Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc and other senior government officials will be in the hot seat later this morning as MPs begin their investigation into the circumstances surrounding an alleged foiled terrorist attack planned for Toronto — a case that’s raised questions about Canada’s security screening process.
Last month, police charged Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, 62, and his son Mostafa Eldidi, 26, with a total of nine charges including conspiracy to commit murder for the benefit or at the direction of a terrorist group.
When police announced the arrests late last month they said the two men were “in the advanced stages of planning a serious, violent attack in Toronto.”
The father, who police say has Canadian citizenship while his son does not, is also accused of committing aggravated assault in 2015 for the benefit of the Islamic State somewhere outside Canada.
Authorities have said part of the case involves a video showing that alleged violent assault.
Earlier this month, MPs on the House of Commons public safety committee agreed unanimously to study the case. The hearings are expected to focus on which officials knew what and when, and will zero in on Canada’s immigration process, its security screening capacity and how security officials handle domestic threats.
The committee will hear Wednesday from LeBlanc, the interim director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Vanessa Lloyd, acting president of the Canada Border Services Agency Ted Gallivan, RCMP deputy commissioner Bryan Larkin and other officials.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who’s expected to testify before the committee at a later date, has said he’s looking into whether the Eldidi’s citizenship should be revoked,
The minister said he’s also ordered his deputy minister to review the timeline of events including what was known and when.
“I’m as disgusted as any Canadian,” Miller said earlier this month. “Canadians deserve answers.”
Asked Tuesday if the timeline has been completed, a spokesperson for the minister said they had nothing new to add.