(Ottawa) Justin Trudeau refuses to speculate on why the British Foreign Office warned that terrorist attacks were “very likely” – the only G7 country to be given this risk rating.
Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre brought the matter to the Prime Minister’s attention during question period in the House on Wednesday afternoon.
On the page of its website devoted to Canada, the UK Foreign Office writes that terrorists were “very likely to attempt to carry out attacks” on Canadian soil.
SCREENSHOT OF UK FOREIGN OFFICE SITE
The British government lists below a series of attacks perpetrated in Canada.
London notably lists an incident that occurred in 2023 in Surrey, British Columbia, during which a person was stabbed and injured, without providing further details.
There is also mention, presumably, of the Muslim family mowed down by a driver in London, Ontario, in 2021.
Canada is the only G7 country to have this security risk rating.
Asked to provide information on this subject at the very end of question period, Justin Trudeau did not want to come forward too much.
“Does the Prime Minister agree with the assessment of the British Foreign Office […] while the Canadian government sets the risk level at moderate? », asked Pierre Poilievre.
“I cannot comment on how other countries make their decisions regarding travel advice,” replied the Prime Minister.
“But I can say that work is done daily in Canada to assess the level of risk to which Canadians are exposed,” he added.
The current level in Canada has been set at moderate since October 2014; it was increased in the wake of the terrorist attacks that occurred in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Ottawa.
It was not immediately possible to determine when London’s notice was issued.
The British High Commission in Canada has not yet responded to questions sent by The Press.