David B. Harris
Encyclopedia
David B. Harris is a Canadian
lawyer. He is a former contractor with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
where he served as a senior manager between 1988-1990. Now working as a consultant, he is a regular commentator on issues of terrorism
. He is a former Senior Fellow for Terrorism and National Security at the now-defunct Canadian Coalition for Democracies
.
Notably, Harris has suggested that Canada's immigration policy encourages the use of Canada as a base for terrorists, and has consistently advocated for harsher Canadian laws to combat terrorism. He is an outspoken defender of the Canadian government's use of security certificate
s to detain terrorism suspects without trial.
, Harris was sharply critical of Canadian immigration policy. He stated that "Montreal
is the place you probably want to be if you are an Algeria
n extremist" and that Canada's then-current immigration policy was "making Canada a kind of Islam
ic extremist aircraft carrier for the launching of major assaults against the U.S. mainland."
In a June 2002 interview with 60 Minutes
, Harris stated that there were at least 50 terrorist groups then operating within Canada, including the Irish Republican Army
, Hezbollah, Hamas
, and Al Qaeda.
In an April 2006 interview, Harris expressed his support for the Conservative
government's apparent willingness to crack down on terrorism, and praised the antiterror legislation introduced by the previous Liberal government.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lawyer. He is a former contractor with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is Canada's national intelligence service. It is responsible for collecting, analyzing, reporting and disseminating intelligence on threats to Canada's national security, and conducting operations, covert and overt, within Canada and abroad.Its...
where he served as a senior manager between 1988-1990. Now working as a consultant, he is a regular commentator on issues of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. He is a former Senior Fellow for Terrorism and National Security at the now-defunct Canadian Coalition for Democracies
Canadian Coalition for Democracies
The Canadian Coalition for Democracies was a Canadian political action organization that advocated greater support for Israel, India, and minorities in the Muslim world such as Christians, Copts, Bahá'ís, Assyrians, and Ismailis....
.
Notably, Harris has suggested that Canada's immigration policy encourages the use of Canada as a base for terrorists, and has consistently advocated for harsher Canadian laws to combat terrorism. He is an outspoken defender of the Canadian government's use of security certificate
Security certificate
In Canadian law, a security certificate is a mechanism by which the Government of Canada can detain and deport foreign nationals and all other non-citizens living in Canada...
s to detain terrorism suspects without trial.
Public statements
In an October 2001 interview with PBSPublic Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
, Harris was sharply critical of Canadian immigration policy. He stated that "Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
is the place you probably want to be if you are an Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n extremist" and that Canada's then-current immigration policy was "making Canada a kind of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic extremist aircraft carrier for the launching of major assaults against the U.S. mainland."
In a June 2002 interview with 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
, Harris stated that there were at least 50 terrorist groups then operating within Canada, including the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
, Hezbollah, Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
, and Al Qaeda.
In an April 2006 interview, Harris expressed his support for the Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
government's apparent willingness to crack down on terrorism, and praised the antiterror legislation introduced by the previous Liberal government.