Question Period Note: Terrorism Peace Bonds

Terrorism Peace Bonds

• In 2015, the Government introduced changes to the Anti-terrorism Act, including a new “fear of terrorism offence” under the Criminal Code, which is referred to as a terrorism peace bond.

• The terrorism peace bond is a preventative tool to disrupt potential terrorist threats.

• It can be a useful and effective tool to law enforcement to mitigate some, but not all, the risks an individual may pose to public safety.

• The terrorism peace bond allows a judge to apply conditions on an individual that limits some of their freedoms, such as prohibiting them from engaging in online activity, limiting their travel, and engagement with specific individuals.

Fear of terrorism offence is a protection order made by a court under section 810.011 of the Criminal Code. When the appropriate evidentiary threshold is met, the RCMP can seek a peace bond where they fear an individual is likely to commit a terrorism-related criminal offence, but there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an offence is about to be committed.

The terrorism peace bond is a preventative law enforcement tool that focusses on preventing a specific individual from committing a terrorism offence through periods of detention with conditions such as limiting their engagement with specific individuals, electronic monitoring device, and surrender of passport, among others.

Terrorism peace bonds have been used by law enforcement in 17 cases since the provision was introduced in 2001. The last active terrorism peace bond expired in May 2019.

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