What are the odds?
A compulsive gambler went to a rehab centre. During a discussion time with his support group he said, “I used to be really depressed about not winning the Super Lotto, but then I found this support group, and I realized I’m not the only person who hasn’t won.”
We all know the odds of winning the lottery aren’t that great, but what are the odds of the government’s reintegration program producing successful results?
Recently the Opposition leader asked why Canada is allowing people who chose to leave our country to join the Islamic State forces in the Middle East to return to Canada. Not only are they returning, but they suffer no consequences from their activities abroad and are allowed to retain their Canadian citizenship.
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The prime minister answered by endorsing a federal government program that helps to ensure that resources are in place to facilitate disengagement from violent ideologies.
Canada’s weak laws often make it difficult for police to lay charges and it’s always hard to prove what these people have done abroad. But is reintegration the solution? And what exactly is the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence, which the government is offering as a solution?
This program combines the skills of the Canadian Council of Imams, mental health professionals and psychologists, who together, decide if a person has a misunderstanding of the source of texts taught by scholars in Islam.
The next question would be: Do de-radicalization programs work?
Unfortunately, the experts don’t know.
Co-director of the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security and Society said there hasn’t been enough research done in regard to looking at success rates of these programs.
He listed the longest-running program started in Saudi Arabia in 2004, focusing on religious re-education, counselling and helping to secure employment after graduation. They have never publicly allowed access to reliable figures about their success rates. However, the co-director of the above mentioned Canadian organization acknowledged that while the Saudi program had some success, it also had some spectacular failures, with graduates becoming members of al-Qaeda. He concluded by saying the most effective solution is to confront people as soon as they begin entertaining radical thoughts.
Since there aren’t any firm success rates available for reintegration programs, out of curiosity, and as a point of reference, I looked up the success rate of Canada’s government rehab programs for addictions. The rates are listed at approximately 70 to 80 per cent relapsing.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service reports that at least 60 returnees, who fought alongside the Islamic State, now reside in Canada. Consequently, the PM’s assurance of safety doesn’t necessarily cause Canadians to feel secure. He goes on to admit the return of even one of these individuals may have serious national security implications and then, with utmost confidence, goes on to endorse the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence as the solution.
So what do you think the odds are that this reintegration program will produce successful results? And why is the government gambling with the safety of Canadians?
A few years from now, we don’t want to find ourselves in a support group of representatives of other countries, and be consoled by the realization we’re not the only country that discovered reintegration programs aren’t very successful.
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