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What has happened in Canada since 9/11

Canada's Position: Tough Legislation Fights Terrorism

The Big Picture: Two new laws, the Anti-terrorism Act and the Public Safety Act, were passed in response to 9/11. They give Canadian law enforcement agencies the tools to deter, disable, identify, prosecute and punish terrorists. These measures form the cornerstone of our anti-terrorism efforts at home.

The Facts:

The Anti-Terrorism Act

Measures include:

• Defining and designating terrorist groups and activities;
• Making it an offence to knowingly participate in, contribute to or facilitate the activities of a terrorist group;
• Cutting off financial support for terrorists;
• Enhancing the ability to use electronic surveillance against terrorist groups;
• Allowing for the arrest and imposition of supervisory conditions of release on suspected terrorists; and
• Requiring individuals who have information related to a terrorist group or offence to appear before a judge to provide that information.

The Public Safety Act

Measures include:

• Collecting airline passenger information for the purpose of national security;
• Deterring hoaxes that endanger the public or heighten public anxiety;
• Establishing tighter controls over explosives and hazardous substances; and
• Deterring the proliferation of biological weapons.

In response to the global nature of terrorism, these laws parallel actions taken by our international partners in the United States and elsewhere to combat this threat.

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February 2005