Is Canada Finally Taking Far-Right Extremism Seriously? ( thetyee.ca )

In late summer 2023, the RCMP made headlines with the arrests of two men in Ottawa and Kingsey Falls, Quebec, on terrorism and hate propaganda charges. The arrests marked a significant victory in a three-year investigation by the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team targeting the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division.

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One of the men arrested was Patrick Gordon Macdonald, 26, on charges of participating in and facilitating terrorist activities and the wilful promotion of hatred tied to his alleged involvement with the Atomwaffen Division. His apprehension followed the previous year’s arrest of a teenager in Windsor, Ontario, similarly charged with terrorism for his involvement with the same extremist group.

Macdonald is out on bail after his parents posted $40,000 in sureties and must stay at their home under strict conditions.

The case against Macdonald is unprecedented in Canada, marking the first time an alleged far-right extremist was prosecuted for both terrorism and hate propaganda.

ShaggySnacks ,

Don't worry when Lil' PP becomes Prime Minister. All this far right terrorism will go away! Instead it will be replaced with the "Radical Left" which last time I checked my notes; were fighting for a more progressive and equal Canada.

swordgeek ,

Of course we're not. The only person taking them seriously is Poilievre, and that's strictly as voters to be conned.

Ulrich_the_Old ,

poilievre's "base" that he is so proud of are often described as far right extremists.

nik282000 ,
@nik282000@lemmy.ca avatar

Betteridge's law of headlines: No. Canada is not taking far-right extremism seriously.

floofloof ,

It looks like Poilievre's Conservatives will win the next election, and he has shown repeatedly that he's willing to court the far right whenever it serves him. Having a PM who associates with fascists will certainly send the message that Canada is dealing with the far right, but not in the sense we hoped for.

TheBat ,
@TheBat@lemmy.world avatar

Is Trudeau really unpopular or is it just on the internet?

Evkob , (edited )
@Evkob@lemmy.ca avatar

Most definitely not "just on the internet" (which is kind of a weird statement, the vast majority of Canadians use the internet). Just have a look at the current polling.

Anecdotally, here in NB (which is a conservative cesspool, to be fair) I've seen a few "Fuck Trudeau" stickers and flags, and have heard many go off on rants about why he's to blame for everything they dislike (typically stuff over which the prime minister has zero power).

It almost makes me feel bad for disliking Trudeau for being a massive neoliberal and lying about getting rid of first-past-the-post. I don't want to be associated with the "Fuck Trudeau" crowd.

ArachnidMania ,

Ah, a fellow owner of a ‘yeah, I don’t like him too, but not that way’ feeling.

Enkers , (edited )

One of the issues is that we have an actual leftist party that has legitimate chances, so the vote gets split. The liberals' position as the defacto ABC (anything but conservative) party is failing due to a series of blunders and scandals.

The liberals could have fixed this by properly following through with their electoral reform promise instead of harpooning their own initiative, but because of their bad faith attempt to keep power, we might now get Polievre.

Kichae ,

we have an actual leftist party that has legitimate chances

We do not. The NDP may have actual leftists among its membership, but it hasn't been a leftist party in 2 decades now. It's a neo-liberal party focused on courting an urban professional class and denying any and all claims that they are "socialist".

TSG_Asmodeus OP ,
@TSG_Asmodeus@lemmy.world avatar

The internet makes him seem more unpopular than he is. At the worst polling so far for his party (the Liberals) is:

Cons: 43%

Liberals: 25%

NDP (left-wing) 17%

Bloc (Quebec) 8%

Greens 4%

So still the second most popular party.

Furball ,

Second most popular party in a traditionally 2 party country isn’t very impressive especially when they are close to 3rd place

TSG_Asmodeus OP ,
@TSG_Asmodeus@lemmy.world avatar

Sure but pre Trudeau the party had that massive plummet where the NDP were the opposition.

So they aren't doing great, but there isn't some all-encompassing hatred for Trudeau.

corsicanguppy ,

People unimpressed with imperfection willing to go full stupid by voting in the cruel elitist alternative that does everything wrong as Trudeau and then a fuck of a lot more?

Of course.

DarkCloud ,

No. They haven't for decades and it shows.

MehBlah ,

It would never work in the US. Why would they arrest themselves?

cyborganism ,

I don't know. I don't think they are. I'm still hearing about far-right neo-nazis conducting assemblies and doing military-style militia training in certain regions.

FireRetardant ,

Can you provide a link to the militia stuff? I've not heard of that happening in Canada and would be curious to read more and maybe make sure they aren't training near me.

Evkob ,
@Evkob@lemmy.ca avatar

Here's the best article I could find after some brief searching. Sorry for linking to a "law enforcement magazine", but the article is actually quite well written and concise.

rand_alpha19 ,

Archive link: https://archive.is/Ro02U

SamuelRJankis ,

https://infotel.ca/newsitem/guardians-of-humanity-training-in-kelowna-for-when-hell-breaks-loose/it103805

https://infotel.ca/newsitem/police-aware-of-paramilitary-guardians-of-humanity-not-working-with-them/it104329

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