Important Measures to Strengthen Counter-Terrorism Legislation Pass Parliament
OTTAWA, April 24, 2013 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Vic Toews, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Provencher and Minister of Public Safety, today welcomed the vote in Parliament to pass the Combating Terrorism Act. This legislation ensures that Canada has the tools it needs to anticipate and respond effectively to acts of terrorism.
“The Government of Canada is committed to keeping our streets and communities safe,” said Minister Nicholson. “We are very pleased to announce that this important legislation, our Government’s Combating Terrorism Act, was passed through Parliament and is one step closer to becoming law.”
The legislation re-enacts the investigative hearings and recognizance with conditions provisions that expired in 2007. It also creates new offences of leaving or attempting to leave Canada to commit certain terrorism offences.
These amendments, which expand upon the many safeguards originally contained in the Anti-terrorism Act of 2001, are designed to help disrupt plans and preparations for terrorist attacks and to investigate past acts of terrorism. Holding an investigative hearing will allow the Courts to compel a witness who may have information regarding a terrorism offence to appear in court and provide information. The recognizance with conditions provision will require a person to abide by certain conditions in order to prevent the carrying out of a terrorist activity.
“Terrorism and violent extremism are real threats to Canada,” said Minister Toews. “Bill S-7 will provide additional tools for law enforcement to help in the investigation of terrorism offences and thereby help to protect the safety of Canadians”
The new offences of leaving Canada or attempting to leave Canada to commit a terrorism offence are intended to deter persons from leaving Canada to attend terrorist training camps or to engage in other terrorist activity abroad. The creation of these offences assists Canada in meeting its international obligations for combating terrorism.
The Combating Terrorism Act will come into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
An online version of the legislation can be found at www.parl.gc.ca.
Backgrounder: Strengthening Counter-Terrorism Legislation
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