The Department of Immigration in a briefing note admits it never sought “comprehensive security screening” of suspected Egyptian terrorists. Two Egyptian nationals were arrested in 2024 for plotting an attack on Toronto, and are in custody until their 2026 trial. Then-Immigration Minister Marc Miller at the time defended his department’s handling of the case.An August 28 “security screening note” obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter entitled Alleged Terrorist Immigration To Canada, states: “The application was not referred to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service or Canada Border Services Agency for comprehensive security screening.”“Work permits linked to asylum claims are not typically assessed for admissibility.”.Egyptian national Ahmed Eldidi, 63, and his adult son Mostafa, 27, of Scarborough, ON, were arrested last July 28 by the RCMP on suspicion of plotting a “serious, violent attack” at an undisclosed Toronto location, according to police.The pair remain in custody pending a 2026 trial on charges of terrorism, conspiracy to murder, “possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose” and aggravated assault.Miller in testimony September 19 at the Commons Public Safety Committee defended his department.“We are confident in our security screening,” he said.Conservative MP Raquel Dancho (Kildonan-St. Paul, MB) said the arrests pointed to obvious flaws in the system.“We have yet to find out how this has happened and to my knowledge you have made no commitment of how you are going to fix it and prevent it from happening again,” said Dancho.“What specific steps have you taken in the past few weeks to ensure no more alleged terrorists gain entry to Canada?”“There are a number of elements about this case I cannot discuss publicly,” replied Miller..The alleged terrorist briefing note confirmed numerous shortcomings in the case. Eldidi Sr. in 2018 received a work permit without “comprehensive security screening” seven months after landing at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. He was subsequently granted Canadian citizenship in May 2024. A month later Canadian agents learned Eldidi, Sr. had appeared in a 2015 ISIS torture video.Eldidi, Jr. in 2019 was refused a foreign student permit. The Department of Immigration called him a “potential non-genuine student,” said the briefing note.However he was allowed back into Canada in 2020 after crossing the border from upstate New York claiming to be a refugee. He was granted refugee status in 2022, two years before his arrest as a terror suspect.MPs have expressed astonishment over the security lapses.“What other terrorists are walking the streets here in Canada right now waiting to commit terrorist acts against innocent Canadian citizens?” Conservative MP Larry Brock (Brantford-Brant South, ON) asked a Public Safety Committee hearing last August 28.“What the hell is going on?”Miller, one of five veteran cabinet members removed by Prime Minister Mark Carney May 13, is currently chair of the Commons Justice Committee.
