Knowledge (XXG)

Project O Canada

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337:(DFAIT) to help them secure the ability to travel to Syria to interrogate Almalki themselves, or at least direct how he would be interrogated by Syrians. When DFAIT officer Jonathan Solomon demanded to know whether they would be clear not to use torture, since it had already been used against Ahmed el-Maati, A-O Division officers "got awkward" and Cabana claimed that it was possible that el-Maati had just been lying about Syria using torture. Also in September, as Arar was en route to New York from Switzerland, 96: 220: 341:
officers faxed a memo to Americans which involved a number of "false claims" about Arar, stating that he and his wife were "Islamic Extremist individuals suspected of being linked to the Al Qaeda terrorist movement". Arar was subsequently arrested and deported to Syria where he was tortured for ten
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officers wanted to send Syria information about him, as well as a list of questions that they wanted him to answer, stating that "Depending on his willingness to answer truthfully and depending on the answers he provides you, a second series of questions has been prepared for him". Sgt. Rick
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In addition, while they lacked a warrant to search his house, officers visited Arar to discover he was overseas. When he returned, he agreed to discussions with a lawyer present, but the RCMP found the requirement too "stringent" and did not follow up.
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sent American officials their complete files without any limits on its use or "regard for the rights of citizens", leading to tension between RCMP headquarters and the anti-terrorism project. The Americans later used faxes detailing the sale of
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The Ottawa office, under the control of Cpl. Randal Walsh, Garry Clement and Supt. Mike Cabana, quickly moved from providing assistance to their Toronto colleagues, and began conducting their own investigations focusing primarily on
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The priorities that everybody had been assigned to, or working on, prior to 9/11, were basically put on the shelf and everybody was redirected to try and address the threat and the crisis that was ongoing with respect to terrorist
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were based in Ottawa and Montreal, RCMP Divisions A and C respectively. By December 2001, the RCMP was shifting its focus from gathering intelligence, to seeking information "in a manner suitable for court purposes".
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By October, the RCMP claimed to have identified 10-12 "al-Qaida suspects" in the city, and a month later reported they had "undertaken 24-hour surveillance of at least five suspected supporters of
334: 974: 783: 68:, the Quebec and Ontario provincial police, and local officers from Hull, Gatineau and Ottawa. The team was composed almost entirely of individuals with no knowledge of 553:
figured prominently in the explanation of Canada's anti-terrorism investigations, while attorney Don Bayne unsuccessfully argued that since the RCMP couldn't disclose
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to raid seven homes, although later analysis suggested that if he had been honest about their evidence before the judge, the warrants would not have been granted. A
87:, who was tortured for ten months before being found innocent of the officers' claims that he was "suspected of being linked to the Al Qaeda terrorist movement". 950: 250:, and his name added to a Canada Customs "terrorist lookout list", although it was later determined there was no evidence to support such an action. 261:
initially prevented the media from reporting the identities of those targeted, although later reports confirmed which buildings had been searched.
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Flewelling, from the RCMP headquarters, intervened and insisted that the Department of Justice and Foreign Affairs would have to be involved
