Trudeau rules out ransom payments

KANANASKIS, ALTA.— Justin Trudeau is taking an uncompromising stance against terrorist kidnappers, vowing that Canada will never pay ransom for the release of hostages.

Moreover, he’s promising to press other countries to adopt the same unyielding approach.

The prime minister took the hard line Tuesday as he wrapped up a three-day cabinet retreat that was overshadowed by the death of Canadian John Ridsdel, who was beheaded Monday by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines after seven months of captivity.

Amid speculation about whether the government might pay ransom to release two others still being held captive — Canadian citizen Robert Hall and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, whom a government official confirmed is a permanent resident of Canada — Trudeau said he wanted “to make one thing perfectly, crystal clear.

“Canada does not and will not pay ransom to terrorists, directly or indirectly,” Trudeau told a news conference during the conclusion of the retreat in a luxury, Albertan mountain resort.

Paying ransom is “a significant source of funds for terrorist organizations that then allow them to continue to perpetrate deadly acts of violence against innocents around the world,” Trudeau said.

But more importantly, he said it would encourage terrorists to kidnap more Canadians.

Some of Canada’s allies, notably France and Italy, have been willing to pay ransom for release of their citizens. Trudeau said he spoke Tuesday with British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose country adheres to the same no-ransom policy as Canada, and they agreed to press others to do the same.