Canada Parliament set to kill anti-terror measures

[rodeodance]

Canada Parliament set to kill anti-terror measures
27 Feb 2007 17:17:51 GMT
Source: Reuters


By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Canada's Parliament is set to scrap two contentious anti-terror measures on Tuesday, angering the minority Conservative government, which accuses opposition legislators of being soft on terror.

One provision allows police to arrest people suspected of planning an imminent terrorist attack and hold them for three days without charge. The second provides for investigative hearings in which a judge can compel witnesses to testify about alleged terrorist activities.

The measures were introduced by the then-Liberal government after the Sept. 11, 2001, suicide attacks on the United States. In a bid to allay fears over human rights, Ottawa agreed the provisions would expire after five years.

The measures run out on March 1 and can only be extended by a vote in the House of Commons, where the Conservative government controls just 125 of the 308 seats...........

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N27384792.htm

[soothsayer]

1. good for them! we need to sunset our patriot act crappy laws too

[Benhurst]

2. As should the legislative body of a free people.

South of the border, things don't look so positive.

[oldtimecanuk]

3. I love it that Harper is pissed about this! The US needs a similar...

Government, where there can be a minority and the Government can be brought down in a heartbeat with a simple Non Confidence vote.

ww

[tuvor]

5. He's got no reason to be pissed off at anyone but himself.

This thing was scheduled to sunset five long years ago.

[Purveyor]

4. They did: Canada Rejects Extension of Anti-Terrorism Laws

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

TORONTO — Canada's House of Commons voted Tuesday to not extend provisions in the country's anti-terrorism legislation that allow for preventive arrests and forced testimony.

The ruling conservative government wanted to extend the pieces of legislation that were set to expire on Thursday, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper's motion was defeated 159-124 in the House of Commons.

The two measures are part of the previous Liberal government's response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. They empower authorities to arrest and detain suspects for three days without charge and to compel individuals with knowledge of terrorist activity to testify before a judge.

Neither piece of legislation has ever been applied.

It's the second time in a week Canada has struck down portions of its anti-terror legislation. One of Canada's most contentious anti-terrorism measures was struck down Friday by the Supreme Court, which declared it unconstitutional to detain foreign terror suspects indefinitely while the courts review their deportation orders.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,255202,00.html

[Spazito]

6. I am so glad this has been done....

They never should have been passed in the first place but, seeing as they were, it is past time for them to be scrapped. harper will, no doubt, pout mightily in a mirror image of his icon, bush and will continue to show his extremist roots. We will, most likely be in an election campaign this spring and the more harper shows his true self the better it will be for the possibility of a change of government.