An Ottawa man convicted of recruiting fighters for the Islamic State is being released from prison — but the Parole Board of Canada says he hasn't left his dangerous ideology behind.
Ashton Larmond, one of two Ottawa twin brothers convicted in a landmark Canadian ISIS-related terrorism case, is set to be released despite the Parole Board's finding that he continues to hold extremist views. The board determined that a set of strict conditions were necessary to protect the public given the ongoing risk he poses.
A Case That Shook Ottawa
Larmond and his twin brother Carlos were arrested in 2015 in what was one of Canada's most high-profile domestic terrorism cases at the time. Ashton was convicted of participating in the activity of a terrorist group and facilitating terrorist activity — specifically, recruiting individuals to travel overseas and join ISIS. He was sentenced to federal prison, a case that drew national attention and underscored the very real threat of domestic radicalization in Canadian cities, including Ottawa.
The case was a wake-up call for many in the capital, highlighting how online radicalization pipelines could take root even in local communities.
Parole Conditions Imposed
The Parole Board of Canada has confirmed that Larmond's release comes with conditions designed to manage the risk he continues to present. While the specific terms have not been fully disclosed publicly, such conditions typically include restrictions on associations, travel, internet use, and mandatory check-ins with authorities.
The board's acknowledgment that Larmond still holds extremist views is significant — it signals that his release is not a reflection of successful rehabilitation, but rather a legal obligation as his sentence reaches its conclusion, managed through supervision rather than continued incarceration.
Community and National Security Implications
For Ottawa residents, the release raises uncomfortable questions about how Canada handles convicted terrorists after they've served their time. Public safety advocates and national security experts have long debated whether the tools available to correctional and parole authorities are sufficient to manage individuals who remain ideologically committed to violent extremism.
Canada's criminal justice system does allow for strict parole conditions, peace bonds, and in some cases, recognizance orders under the Criminal Code's terrorism provisions — tools that authorities are likely to lean on heavily in Larmond's case.
The federal government and security agencies have not issued public comment specifically on this release, though cases like this typically involve close coordination between the Parole Board, CSIS, and the RCMP.
A Reminder of Ongoing Vigilance
While Ottawa has not seen a major domestic terrorism incident in recent years, cases like Larmond's serve as a reminder that the threat of radicalization is not a relic of the mid-2010s. Counter-extremism researchers continue to warn that online radicalization — including through social media and encrypted platforms — remains an active concern in Canada.
For now, Larmond's release is being managed under supervision, with the Parole Board's conditions intended to serve as a guardrail against any return to extremist activity.
Source: Global News Ottawa. Read the original report at globalnews.ca.
