Canadian Parliament Sunsets Terror Laws

Canada’s minority Conservative government failed in its attempt to renew its anti-terrorism legislation by a vote of 159-124.

After the heated debate and vote, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the matter wasn’t over, suggesting new legislation to replace the Anti-Terrorism Act was forthcoming, the Globe & Mail reported Wednesday.

Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion rallied support from the two other opposition parties, the New Democratic Party and the Bloc Quebecois, although there was dissent within the Liberal Party. One Liberal broke ranks and voted with the Conservatives, another who was a former justice minister abstained and 12 members didn’t show up for the debate, the report said.

Before the Tuesday night debate, family members of Canadians killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in New York appealed in a news conference to the opposition parties to support the renewal resolution.

Among the measures in the act is that police can arrest terror suspects without a warrant, as well as allowing judges to compel witnesses to testify in secret about past associations or pending acts.