TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - Today's tragic events in Ottawa make it clear that Canada must have a national, multi-pronged strategy for combatting extremist ideologies by strengthening Canadian values and identity, says the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF).
Anita Bromberg, Executive Director, CRRF, speaking in response to the shooting attacks perpetrated in Ottawa on Oct. 22, expressed the CRRF's sympathy for the shooting victims and gratitude for the men and women of the military, RCMP and Ottawa Police Service.
"The rapidly changing situation on the ground requires a rapid rethink of Canada's approach to education, social media, security and anti-terror law enforcement," said Bromberg. "The myth that a terrorist attack could never happen in Canada has just been busted wide open. Just two weeks ago, we were warned of ISIS-inspired terrorist attacks being plotted against Canadian targets. On Monday of this week, a radicalized Muslim convert deliberately drove his car into two Canadian soldiers, killing one and injuring the other. And in today's attacks, one Canadian soldier was killed and a security guard was injured."
CRRF Board Chair Albert Lo added, "The situation is developing rapidly and we must move quickly to counter the extremism that is obviously present on Canadian soil. Radicalization has to be countered with strong measures. Social media, where many of these extremist ideas are fostered, must be part of the strategy. It is time to have a frank conversation about what we are facing and what measures must be taken in response."
The CRRF is starting the conversation at its national symposium on November 17-19 in Ottawa. Our Canada: Building on Citizenship, Building for Citizenship (www.crrf-fcrr.ca) will feature in-depth explorations of issues surrounding Canadian values, identity and belonging, including one session entitled, Strengthening Canadian Values as a Barrier to Extremism.
SOURCE: Canadian Race Relations Foundation
CRRF Executive Director: Anita Bromberg, [email protected], 416-508-9033; CRRF Spokesperson: Rubin Friedman, [email protected], 647-403-8526
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