Bloc leader cautions against turning Toronto terrorism probe into a 'partisan show'

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is cautioning MPs against making a «partisan show» of a parliamentary probe into the case of two men accused of planning a terror attack in Toronto.

Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, 62, and his son Mostafa Eldidi, 26, face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit murder for the benefit or at the direction of a terrorist group.

On Tuesday, a parliamentary committee agreed to investigate the case and address some unanswered questions about the immigration screening process for both men.

«The more people who enter the country … the more risks there are — it's true in Canada and elsewhere — that one might miss something along the way,» Blanchet told reporters in Ottawa on Thursday.

«It has to be analyzed very precisely and cautiously. But once again, let's not make a partisan show of it. Let's be serious about that kind of issue.»

The committee hearings, set to begin later this month, likely will zero in on Canada's immigration process, its security screening capacity and how security officials handle domestic threats.

When police announced the arrests late last month they said the two men were «in the advanced stages of planning a serious, violent attack in Toronto.»

The father, who is also accused of committing an aggravated assault in 2015 for the benefit of the Islamic State somewhere outside of Canada, has Canadian citizenship, authorities say. Police said the son does not have citizenship.

Authorities have said part of the case is a graphic video allegedly showing Ahmed Eldidi taking part in that 2015 assault.

Officials have not confirmed whether the senior Eldidi received citizenship before or after the alleged assault abroad.

On Wednesday, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said