparent shortcomings in bringing prosecutions under this regime and provide recommendations to improve the efficacy of these provisions.

The particular provisions of the Criminal Code which prohibit terrorism financing – sections 83.02, 83.03 and 83.04 – were neither enacted nor varied by Bill C-51. These provisions came into force as part of the Anti-terrorism Act, SC 2001, c 41, in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the following UN Resolution 1373 on the financing of terrorist acts. Despite the fact that the provisions are not anchored to Bill C-51, it is still a good opportunity to revisit these provisions and restructure this part of the Code. Continue reading →