World

Canada votes down anti-terror measures

by Kaitlin | February 27, 2007 at 03:53 pm

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This vote took place about half an hour ago in Parliament; it's a pretty big step away from measures implemented in the anti-terror craze right after 9/11.

Members of Parliament voted against a proposal to extend two controversial anti-terror measures contained in the Criminal Code.

The proposal was voted down 159-124.

The measures, which are set to expire on Thursday, allow police to arrest people suspected of being about to carry out a terrorist act and hold them for up to three days.

The measures also allow closed investigative hearings, where judges can demand evidence on suspected plots.

The anti-terror rules became law on Dec. 18, 2001, in the chaotic aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

The rules, known as the Anti-terrorism Act, were created by the Liberal government, which introduced and fast-tracked them through the House of Commons and the Liberal-dominated Senate.