Proud Boys added to Canada’s terror list

Three other extreme right-wing groups are among 13 total additions

OTTAWA — The Trudeau government has added the Proud Boys and three other extreme rightwing groups to its list of terrorist organizations as it seeks to tackle the sort of neo-fascism and white nationalism that boiled over in the U.S. last month.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced Wednesday that the four right-wing groups are among 13 additions to the list along with three groups linked to al-Qaida, four associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and one Kashmiri organization.

Groups on Canada’s roster of terrorist entities may have their assets seized, and there are serious criminal penalties for helping listed organizations carry out extremist activities.

The decision to add the Proud Boys had been anticipated after the storming of Capitol Hill in Washington last month focused a spotlight on the group and Blair confirmed Canadian authorities were looking into its activities.

The House of Commons then passed an NDP motion calling on the government to use all available tools to address the proliferation of white supremacists and hate groups, starting with designating the Proud Boys as a terrorist entity.

Blair on Wednesday repeatedly denied any political influence in the decision to list the Proud Boys and three other rightwing extremist organizations, which officials have lumped under the catch-all term “ideologically motivated violent extremist groups.”

“This process of listing a terrorist entity cannot be political,” Blair said. “It has to be based entirely on evidence, intelligence and the law. And that’s why I’ve tried very carefully to articulate the depth of gathering that evidence and intelligence that has been taking place over several months and even years.”

The other three right-wing extremist groups added Wednesday were The Base, the Atomwaffen Division and the Russian Imperial Movement, all of which are described as neo-Nazi and white-supremacy organizations.