Canada waits for cue to freeze Ben Ali\'s assets

MONTREAL —

Canadian authorities say they\'re prepared to freeze assets belonging to members of the ousted regime in Tunisia, but are awaiting an order to proceed from the country\'s new government.

Several members of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali\'s family are believed to be in Canada after fleeing a popular uprising earlier this month.

Montreal\'s Tunisian community has since been protesting loudly against their presence, claiming they are intimately tied to a regime known for its corruption and brutality towards opponents.

Government sources told The Canadian Press on Tuesday that initial preparations have been made to freeze the assets of those tied to the Ben Ali regime.

\"We\'ve identified ways in which we can do it,\" said one official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. \"Now we just have to be activated.\"

The Department of Foreign Affairs is awaiting a formal request from the provisional government in Tunisia, the official said. It is also seeking evidence that the targeted funds were acquired illegally.

The likelihood of such a request may depend on the evolving political situation in Tunisia.

The country remains in a state of turmoil following Ben Ali\'s departure. Influential figures from his regime remain in positions of power, prompting anger from anti-government protesters.

Any eventual asset freeze would likely target members of Ben Ali\'s large extended family, some of whom reportedly own property in Montreal and lay claim to permanent residency status.

Among the most prominent property owners is Ben Ali\'s son-in-law, Mohamed Sakher El Materi, who continues to be listed as the owner of a $2.5-million mansion in Montreal\'s wealthy Westmount neighbourhood.

Since the uprising started in Tunisia, the house has been repeatedly vandalized by protesters.

Media reports suggest as many as five members of the family landed in Montreal last Thursday, though they have yet to be seen in public.

Montreal lawyer Kamel Balti is requesting that Citizenship and Immigration Canada release the names of those who arrived last week in order to begin legal proceedings that would see their immigration status revoked.

An official with the department declined to comment on the matter, citing privacy concerns.

Balti said he\'s working to have Tunisian legal documents -- which outline allegations of corruption, torture and kidnapping against the Ben Ali regime -- forwarded to the Canadian government.

\"We suspect these people committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and criminal activity -- full stop,\" he said.

\"Canada has to send a message that it will not host such asylum-seekers.\"

Ottawa declared Tuesday that it opposed having the country become a safe haven for members of the old Tunisian government.

\"Our government is troubled by reports that Mr. Ben Ali and members of the former Tunisian regime may be considering Canada as a destination,\" said Melissa Lantsman, director of communications for Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon.

Mr. Ben Ali and members of his regime are not welcome in Canada.\"

Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia earlier this month amid widespread protests against high unemployment and the country\'s stifling political climate, which helped topple his government.

The protesters also took issue with Ben Ali\'s autocratic rule and his family\'s lavish lifestyle.


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