OTTAWA — The Canadian government is taking urgent steps to revoke the not-for-profit status of Samidoun, a Vancouver-based organization designated as a terrorist group. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced this initiative on social media on Thursday, stating, "It is completely unacceptable that any organization listed as a terrorist entity by the Government of Canada continues to exist as a federally registered not-for-profit organization."

Joly has instructed government officials to explore all options for formally dissolving Samidoun and any other listed terrorist entities in Canada. Samidoun was designated as a terror group by both Canada and the United States last year. At that time, Khaled Barakat, whose wife Charlotte Kates is a director of Samidoun, was also labeled a terrorist by the U.S. government. Despite this designation, Samidoun has retained its not-for-profit status, which has drawn criticism from Jewish advocacy groups.

Since the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, Samidoun has been a key organizer of protests in Canada. B’nai Brith Canada, a Jewish rights advocacy group, expressed gratitude to Joly for her announcement. They stated, "For almost a year, B’nai Brith Canada has been calling for Samidoun’s not-for-profit corporation to be dissolved. Their continued existence as a corporation has made a mockery of our nation’s efforts to combat terrorism. Every day that the corporation exists is a blight on our society."

The group added that they look forward to legislative reforms that would prevent similar situations in the future. Following Samidoun's designation as a terror group, Canadian law prohibits providing financial services, money, or property to the organization. However, its registration as a not-for-profit remains active on the Canadian government’s website, which notes its status as a designated terrorist organization.

Advocates have expressed cautious optimism regarding the government's actions. Casey Babb, director of the Promised Land Project at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, remarked, "This is a welcome and long overdue move. For decades, terrorist groups, criminal organizations, and various other hostile actors have used Canada like an ATM to fundraise, mobilize, and carry on business in ways that undermine Canada’s national security."

Babb emphasized that organizations like Samidoun should not be allowed to operate freely in Canada while being recognized as terrorist entities, stating, "It makes absolutely no sense, it undermines our security, it hurts our international reputation, and sends the message to other organizations that Canada is a great place if you want to get away with virtually anything — even terrorism."

The government's efforts to dissolve Samidoun's not-for-profit status reflect ongoing concerns about national security and the presence of designated terrorist organizations operating within Canada.