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The project was ultimately found to have played a "central role" in the wrongful rendition and torture of Canadian citizens, including
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One of the first members in September 2001, leading investigation into el-Maati. Assumed to have questioned him on November 11, 2001.
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Internal Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-Elmaati and Muayyed Nureddin
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Growing out of an earlier project begun in 1997, the 35-officer project initially focused on the actions and acquaintances of
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After it was discovered that Canadian authorities had been complicit in the rendition and torture of an innocent Canadian, a
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from Almalki, although his lawyers later argued the statement had been made due to his mistreatment by Pakistani officials.
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in downtown Toronto, seizing the store's records and investigating its customers, adding a number of them to an
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had been arrested. Abdullah stated that when he was about 14 years old, his father had purchased two pairs of
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division. Its first task was to help Toronto by taking over the investigation of the electronics store owner
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Pither, Kerry. "Dark Days: The story of four Canadians tortured in the name of fighting terror", 2008.
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Pither, Kerry. "Dark Days: The Story of Four Canadians Tortured in the Name of Fighting Terror", 2008.
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Supervised the actions of Project A-O, spoke to the FBI immediately prior to Arar's deportation
1012:"Report of the Events Relating to Maher Arar: Report of Professor Stephen J. Toope Fact Finder" 650: 425:
Interviewed Arar in January 2002, later refused to speak with journalist Mike Trickey at the
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The project also sent officers to Pakistan in 2005, after it was announced that Khadr's son
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officers "lacked experience and training in conducting national security investigations".
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information due to national security concerns, it therefore shouldn't have to disclose
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The Montreal home and business of Ibrahym Adam, the mechanic who gave el-Maati a job.
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Butler, Don (2006-12-08). "The Arar Chronicles: Person of Interest (Part 1)".
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House of Commons, Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security,
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They also investigated claims from local residents that a man who resembled
880:, "Former Mountie defends embattled Arar investigation", September 27, 2006 401: 365: 318:
seized at Almalki's house in the raid as evidence in their trial against
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In October 2001, the RCMP's Toronto office met with Ottawa officers in
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at the same time as Khadr. Almalki had been under surveillance by the
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It was later criticised for bringing together forty members from the
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Flew to Washington in May 2002 to brief FBI about Canadian targets.
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Flew to Washington in May 2002 to brief FBI about Canadian targets.
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Oversaw Project A-O from October 5, 2001 through February 4, 2003.
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Report of the Events Relating to Maher Arar: Factual Background
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officers were also tasked to help the Federal police agency.
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working as a mechanic in Montreal, "under a microscope".
