Canada scraps anti-terrorism laws (Al Jazeera)

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  The Canadian parliament has refused to extend controversial anti-terrorism legislation enacted after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States which allows for preventive arrests and compels testimony.

 

  Al Jazeera
 
  Feb. 28, 2007 -- The Canadian parliament has refused to extend controversial anti-terrorism legislation enacted after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States which allows for preventive arrests and compels testimony.
 
  The motion by Stephen Harper, the prime minister, was defeated 159-124 in the House of Commons Tuesday.
 
  The ruling conservative government had wanted to extend the contentious pieces of legislation that are set to expire Thursday.
 
  "The powers that are there are necessary for national security," Harper said before voting began.
 
  The laws allow the 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.
 
  But all three opposition parties argued that they were a blatant violation of civil rights.
 
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