Halifax International Security Forum to focus on Paris attacks, refugees

The attacks in Paris and the plight of Syrian refugees expected to arrive in the Maritimes will be a main topic of discussion at the Halifax International Security Forum this weekend.

Three hundred military and political leaders, academics, journalists, and policy experts are expected to attend, making security at the forum itself and issue.

The RCMP are in charge of security at the forum.

“We're always continuously monitoring the environment. We're always making risk assessments based on information that we receive," said Cpl. Greg Church of Nova Scotia RCMP.

Delegates are coming from all over the world, representing several different countries and cultures.

Leaders at the forum are expected to face pressure to take immediate action in the Middle East.

But political science professor Ken Hansen says responding with troops on the ground only plays into ISIL’s hands.

“The crusaders, as ISIL likes to call them, are now coming, and rallying to their banners, and will come to their sacred grounds and do nothing but inflame this," said Hansen.

Hansen says the policy of containment in place is already choking off resources and money, weakening ISIL.

Delegates are already arriving in Halifax. The opening speech will be made on Friday by Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ron Shaw.