Canada's stiffest sentence for terrorism under its post-9/11 laws is expected to be meted out today, as a court passes judgment on the mastermind of the so-called "Toronto 18" bomb plot.
But even if Zakaria Amara, 24, is sentenced to life in prison, he should be eligible for parole around the time of his 30th birthday.
The sentencing at a Brampton, Ont., courthouse stems from a common terrorism-conspiracy case.
In 2006, a terrorist cell hoped to cow Canadians into pulling troops out of Afghanistan by attacking government and financial landmarks.
The plot involved packing trucks with a tonne or two of fertilizer apiece, and then exploding the powerful homemade bombs outside the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Front Street offices of the federal spy service, and inside Canadian Forces Base Trenton.
Mr. Amara, the conspiracy ringleader, built prototype detonators and tasked others with buying bomb chemicals.
This shopping spree led police to set up a sting. One of Mr. Amara's trusted insiders turned out to be a paid police infiltrator.
Mr. Amara, of Mississauga, made an abject apology during a sentencing hearing last week, saying he deserved nothing but Canadians' contempt. He said he has reformed.
One of his co-conspirators is also scheduled to be sentenced today.
Saad Gaya, 21, a teenaged McMaster University student at the time of the plot, has admitted to helping Mr. Amara build bombs.
During a court hearing last month, he said he didn't know the bombs would be used to "intentionally hurt people."
A third bomb-plot suspect is on trial.
Shareef Abdelhaleem, 34, is expected to take the stand in his defence this week. He plans to argue that he was a victim of police entrapment.
Mr. Abedlhaleem's defence is also expected to point out he was on heavy dose of prescription pain killers for a heart condition when he took part in incriminating conversations.
Parliament passed Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act in 2001.
At the time, critics feared the law would lead to mass roundups and dubious prosecutions, but only a handful of cases have been launched, most securing convictions.
Mr. Amara's lawyers are asking for an 18- to 20-year sentence.
The Crown is seeking a life sentence.
But prosecutor Iona Jaffe told the court last week the dispute doesn't really amount to much in terms of penitentiary time.
Either way, Mr. Amara stands to be eligible for parole in about six years.
This parole-eligibility date results from a variety of factors.
Canada has a customary two-for-one credit for so-called dead time in pretrial custody. Federal rehabilitation laws further mandate early release for all but the most incorrigible inmates.
The other accused in the "Toronto 18" case all face lesser allegations than those in the splinter cell involved in the bomb plot.
Colin Freeze