2012-11-08 15:24:17 -

OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 11/08/12 -- Today, the Honourable Vic Toews, Canada's Minister of Public Safety, addressed participants at the Kanishka Project's Opening Conference, a forum to connect researchers and officials working in the field of counter-terrorism.
"Our collective understanding of terrorist threats and of how violent extremism can take root will be strengthened through the research coming out of the Kanishka Project. This opening conference is an important venue where we can exchange ideas, and build communities of research to help inform and shape how we combat terrorism in the future," said Minister Toews. "Working to prevent future acts of terrorism is the greatest tribute we can offer to the victims of the bombing of Air India Flight 182 and to all victims of terrorism."

On June 23, 2011, the Government of Canada announced the Kanishka Project - a five year $10M initiative which is investing in research on pressing questions for Canada in the field of terrorism and counter-terrorism. The Kanishka Project is named after the Air India Flight 182 plane that was bombed on June 23, 1985, killing 329 people, most of them Canadians. Through this initiative, the Government is funding policy-relevant projects that shed light on terrorism and how best to address it in Canada.
The initiative is investing in research through mechanisms like the Kanishka Project Contribution Program : www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/ns/ai182/kpcp/fndop-eng.aspx , which supports targeted projects funded directly by Public Safety Canada. Research themes are posted on the Public Safety Canada website : www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/ns/ai182/kpcp/knsh-eng.aspx .
The Kanishka Project aligns with and supports the goals of Canada's Counter-terrorism Strategy : www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/ns/2012-cts-eng.aspx , which sets out how the Government as a whole organizes its efforts to prevent, detect, deny and respond to the threat of terrorism. The success of the Strategy relies on strong partnerships with experts in different fields, including the academic community.
For more information, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca : www.publicsafety.gc.ca/ .
Follow Public Safety Canada ( @Safety_Canada : www.twitter.com/Safety_Canada ) on Twitter.


Contacts:

Julie Carmichael

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of Public Safety

613-991-2924


Media Relations

Public Safety Canada

613-991-0657
media@ps-sp.gc.ca :