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Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act Tabled
New Powers to Fight Terrorism
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The Canadian federal government tabled a proposed Anti-Terrorism Act in the House of Commons on Monday, Oct. 15, 2001. Three cabinet ministers - Justice Minister Anne McLellan, Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay and Foreign Affairs Minister John Manley - explained the details of the legislation.

Identifying and Punishing Terrorists

The bill includes measures to identify, prosecute, convict and punish terrorists:

  • defines and designates terrorist groups and activities so it will be easier to prosecute terrorists and those who support them
  • makes it an offence to "participate in, contribute to or facilitate the activities" of a terrorist group
  • makes it an offence to knowingly harbour a terrorist
  • includes tougher sentences for terrorist offences
  • makes it a crime to collect or give funds for terrorism, either directly or indirectly
  • ratifies two UN anti-terrorism conventions. Canada has already ratified 10 of the 12 UN anti-terrorism conventions.

New Investigative Tools for Law Enforcement

Law enforcement and national security agencies will have increased powers to make it easier to gather information and prosecute suspected terrorists, including:

  • easier use of electronic surveillance of terrorist groups. This includes the ability to intercept Internet communications.
  • new offences for the unlawful disclosure of information considered "of national interest"
  • within defined limits, allowing the arrest, detention and imposition of conditions of release on suspected terrorists
  • requiring those with information on a terrorist or terrorist group to appear before a judge to provide that information
  • extending the DNA warrant scheme and data bank to terrorist crimes

Anti-Hate Measures

To ensure that the struggle is against terrorism, not any single community, group or faith, the government is strengthening anti-hate measures by:

  • amending the Criminal Code to eliminate online hate propaganda and create a new offence of mischief against places of religious worship or religious property
  • amending the Canadian Human Rights Act to extend the prohibition against hate messages to include all telecommunications technologies

The proposed Act will be subject to review every three years.


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