Three men in Quebec facing terrorism facilitation charges will proceed to trial following a direct indictment by the federal Crown prosecutor’s office on November 7, which includes new charges. This legal maneuver skips a preliminary inquiry that the men’s lawyers had requested back in September. Authorized by the attorney general of Canada or deputy attorney general, the indictment means the case will move to Superior Court, potentially leading to a trial in 2026.
In July, the RCMP charged four men, including two current members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), in connection with an alleged anti-government scheme to seize land forcibly in the Quebec City area. Described by police as an act of “ideologically motivated violent extremism,” the plot involved weapons charges, with three of the men – Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, Simon Angers-Audet, 24, and Raphaël Lagacé, 25 – also facing serious allegations of facilitating a terrorist activity. In August, they were denied bail.
Chabot, identified as the de facto leader in court documents, now faces additional charges of instructing individuals to participate in activities for a terrorist group, punishable by life imprisonment. The federal prosecutor’s office alleges that between June 2021 and January 2024, Chabot directed Angers-Audet, Lagacé, or others linked to an anti-government group named Hide & Stalk to engage in activities benefiting a terrorist organization. The trio also faces a new charge of using or possessing property for terrorist purposes.
Opting for a jury trial in September, three of the accused had requested a preliminary inquiry set for January to assess the evidence for trial readiness. However, the direct indictment alters the course of proceedings, a strategy commonly employed by the Crown in cases involving terrorism or organized crime to swiftly add charges and manage disclosure issues. According to legal expert Noah Weisbord from McGill University, this approach streamlines the process by moving directly to trial in Superior Court, minimizing delays and safeguarding sensitive evidence and witnesses.
A fourth individual, Matthew Forbes, 33, from Pont-Rouge, Que., faces various charges, including firearm possession, prohibited devices, explosives, and controlled items. Forbes, granted bail under strict conditions, also faces charges related to the Explosives Act and Defence Production Act, governing access to military resources. Both Chabot and Forbes were serving as active military members at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier near Quebec City when arrested alongside the other men on July 8.