There’s no mistaking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s message to terrorists.

”I do … want to make one thing perfectly, crystal clear:  Canada does not and will not pay ransom to terrorists, directly or indirectly.”

Following a three-day cabinet retreat in Kananaskis, Alberta, the prime minister was asked about yesterday’s murder of Canadian John Ridsdel, who’d been held by terrorists in the Philippines since last September.

Trudeau explained the government’s position on ransoms this way, ”There are very direct and concrete reasons for this.  First of all, obviously this is a significant source of funds for terrorist organizations that then allows them to continue to perpetuate deadly acts of violence against innocents around the world.

”But more importantly, paying ransom, for Canadians, would endanger the lives of every single one of the millions of Canadians who live, work and travel around the globe every single year.”

Trudeau repeated Canada is working with the Philippines to not only bring Ridsdel’s killers to justice but to try to ensure the other Canadian still being held there, Robert Hall, is returned safely.

For security reasons, he would not give any details of what the government’s doing to try to free Hall.