Canada’s Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, has urged the federal government to officially designate the Iran-backed militant group Kata’ib Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. This call follows allegations that a member of the group was involved in an attack on a Canadian synagogue and the March shooting incident at the U.S. consulate in Toronto.

In a letter addressed to Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Poilievre referenced findings from American authorities that implicated Kata’ib Hezbollah and its supposed commander in directing attacks on Canadian soil. Central to the case is Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national identified by U.S. officials as a commander of the group. Al-Saadi appeared in Manhattan’s Federal Court in May, where he faced allegations of plotting at least 18 terrorist attacks across Europe and North America. Two of these alleged attacks are reported to have occurred in Canada.

Al-Saadi is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to both Kata’ib Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Both organizations have already been classified by the U.S. government as foreign terrorist entities. Poilievre argues that Canada should take similar action to prevent future attacks. According to his letter, designating Kata’ib Hezbollah as a terrorist organization would render it illegal to knowingly engage with the group’s finances or property, permit law enforcement authorities to freeze or confiscate its assets, and enhance Canada’s capacity to bar members from entering or remaining in the country.

“Canadians deserve a government that stops terrorists before they attack,” Poilievre wrote, emphasizing the urgency of the matter. He warned against waiting for another violent incident targeting synagogues or foreign consulates before imposing such a ban.

The Centre for Israeli and Jewish Affairs issued a statement endorsing Poilievre’s request. The advocacy group said it had already called on the government to make the terrorist designation in May and highlighted the clear warning signs of politically motivated violence and terrorism. “It’s time to get tough on politically motivated violence and terror,” the organization said in its release.

To date, the Canadian government has not publicly confirmed whether it will move forward with the designation of Kata’ib Hezbollah as a terrorist entity. However, the issue has garnered heightened attention amid concerns about escalating threats linked to Iran-backed militant groups operating internationally.