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Sweeping legislation was tabled in the Canadian Parliament Monday, to provide Canada’s first definition of terrorism and suppress the existence of terrorist groups. Hon. Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib., October 15, moved for leave to introduce Bill C-36, an act to amend the Criminal Code, the Official Secrets Act, the Canada Evidence Act, the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) Act and other acts, and to enact measures respecting the registration of charities, in order to combat terrorism. Introducing the Bill (pdf format) Ms. McLellan said, “The legislative package we are introducing seeks to amend not only various portions of the criminal code but also a number of other federal statutes, including the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Official Secrets Act and the Charities Act, just to name a few.” “The three main objectives of the new measures are: to suppress the very existence of terrorist groups; to provide new investigative tools; and to provide a tougher sentencing regime to incapacitate terrorists and terrorist groups,” she added. Mr. Peter MacKay (Pictou_Antigonish_Guysborough, PC/DR) speaking on the occasion said, “We share the sentiment of all Canadians that the preservation of peace, order and good government is the primary objective behind this type of legislation. We in the coalition very much attach ourselves to the comments of the minister in that regard.” Meanwhile, the British government is to present new measures to parliament tightening existing anti-terrorist legislation after the US attack. Home Secretary David Blunkett is expected to give details on a number of bills that he had presented to a Labour Party Congress in Brighton earlier this month. The package will include amendments to the 1999 immigration and asylum law to rule out any processing of asylum requests by people who have been convicted of crimes or are suspected of terrorist activities. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who was scheduled to address the opening session of the postponed CHOGM on ‘International Terrorism’ recently urged the leaders of Britain, Canada and Australia to demonstrate their determination to stamp out terrorism. “I therefore urge Prime Ministers Blair, Chretien and Howard to demonstrate their determination to stamp out those activities in their countries which promote terrorism in Sri Lanka, as part of the global campaign that has now been launched to eliminate terrorism, wherever it may exist,” she said.
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