It is indeed a continuing and present threat. Al Qaeda has been around for a while now. Their leadership has suffered some losses, but the message that al Qaeda delivers resonates increasingly in the west, in Canada in particular.
We've seen an increase in individuals who have expressed an interest in al Qaeda. Some have followed through by travelling to parts of the Middle East to participate in what they describe as jihad, or war against the west, against the non-believers. The number of individuals who have travelled to participate in jihad has certainly increased. I think the legislation aims to provide law enforcement with an opportunity to engage those individuals before they get a chance to arrive at their destination.