The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, provided an update today at Carleton University on the Kanishka Project – a five-year, $10-million initiative that invests in terrorism-focused research.

Carleton has featured prominently in the federal government program. Faculty and students at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs conducted a project on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism last year and the group, which includes NPSIA Director Dane Rowlands, Prof. Jez Littlewood and post-doctoral researcher Josh Kilberg, is updating the research for publication this summer.

As well, five of 14 Canadian students who will be receiving individual research funds are at Carleton. The bursaries will allow them to pursue studies on several different aspects of terrorism.

“This is an excellent opportunity for students at Carleton’s renowned Norman Paterson School of International Affairs to increase research on issues having a major impact on the safety of Canadians and people around the world,” said Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte.

“Terrorism and violent extremism pose real threats to Canada and as the threats evolve, we must improve our ability to better prevent and disrupt attacks,” said Toews, who announced the third round of funding from the Kanishka Project, worth more than $1.7 million.

Carleton PhD student Joseph Landry will use his bursary to research fragile states, specifically whether they tend to harbour more terrorists and provide more likely staging grounds for trans-national attacks. He’ll also investigate how Canadian policy can combat incidents of terrorism.

“Being funded to do research I really care about that I hope will have a positive impact for Canadians is huge for me,” said Landry. “I am really grateful the Government of Canada is doing this in an economic climate when it’s difficult for academics to get a leg up.”

Among other Carleton recipients is Nicole Tishler, who will assesses the extent to which the governance principles for multi-party responses to national security and safety incidents, recommended in a 2007  Conference Board report, have been adopted and/or employed by relevant actors.

“The program has generated a direct channel between my research and those policy officials who have the capacity to shape policy and regulations,” said Tishler.

The prime minister announced the Kanishka Project on June 23, 2011. It is named after the Air India Flight 182 plane that was bombed on June 23, 1985, killing 329 people, most of them Canadians. Research supported by the project will increase understanding of the recruitment methods and tactics of terrorists, which will help produce more effective policies, tools and resources for law enforcement and people on the front lines.

For more information on the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, please go to: http://www.carleton.ca/npsia/.

For more information on the Kanishka Project, please visit www.publicsafety.gc.ca.

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For more information:
Christopher Cline
Media Relations
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 1391
613-355-0336
Christopher_Cline@carleton.ca

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