Borealis Threat & Risk ConsultingPhil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. Phil is a 32-year veteran of CSE and CSIS and the author of six books on terrorism.
What threats and concerns should be at the top of Canadians’ lists? Well, according to interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose the answer is clear. It is Islamic State. The terrorist group, in her view, poses “the greatest threat to humanity” (I really need to support this statement with a citation otherwise people will think I […]
The new Liberal government in Canada has been talking about terrorism quite a bit lately. We now have a decision on what Trudeau’s policy on Islamic State (IS) will be as well as a renewed – and much needed – emphasis on countering radicalisation in this country. And the Defence Minister, Harjit “bad-ass” Sajjan, has […]
I have just returned to Canada from two weeks in Australia where, in addition to soaring temperatures and seeing an actual platypus in the wild, I attended a Canada-Australia symposium on youth radicalisation held in Brisbane. The conference was organised by our High Commission in Canberra and I was honoured to be asked to give […]
I just know that this blog is going to get me some flack. What in heaven’s name does a non-Muslim have to say that is remotely informed or relevant about Islam? What is an outsider doing commenting on the “soul of Islam”? Why doesn’t this person quit before he writes something stupid? Sidenote – my […]
I am fairly certain that many people are getting sick and tired of hearing about terrorism. IS this. AQ that. Some guys called Boko Haram. The Taliban. Etc. Etc. Etc. The so-called war on terror (a terrible description as I have said before) has been going on for 15 years or so. When will it […]
As long promised, the Canadian government has announced its policy on dealing with Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Syria-Iraq. Recall that while merely an opposition member Liberal leader Justin Trudeau was critical of the offensive mandate chosen by the Conservative government, mockingly referring to it as “whipping out our CF-18s”. If elected, he […]
Do you remember when former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in an interview with the CBC, said that “Islamicism” was the greatest threat to national security? I think we all knew what he meant – Islamist extremism – but his use of “Islamicism” was roundly criticised and led to accusations that the Conservative government viewed […]
The Southern Poverty Law Centre is an oddly named institution that gives little indication of what it does. No, it is not some legal aid agency for poor people. It is one of the most influential and comprehensive bodies that looks at hate and extremism in our southern neighbour, the US. The SPLC looks at […]
This blog is going to get me in a lot of trouble, but I really feel the need to write it. I want to comment on a few recent items in the news that have to do with Israel and its annoying practice of labeling any criticism as antisemitic. Not that this is new but […]
I see that the only person convicted in the 1985 Air India bombing has been let go on strict conditions. The Canadian government had little choice as he had served two-thirds of his sentence and was eligible for statutory release (see story here). On the one hand, all kinds of people are granted statutory release […]