Controversial anti-terror bill passes, allowing preventative arrests, secret hearings

OTTAWA — As passions flared in the wake of a foiled terror plot to attack a Via Rail passenger train, parliamentarians passed a controversial bill Wednesday to give law enforcement additional tools to stop such activities before they escalate.

Though never before been used, a number of the provisions have been on the books before. Critics, who’ve raised concerns about the bill’s impact on civil liberties, say this week’s arrests are proof the measures are not needed, while experts offer mixed reviews.

We have a new anti-terror bill. Anyone else terrified?

Under Stephen Harper’s reign — and a reign it is — Canada has entered a kind of maple syrup Middle Ages.

Covered by the most treacly platitudes, things happen without solid reasons and at the pleasure of the king. Sometimes, the way the official narrative unfolds is funny in a macabre sort of way.

Take those Mounties at this week’s terror-arrest presser. They looked like extras from Jason Kenney’s department fresh from impersonating new citizens on Sun TV. No wonder the Big Bust was laughed off Fox News as a bunch of guys self-censoring in multiple languages.

'We've just stripped away essential safeguards': Civil libertarians decry new 'anti-terror' law

With last night's passing of the Combating Terrorism Act (Bill S-7), Canada quietly marked the return of controversial post-9/11 anti-terrorism legislation -- granting authorities "exceptional" abilities to detain Canadians, preemptively, for three days without charge, and imprisoning anyone for up to a year who refuses to testify before new "investigative hearings."

 The Conservative bill, mirroring the previous Liberal administration's 2002 measure which had expired under a sunset clause six years ago, passed with the latter party's support, although Liberal MP Irwin Cotler (who was Attorney General from 2003-6) said he would vote for the bill hoping it would be reviewed.

Terror bill becomes law despite concerns over civil liberties, redundancy

OTTAWA — As passions flared in the wake of a foiled terror plot to attack a Via Rail passenger train, parliamentarians passed a controversial bill Wednesday to give law enforcement additional tools to stop such activities before they escalate.

Though never before been used, a number of the provisions have been on the books before. Critics, who’ve raised concerns about the bill’s impact on civil liberties, say this week’s arrests are proof the measures are not needed, while experts offer mixed reviews.

Canada Anti-Terror Bill S-7 Passes House Of Commons

OTTAWA - When the Conservatives suddenly decided to bring anti-terrorism legislation to a vote, they pinned the urgency on current events.

The move to go ahead with the Combating Terrorism Act after it had sat in the House of Commons for months came days after twin explosions at the Boston Marathon killed three and wounded scores more.

Meanwhile, officials continue to probe links between an attack at a gas plant in Algeria last January and a group of men from London, Ont.

Conservative anti-terror bill and arrests match up beautifully, don’t they

How odd. The week after the Boston bombings, the Conservative government had MPs suddenly debating an anti-terror bill that had long been hanging around with its hands in its pockets. The very same day, conveniently, the RCMP arrested two alleged terrorists.

They had a tip from an imam, the cops said. They got it a year ago.

Commons passes controversial anti-terrorism bill, NDP says feds should put money back into RCMP, border security, and CSIS instead

PARLIAMENT HILL—A controversial government bill containing new anti-terrorism detention and arrest powers which human rights groups say threatens civil liberties in Canada passed through the Commons Wednesday after a series of coincidental incidents that kept crucial information almost entirely excluded from the final debate—the successful arrest on Monday of two alleged terrorism plotters in Toronto and Montreal under existing anti-terrorism law.

NDP, Liberals suspicious of timing on alleged terrorism plot arrests Monday and anti-terrorism bill debate in House

PARLIAMENT HILL—The New Democrats and Liberals say they suspect the federal government may have had an advantage Monday when it began debate over controversial anti-terrorism legislation at the same time—disclosed only later in the day—that the RCMP were planning a news conference to disclose the first arrests on alleged terrorism-related charges in Canada since 2010.

But a spokesman for Government House Leader Peter Van Loan (York-Simcoe, Ont.) told The Hill Times that Mr. Van Loan, who suddenly added the Anti-Terrorism Bill S-7 to Monday’s House agenda last Friday, that Mr. Van Loan was unaware of the impending arrests when he decided to bring up the bill for its final round of debate.

Targets of 'anti-terrorism' Bill S-7 could include innocent bystanders

If you had to pick a day to oppose legislation that describes itself as anti-terrorist, Monday, April 22 might not have been the best one.

NDP MPs will be voting against the government's Bill S-7 not because they are utterly opposed to giving the government any enhanced powers to thwart terrorists, but because they honestly believe there are serious flaws on this proposed legislation.

That is an honourable position to take.