Possible anti-fascist activities in Canada are a concern for our local Member of Parliament Garnett Genuis.

Genuis made a formal request last week for information on membership or involvement in Antifa by members of the federal public service and Canadian Armed Forces.

He has asked if membership in Antifa is permitted and how many federal employees and Armed Forces members are members of Antifa.

He also asked if any federal employees or Armed Forces members have been disciplined or faced punitive consequences for Antifa-related activities over the past 10 years, and details for each of these incidents.

The government has until April 13 to respond to these requests.

Genuis' critics have noted that this may prove difficult as "Antifa" is not a formal organization, but an umbrella term for a number of political movements that oppose far-right, racist and fascist groups.

Antifa has become a fixation for U.S. President Donald Trump, who has declared Anifa as a domestic terrorist group. He and his far right-wing commentators have claim Antifa has organized violent mobs in protest of Trump policies and ICE in particular.