Three individuals accused of aiding terrorism in Quebec are set to face trial following the federal Crown prosecutor’s office issuing a direct indictment on November 7, accompanied by fresh charges. This move circumvents a preliminary inquiry requested by the defendants’ legal representatives back in September. The indictment, authorized by either the attorney general of Canada or the deputy attorney general, signifies that the case will now progress to Superior Court, with a potential trial slated for 2026.
In July, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) levied charges against four men, including two active members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), alleging involvement in a purported anti-government scheme to forcibly seize land in the Quebec City area. Law enforcement labeled the scheme as an instance of “ideologically motivated violent extremism.” Alongside weapons offenses, Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, Simon Angers-Audet, 24, and Raphaël Lagacé, 25, are facing serious charges related to facilitating terrorist activities. The trio was denied bail in August.
Chabot, described as the de facto leader by court documents, now faces additional accusations of directing individuals to partake in activities for a terrorist group, an offense carrying a potential life sentence. The federal prosecutor’s office alleges that between June 2021 and January 2024, Chabot instructed Angers-Audet, Lagacé, or others linked to an alleged anti-government faction of current and former military members dubbed Hide & Stalk to engage in activities benefiting a terrorist group. Furthermore, Chabot, Angers-Audet, and Lagacé are confronted with a new charge of utilizing or having possession of property for terrorist purposes.
Opting for a jury trial in September, three out of the four defendants also sought a preliminary inquiry scheduled for January, where a judge would assess the evidence’s sufficiency for trial. However, a direct indictment alters the course of proceedings, according to Noah Weisbord, a criminal law professor at McGill University. This strategy, occasionally employed by the Crown in terrorism or major organized crime cases, enables the addition of charges, expedites trial proceedings, and aids in managing disclosure issues, safeguarding delicate evidence and witnesses.
Matthew Forbes, the fourth individual from Pont-Rouge, Que., faces charges encompassing firearm possession, prohibited devices and explosives, as well as controlled item possession. Forbes is also implicated in offenses related to the Explosives Act and Defence Production Act, governing military supplies access. Forbes was granted bail under stringent conditions. Both Chabot and Forbes were serving members of the military at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, near Quebec City, during the arrests on July 8.
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