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Took over following Cabana's departure in February 2003
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Was promoted to Superintendent upon completing project.
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was a Toronto-based anti-terrorism investigation by the
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months before being found innocent of any wrongdoing.
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Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
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In September 2002, the A-O division began asking the
657:, "Canadian loses bid to sue Jordan", March 1, 2005 80:, turning over all information without hesitation. 271:The Ottawa home of Almalki's sales manager at work 238:restaurant in Ottawa to discuss local doctors and 227:When Almalki met with telecommunications engineer 189:meanwhile put Abdelrahman, the younger brother of 325:In August, after Almalki was arrested in Syria - 899:RCMP intelligence sharing probed at Arar inquiry 919:Canadians Fault US for Its Role in Torture Case 749:RCMP task force probes possible terrorist links 150: 944:International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group 854:Jailed Arab details ties to tortured Canadians 806:, "Al-Qaida search heats up", October 21, 2001 8: 253:In January 2002, Cpl. Randy Walsh received 687: 685: 218: 183:since he first met with Khadr in 1998. 1047: 1045: 1043: 1041: 1039: 1037: 1035: 1033: 1031: 781:RCMP 9/11 dragnet targeted eldest Khadr 725: 723: 710: 708: 675: 673: 671: 669: 667: 665: 663: 586: 528:Assigned to investigate Arar after the 511:Assigned to investigate Arar after the 495:RCMP, National Security Investigations 991: 989: 987: 909: 907: 890: 888: 886: 798: 796: 771: 769: 767: 765: 763: 761: 759: 757: 619: 617: 615: 613: 181:Canadian Security Intelligence Service 58:Canadian Security Intelligence Service 646: 644: 642: 640: 638: 274:The Ottawa home of Almalki's brother 7: 501:Promoted to Sergeant in April 2005. 291:, who was already in a Syrian prison 28:, subdivisions of the project named 820:Terrorist Attack: Protecting Canada 564:The Commission determined that the 469:RCMP, second leader of Project A-O 439:RCPM, first leader of Project A-O 14: 1060:Saskatoon RCMP Vet’s Newsletter, 972:Almalki linked to US terror trial 948:Submission to the Factual Inquiry 54:National Security Investigations 561:information about the project. 413: 410: 407: 404: 377: 374: 371: 368: 74:Federal Bureau of Investigation 1: 1142:Royal Canadian Mounted Police 577:Richard Proulx (RCMP officer) 66:Canada Border Services Agency 42:Royal Canadian Mounted Police 24:. Created in response to the 22:Royal Canadian Mounted Police 125:had worked part-time at the 549:was formed to investigate. 177:Human Concern International 78:Central Intelligence Agency 1163: 1147:Counterterrorism in Canada 386:Ontario Provincial Police 167:and requested they form a 62:Customs and Revenue Agency 26:September 11, 2001 attacks 197:Ontario Provincial Police 700:Ruling on RCMP testimony 450:SSgt. Patrick Callaghan 147:Expansion of the project 244:Minto Developments Inc. 1017:. 2006. Archived from 482:Ottawa Police Service 298:'s brother Abdelrahman 224: 161: 103: 70:intelligence gathering 492:Cpl. Rick Flewelling 454:Ottawa Police Service 294:The Montreal home of 222: 175:, who had worked for 98: 921:, September 19, 2006 856:, September 11, 2009 436:Insp. Michel Cabana 287:The Toronto home of 280:The Toronto home of 790:", December 8, 2006 265:The Ottawa home of 214:Ahmad Abou El Maati 1067:2011-07-16 at the 1062:Defending the RCMP 998:The Globe and Mail 977:2012-11-04 at the 953:2007-12-14 at the 901:", August 23, 2005 849:The Globe and Mail 786:2012-11-04 at the 751:, October 18, 2001 732:The Globe and Mail 651:Shephard, Michelle 603:2008-04-13 at the 522:Sgt. Rock Fillion 506:Cpl. Robert LeMay 419:Cpl. Randy Buffam 240:printer cartridges 225: 165:Newmarket, Ontario 104: 538: 537: 395: 394: 158:Supt. Mike Cabana 46:Commercial Crimes 16:Founded in 2001, 1154: 1072: 1058: 1052: 1049: 1026: 1025: 1023: 1016: 1008: 1002: 993: 982: 981:, March 14, 2007 964: 958: 957:, September 2005 941: 935: 928: 922: 911: 902: 892: 881: 874: 868: 863: 857: 844: 838: 837: 829: 823: 813: 807: 800: 791: 773: 752: 742: 736: 727: 718: 716:December 5, 2006 712: 703: 692:O'Connor, Dennis 689: 680: 677: 658: 648: 633: 621: 608: 594:O'Connor, Dennis 591: 547:Royal Commission 525:Gatineau police 402: 366: 320:Mohamad Elzahabi 296:Mohamad Elzahabi 267:Abdullah Almalki 210:Abdullah Almalki 191:Mohamad Elzahabi 173:Abdullah Almalki 159: 18:Project O Canada 1162: 1161: 1157: 1156: 1155: 1153: 1152: 1151: 1127: 1126: 1075: 1071:, March 6, 2007 1069:Wayback Machine 1059: 1055: 1050: 1029: 1021: 1014: 1010: 1009: 1005: 995:Freeze, Colin. 