I don’t think anything in their statement implies they would defend America (or Canada) to any serious extent, but I do agree that it seems like a positive statement which is rarely seen if ever from Imams etc.
On the one hand, Muslim clerics standing up publicly against jihad terrorism is most definitely welcome. On the other, I cannot accept their premise that it’s the presence of Muslims in N. America that makes such attacks evil and appalling.
This is aimed at stopping the crazies who view non-muslims as non-people before they turn their crazy into homocide. It is aimed at family and friends of said crazy people who themselves might be a little crazy, but not nearly to that extent. It is aimed at convincing them to intervene in the event that their crazy friend/family-member shows signs of acting on their craziness. When you are trying to argue with crazy people, sometimes the only way to get through is to use crazy logic.