The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, today announced measures taken by the Government of Canada in relation to Syria.
Following extensive review, the Government of Canada has removed Syria from Canada's List of Foreign State Supporters of Terrorism under the State Immunity Act, as well as removed Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the List of Terrorist Entities under the Canadian Criminal Code.
These decisions were not taken lightly; the safety and security of Canadians will remain paramount for the Government of Canada.
These measures are in line with recent decisions taken by our allies, including the United Kingdom and the United States, and follows the efforts by the Syrian transitional government to advance Syria's stability, build an inclusive and secure future for its citizens, and work alongside global partners to reinforce regional stability and counter terrorism.
The Government of Canada remains committed to fostering safety and security at home and abroad, and will continue its work, including through collaboration with the Global Coalition Against Daesh, to counter global security threats, such as those posed by Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Canada will also continue our accountability efforts, including the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, as well as the use of targeted sanctions.