994: 985: 979:Wayback Machine 966:Duffy, Andrew. 965: 961: 955:Wayback Machine 942: 938: 929: 925: 912: 905: 893: 884: 875: 871: 864: 860: 845: 841: 831: 830: 826: 822:, November 2001 814: 810: 801: 794: 788:Wayback Machine 774: 755: 743: 739: 729:Freeze, Colin. 728: 721: 713: 706: 696:Arar Commission 690: 683: 678: 661: 649: 636: 624:Arar Commission 622: 611: 605:Wayback Machine 592: 588: 584: 574: 543: 479:Kevin Corcoran 362:Toronto Members 359: 309:In April 2002, 259:publication ban 255:search warrants 205: 160: 157: 149: 141:Osama bin Laden 93: 12: 11: 5: 1160: 1158: 1150: 1149: 1144: 1139: 1129: 1128: 1125: 1124: 1121: 1118: 1115: 1112: 1109: 1106: 1103: 1100: 1097: 1094: 1091: 1088: 1085: 1082: 1074: 1073: 1053: 1027: 1024:on 2008-04-13. 1003: 983: 968:Ottawa Citizen 959: 936: 932:Ottawa Citizen 923: 915:New York Times 903: 882: 876:MacLeon, Ian. 869: 858: 846:Freze, Colin. 839: 834:Ottawa Citizen 824: 808: 802:Godfrey, Tom. 792: 777:Ottawa Citizen 775:Jaimet, Kate. 753: 737: 719: 704: 681: 659: 634: 609: 585: 583: 580: 573: 570: 542: 539: 536: 535: 533: 526: 523: 519: 518: 516: 509: 507: 503: 502: 499: 496: 493: 489: 488: 486: 483: 480: 476: 475: 473: 470: 467: 463: 462: 460: 457: 456:, Project A-O 451: 447: 446: 443: 440: 437: 433: 432: 430: 427:Ottawa Citizen 423: 420: 416: 415: 412: 409: 406: 398:Ottawa Members 393: 392: 390: 387: 384: 380: 379: 376: 373: 370: 358: 355: 351:walkie talkies 316:walkie talkies 303: 302: 299: 292: 289:Ahmad El-Maati 285: 278: 272: 269: 223:The Mango Cafe 204: 201: 155: 148: 145: 92: 89: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1159: 1148: 1145: 1143: 1140: 1138: 1135: 1134: 1132: 1122: 1119: 1116: 1113: 1110: 1107: 1104: 1101: 1098: 1095: 1092: 1089: 1086: 1083: 1080: 1079: 1078: 1070: 1066: 1063: 1057: 1054: 1048: 1046: 1044: 1042: 1040: 1038: 1036: 1034: 1032: 1028: 1020: 1013: 1007: 1004: 1000: 999: 992: 990: 988: 984: 980: 976: 973: 969: 963: 960: 956: 952: 949: 945: 940: 937: 933: 930:Butler, Don. 927: 924: 920: 916: 913:Austen, Ian. 910: 908: 904: 900: 896: 891: 889: 887: 883: 879: 873: 870: 867: 862: 859: 855: 851: 850: 843: 840: 836:. p. A4. 835: 828: 825: 821: 817: 812: 809: 805: 799: 797: 793: 789: 785: 782: 778: 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951:Archived 784:Archived 601:Archived 572:See also 347:Abdullah 236:shawarma 156:—  153:attacks. 134:Interpol 110:-worker 60:(CSIS), 878:CanWest 541:Fallout 532:lunch. 530:Mango's 515:lunch. 513:Mango's 357:Members 231:at the 203:Actions 607:, 2006 52:, and 1022:(PDF) 1015:(PDF) 702:,2006 422:RCMP 411:Role 405:Name 375:Role 369:Name 276:Nazih 1123:22. 1120:21. 1117:18. 1114:16. 1111:15. 1108:14. 1105:12. 1102:11. 1099:10. 555:full 212:and 76:and 50:IPOC 32:and 1096:8. 1093:7. 1090:5. 1087:3. 1084:2. 1081:1. 917:, " 897:, " 895:CTV 816:CBC 779:, " 745:CTV 559:any 216:. 143:." 118:. 108:NGO 1133:: 1030:^ 986:^ 970:, 946:, 906:^ 885:^ 852:, 818:, 795:^ 756:^ 747:, 722:^ 707:^ 698:, 694:. 684:^ 662:^ 653:, 637:^ 626:, 612:^ 596:, 429:. 322:. 64:, 48:,

Index

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
September 11, 2001 attacks
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Customs and Revenue Agency
Canada Border Services Agency
intelligence gathering
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Central Intelligence Agency
Maher Arar

NGO
Ahmed Khadr
Afghanistan
Mohamed Atta
copy shop
Interpol
Osama bin Laden
Newmarket, Ontario
Abdullah Almalki
Human Concern International
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Mohamad Elzahabi
Ontario Provincial Police
Abdullah Almalki
Ahmad Abou El Maati

Maher Arar
shawarma
printer cartridges

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