Terrorism prevention begins at home

Ontario government seeking advice from experts on addressing youth radicalization

TORONTO — Ontario is looking for advice on how to prevent youth from becoming radicalized and drawn into extremist groups.

The Liberal government has issued a request for proposals, seeking one or two experts to do research and report back on youth radicalization.

Michael Coteau, the province’s minister of children and youth services, said Tuesday that the government is concerned about all kinds of radicalization.

“We’ve seen young people being brought into terrorist groups, we’ve seen young people join white supremacist groups,” he said. “We’ve seen extremism in so many different forms.”

Some Canadians who have joined the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant have gained widespread publicity, including Ontario-born John Maguire, who joined ISIL and released a video calling on Muslims to launch attacks against Canadians. He and two other Ottawa men were charged with terrorism offences, but he is believed to have been killed.

Coteau said he believes young people can become radicalized when they don’t see a future.

“We need to make sure young people know that there are many options and we’re here to support them, and we have their back as a government, as a community and as a province,” he said.

It’s too early to tell what kind of government program the research on youth radicalization could lead to, Coteau said.

The request for proposals posted online asks for research that “will contribute to ministry’s understanding of youth radicalization process and identify practical ways of preventing” it.

The research must be specific to youth, and separate from security approaches and information concerning the radicalization of adults.