Canada urged to beef up security
B.C. man allegedly on no-fly list issued boarding pass
Canada’s security officials need to give serious thought to beefing up controls at the border in the wake of the revelation that a British Columbia man managed to slip out of the country despite allegedly being on the “no-fly” list, an intelligence expert said Thursday.
“I’d rather have more tools in my tool box to secure our borders,” said Ray Boisvert, former assistant director for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
“I’m inclined to have a better form of exit control,” including possibly the use of biometric technology, such as retina or fingerprint scans, he said.
The RCMP this week announced that Hasibullah Yusufzai, 25, of Burnaby, B.C., had been charged under a new anti-terror law for allegedly leaving Canada in January to “join Islamist fighters” in Syria.
The National Post reported that Yusufzai was alleged to be on Canada’s no-fly list, but evaded authorities by using a passport that did not belong to him. Postmedia News also confirmed he had used a false passport.
Neither public safety nor transport officials would comment Thursday on the apparent gap in the system.
Others suspected of terror links have been blocked from leaving the country in the past. Mohamed Hersi on Thursday was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of attempting to leave the country to participate in terrorist activity and for counselling someone to participate in terrorist activity
rosecutors had said the 28-yearold Toronto man was on his way to join the Somali militant group al Shabab when he was stopped at Pearson International Airport.
Under Canada’s Passenger Protect Program, individuals who “may pose a threat to aviation security” can be prevented from boarding an aircraft. The program is administered by Public Safety Canada and Transport Canada.
If someone is deemed to pose an immediate threat, the transport minister can issue what’s known as an “emergency direction,” which lets a person know that they are on the no-fly list if they attempt to get a boarding pass.
Those who are the subject of an emergency direction have an opportunity to appeal to the “Office of Reconsideration.” Public safety officials will then decide whether to keep that person on the list or not.
Right now it’s still too easy for a determined individual to circumvent these security measures, Boisvert said. While the use of forged passports has become more difficult, it is not unheard of for people to get through using passports belonging to siblings, he said.
There is no question that beefing up exit controls at the border using biometrics will impact privacy and freedom of movement, Boisvert said. It will also be expensive.
At the same time, the evidence is clear that there are a “good number” of Canadians who have and continue to be drawn into conflict zones abroad, he said, citing the young men from London, Ont., who took part in a deadly attack last year at a gas plant in Algeria.
“That’s a stain on all of us,” he said.
Yusufzai is the first person in Canada to be charged under expanded anti-terrorism laws that came into effect last year. He faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted.
Neighbour John Carscadden has said that Yusufzai came from a “nice, quiet family.” He said Yusufzai had worked as a security guard but left the country about seven months ago. He didn’t know where he went.
Mark Forward, vice-president and general manager of Concord Security, confirmed Thursday that Yusufzai had worked as a security guard for his company from 2009 until early 2014 when, “out of the blue,” he didn’t show up for work.
Someone called on his behalf to say that he had left the country and wouldn’t be returning, Forward said. Yusufzai’s supervisor said this was uncharacteristic of him as he had been a likable employee, Forward said.
A high school friend, who did not wish to be named, said Thursday that Yusufzai was into wrestling and other sports.
A serious motorcycle accident caused Yusufzai to turn his attention more to his faith, the friend said, and he became more “emotional” seeing what was happening in the world.