The federal government has used its new authority to revoke the citizenship of a convicted terrorist for the first time.

Zakaria Amara was one of the leaders behind the 2006 al-Qaida inspired plot to set off bombs in downtown Toronto.

A member of the so-called ‘Toronto 18,’ Amara was sentenced in 2010 to life in prison with no chance of parole until 2016, after admitting his role aimed in part at forcing Canadian soldiers to leave Afghanistan.

Police thwarted the plot when they arrested Amara and 17 others in the summer of 2006.

Amara still holds citizenship in his native Jordan and could be deported there after his release from Quebec prison.

Defence Minister Jason Kenney sent a tweet describing Amara as a man who hated Canada so much that he ”forfeited his own citizenship” by plotting to murder hundreds of Canadians.

Legislation that came into effect last May allows the government to strip the citizenship of Canadians who have been convicted of terrorism offences, provided they hold citizenship elsewhere.