ABSTRACT
The recent history of terrorism in Canada shows three clearly defined cycles with different actors, different goals and different tactics. Throughout, however, the overarching feature of Canadian political violence is its rarity and, with few exceptions, its low intensity. Despite this, various counterterrorism agencies in Canada, and in particular the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), have seen their legal powers and budgets significantly increased. This chapter will start by reviewing three historical cycles of political violence in Canada. It will then provide an overview of counterterrorism structures and activities, with special attention given to the interactions between political violence and its policing.
