Ottawa prepares for vote on anti-terror act

TENILLE BONOGUORE
Posted AT 12:17 PM EST ON 27/02/07

Globe and Mail Update

Two controversial pieces of the Anti-Terrorism Act are set to expire Tuesday afternoon unless the Conservatives can strike a last-minute deal with the Liberals.

The government made a peace offering on Monday by suggesting a six-month extension to the provisions for forced testimony and preventive arrests rather than the three-year extension first put to the House.

The Conservatives said the six-month extension would provide some breathing room while a more comprehensive review of national security laws was conducted.

But Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion seemed uninterested in the offer, saying the extraordinary powers legislated in 2001 are no longer needed.

The provisions allow suspected terrorists to be detained without specific charge, and also allow courts to force testimony about alleged terror plots at investigative hearings.

They were introduced by the Liberals following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States with the proviso of future review.

A Commons vote on extending the anti-terror legislation is scheduled to take place at 5:45 p.m. EST.

While the NDP and Bloc Québécois have said they will side with the Liberals, the Grits themselves have been divided on the matter.

Toronto MP Derek Lee spoke out against the party's policy in the Commons on Monday but said he had not decided how to vote.

Former justice minister Irwin Cotler was also pushing for a compromise and would not say how he would vote, while B.C. MP Keith Martin was expected to defy Mr. Dion and vote with the government.

The minority Tories would need at least 30 Liberals to break ranks to win the vote, but Mr. Dion has said he expects “strong discipline and strong solidarity” with his position opposing the legislation.

Away from Parliament Hill, families of Canadians killed in the Sept. 11 attacks called on parliament to approve the extensions.

Maureen Basnicki, whose husband, Ken, was one of 24 Canadians killed in Manhattan's twin towers 4½ years ago, said the MPs would seriously diminish Canada's capacity to fight terrorism if they voted down the extended timeframe.

Ms. Basnicki called on opposition MPs to “vote with their conscience, not with their party” when the legislation comes up for renewal.

With reports from Canadian Press