Canada ratifies international convention for suppression of terrorism financing

            Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Martin Cauchon, and Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay announced on February 15 that Canada has ratified the international Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. The Convention aims to curb terrorist acts by cutting off terrorists’ sources of funding through the creation of new offences under international law. Minister Graham presented Canada’s instruments of ratification to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan during their meeting today at UN headquarters in New York City.

            “This Convention provides a valuable tool in our fight against terrorism, to help prevent another tragedy, such as the one that occurred here in New York,” said Minister Graham. “With Canada’s ratification today, we are close to having this important Convention enter into force.”

            Countries that ratify the Convention are required to criminalize the provision or collection of funds used or intended for use in committing terrorist acts. The Convention also establishes a framework for the extradition or prosecution of those who raise or provide funds to terrorists.

            “Targeting terrorist financing is an integral component of Canada’s efforts to combat terrorism,” said Minister Cauchon. “I am pleased that we have recently enacted federal legislation, through the Anti-Terrorism Act, to bring Canada into compliance with the requirements of the Convention and to ensure that we can play our role in the global effort to disable and dismantle terrorist organizations.”

            “Canada is committed to curbing terrorist financing and this Convention will strengthen our capacity to do so,” said Minister MacAulay.

            The Convention was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1999, and has been open for signature since January 10, 2000. Canada is the twentieth country to ratify the Convention. It will enter force when ratified by 22 states.

            The Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism is intended to complement existing counter-terrorism conventions. Canada has signed all 12 of the existing conventions, and has now ratified 11 of them.