Andrew Scheer and Luc Berthold are calling for an emergency meeting of the House of Commons public safety committee in the wake of the recent arrests of Ahmed Eldidi and his son Mostafa Eldidi on terrorism-related charges. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) allege the two men were in the advanced stages of planning a terrorist attack in Toronto.
Scheer and Berthold expressed deep concern over the incident and questioned how Ahmed Eldidi, who is alleged to have participated in ISIS violence overseas, was able to enter Canada and obtain citizenship.
“Last week, Canadians were shocked and horrified to find out about a terrorist plot planned by a father and son who appear to have links to ISIS,” said Scheer. “Evidence exists that the father was involved in a horrific torture attack in an ISIS video. Shortly after the events in the video, this individual was admitted into Canada and later was granted citizenship.”
Scheer emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, stating that Canadians have the right to know how Ahmed Eldidi gained entry into Canada and obtained citizenship. He also called for a thorough investigation to determine if there are other individuals with similar backgrounds who have been granted entry into the country.
“My colleague Frank Caputo, the acting public safety critic for the Conservative Party, has written a letter to Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, demanding that the details surrounding this foiled terrorist plot be made public so that Canadians can get answers,” Scheer continued. “We are calling on the Bloc and NDP to support our efforts to recall the Public Safety Committee so that we can investigate all aspects of this disturbing and shocking event.”
Luc Berthold echoed Scheer’s sentiments, highlighting the severity of the situation and the urgency of addressing it. He also criticized the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party (NDP) for their reluctance to support previous requests to recall committees to investigate pressing issues facing Canadians, such as the rise in violent crime and concerns over national security.
“This incident demands that the committee be recalled,” Berthold asserted. “Lives are on the line. We potentially would have seen the loss of innocent life had the RCMP not caught these suspects before they were able to perpetrate their horrific crimes.”
The RCMP reported that the arrests took place in Richmond Hill, Ont., and that the suspects were in possession of deadly weapons, including a hatchet and a machete. The two men allegedly recorded a video with these weapons in front of an ISIS flag, further implicating them in terrorist activities.
Scheer and Berthold emphasized that the Conservative Party is committed to holding the government accountable and ensuring that the public is informed about potential security threats.
“The lives of Canadians are at stake when our national security systems fail,” Scheer concluded. “People with connections to terrorist organizations should never be allowed into Canada, let alone granted citizenship.”
As the situation develops, the Conservative Party is pushing for immediate action and hoping to gain the support of other parties to convene the public safety committee and investigate the matter thoroughly.