when i think about the recent abuse of powers by some rcmp members.....ie. killing an innocent man at the airport by tasering him 5 times to death and the incident in vancouver where 3 off duty policemen jumped and robbed an innocent man in downtown vancouver, it worries me.
Tories bring back lapsed anti-terrorism measures
Updated Thu. Mar. 12 2009 12:36 PM ET
The Canadian Press
OTTAWA -- The Conservative government is bringing back anti-terrorism measures that will give police extraordinary powers of preventive detention and permit judges to compel testimony at investigative hearings.
The provisions, denounced by civil libertarians, were included in the first anti-terror law rushed into force following the attacks in New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001.
The most controversial aspects of that legislation lapsed in March 2007 under a five-year sunset clause.
At the time, the Liberal opposition refused to allow the provisions to be extended, but subsequent negotiations added a handful of changes designed to safeguard civil liberties and won Liberal approval.
Election calls and prorogation of Parliament have kept the renewed legislation on the backburner until now.
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson says authorities "need the tools in the books" but he hopes police and judges never have to use the extraordinary powers.
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