Ontario PCs Will Table Bill To Strip Returning Extremist Fighters Of License, Benefits

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Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government will table a bill next week that strips returning terrorists of their driver’s licenses and benefits, Premier Doug Ford and MP Dave Smith confirmed on Twitter

“If you leave Canada to go fight for ISIS, you should not be welcomed back with open arms. Since Justin Trudeau doesn’t seem to take this seriously, MPP @DaveSmithPtbo is taking action to send a message that there are consequences for leaving Ontario to commit indefensible crimes,” Ford tweeted Friday night.

The tweet included a link to a Toronto Sun story outlining the details of a bill called the Terrorist Activities Sanctions Act, which the Sun states will strip returning ISIS fighters of Ontario drivers licences, hunting and fishing licences, access to OHIP, grants and post-secondary education loans, disability income, housing support, rent-geared-to-income under the Housing Services Act, and WSIB coverage.

Peterborough-Kawartha MP Dave Smith, who is reportedly sponsoring the bill, also tweeted out the Sun’s story late Friday night, confirming that he will be tabling the bill.

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“I gave you my word that I would look after the best interests of the people of Ontario. I will table this bill next week,” he said.

The comments seem to follow an exchange in the House of Common’s Question Period earlier this week where Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer questioned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about whether he’d “invited” a British national suspected of engaging in terrorist activities to Canada.

“This government proactively reached out to try to bring this individual, who has fought with a terrorist organization, back to Canada. They took it upon themselves to reach out to bring this individual to Canada, why?” Scheer demanded on Tuesday.

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