Hon. Kristopher Wells: Minister, it’s good to see you as always. Recent reports have highlighted a concerning rise in online recruitment efforts targeting young people in Canada by violent extremist networks. Could you outline what specific measures your department is taking to address youth radicalization, particularly in terms of educating teachers and parents on how to better safeguard young people online and supporting vulnerable youth who are victimized in digital spaces?

Hon. Gary Anandasangaree, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public Safety: Thank you, senator.

I will start by saying that the radicalization of youth remains one of my top priorities and is an increasing concern in my portfolio, as it is for law enforcement. Just weeks ago, a young person in Manitoba and a young person in Nova Scotia were arrested due to concerns around the potential threat they would pose to their local schools and communities. It is an area that has very limited supports, but the supports that are available are quite unique: the Canada Centre, for example, which is a major anchor in providing support, and the Organization for the Prevention of Violence, which you hosted at the Senate a few weeks ago. In British Columbia, for example, Shift is an organization that we had engaged to do some work in Tumbler Ridge. In Ontario, we have Yorktown Family Services.

Those are all direct service providers that work on the de‑radicalization of youth, and I believe they’re quite effective. We need more of them, and we need more resources for them.

Senator K. Wells: Minister, you have spoken about some of the organizations that you’re supporting through your ministry to do this important work. Can you talk about the relationships and the work you’re doing with provinces directly, as well as school systems, to strengthen those partnerships to ensure early intervention and supports for at-risk youth before they are drawn into violent networks and come to the attention of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP, and intelligence services? I’m really looking at that early prevention.

Mr. Anandasangaree: The agencies I mentioned play a critical role in that coordination with the provinces, local school boards as well as localized communities where there have been previous incidents. Yorktown Family Services is a perfect example of that.

Beyond that, we know that upstream investments in overall crime prevention and interventions with youth are quite critical. Frankly, prior to starting a career, I worked with at-risk youth who were particularly involved in violence and who were susceptible to radicalization.

It is those types of investments. The Building Safer Communities Fund is one example of that.