A note from Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, June 4, 2009: In November 2002 I was invited to speak at Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue in Toronto. It was my first time visiting Canada and I was overwhelmed by the enthusiastic reception and the massive turnout I received for my presentation. I had no idea that the Toronto community was so energetic in its support of Israel. It was the midst of the Palestinian intiafada violence and the horrifying suicide bombings in Israel were a daily occurrence.

From the synagogue's bimah I spoke about the terror victim litigation we had pioneered, which was then still in its earliest stages as well as our efforts to make the terror groups and the state sponsors pay for their brutal attacks against innocent civilians.  The packed to capacity audience fully connected with the idea that we needed to bankrupt the terrorists and win a measure of justice and compensation for the victims. They understood the terror victims wanted to fight back.

After the speech, I was approached by an attorney named Aaron Blumenfeld who was very excited by what he had heard. He told me he was amazed at the legal possibilities of using the courts to fight terror and he wanted to work on enacting legislation in Canada that would mirror the American laws which allowed victims to pursue outlaw regimes like Iran, Syria and North Korea through civil actions.  Aaron didn't just talk - he did. He pushed on and organized an effective lobbying effort. Together with the then newly formed Canadian Coalition Against Terror (CCAT) they began the difficult work of speaking to legislators, building up public support, lobbying the Cabinet, raising funds and drafting bills.

This week the group's efforts have really paid off. The Canadian government has just submitted a bill that will permit Canadian victims of terror to sue the state sponsors of terrorism. The bill submitted by the government is not as strong as the one CCAT has been lobbying for, but it is a tremendous first step and a powerful victory for the victims of terrorism.

Mazal tov to Aaron and CCAT for all their hard work and dedication.

Shurat HaDin is proud of the small role we played in helping to get the Canadian legislation ball rolling.

News article about the legislation:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/06/02/terrorism-victims-sue002.html

The bill introduced by the government can be found here:   
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=3942474&Language=e&Mode=1&File=24