Canada Reviews Anti-Terrorist Law

December 14, 2009 4:25 p.m. EST

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Topics: World, Canada  

Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) - Canadian Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan acknowledged Ottawa is reviewing the country's anti-terrorist law in recognition that it is far from ideal.

Among the items being eyed for change is the national security certificate system used to arrest and deport Canadians considered threats to the country's security. Although the certificate has been used by the federal government for over 30 years, legal challenge to the system had almost caused the collapse of the certificate system.

Those detained under that law charged Canada's process is not fair because it does not provide details of the charges against non-Canadians. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service countered providing more information may cause the disclosure of sensitive intelligence sources and methods used.

Last month, Van Loan met with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in Washington. They discussed initiatives the two neighbors could take to battle common threats like terrorism and organized crime, without cutting the flow of travel and trade between Ottawa and Washington.

Van Loan then said in a statement, "A shared understanding of the threats and risks we face is paramount to our common objective of enhancing U.S.-Canadian security. We are working together to achieve this. We have a joint responsibility to secure the safety of our citizens."

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