What’s In The Anti-Terror Law?

It’s called the A.T.A. and it’s one of the more controversial laws on the books in Canada because it gives authorities the right to act without the usual civil rights protections provided in other areas of the law.

It stands for the Anti-Terrorism Act and it was quickly brought into effect after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

But it wasn’t until the arrest of 17 men in a series of raids on June 2 ^nd that most of us really gave it a serious thought.

What does it actually say? Here’s a look:

  What is a terrorist act?

• Anything that’s an offence under one of 10 United Nations anti-terrorism conventions or

• Any act undertaken for political, religious or ideological purposes that threatens public or national security by killing or hurting someone else, causing property damage or disrupting a vital service, like electricity or public transit. (The law is carefully written so that labour disputes, like the T.T.C. wildcat strike of a few weeks back, wouldn’t be considered a terrorist act.)

What’s against the law?

(At least half of all the time listed in the sentences below would have to be served before the convicted person would be even considered for parole.)

• Knowingly raising money for a group trying to carry out a terrorist action, even if the fundraising is done outside of Canada. (Maximum sentence: 10 years)

• Knowingly participating in or contributing to a terrorist group. Includes recruiting members or helping them even if you’re not necessarily part of the organization. (Maximum sentence for participating or contributing: 10 years. Maximum sentence for facilitating a terror group: 14 years)

• Instructing anyone to carry out a terrorist act on behalf of a group. (Maximum sentence: life in prison)

• Knowingly harbouring or concealing a terrorist. (Maximum sentence: 10 years)

• Breaking any existing laws that benefit a terrorist cause or are ordered by a terror group. (Maximum sentence: life in prison)

Other provisions

• Denying charitable status to any organization that supports a terrorist group.

• Allowing for electronic surveillance, including making it easier and faster to get wiretaps for longer periods.

• Allowing courts to keep secret classified information that may fall under National Security.

• Allowing for the interception of communications of foreign targets abroad.

• Forcing those with knowledge of a planned terror attack to appear before a judge.

• Allowing for “preventative arrests” on suspected terrorists before they can put their plans into action.

• Preventing hate sites that try to incite actions against other groups over the Internet or by phone. The authors would have to convince a judge why their pronouncements aren’t inspired by hatred and the law applies to any computer in Canada – even if the writer is out of the country.

• Strengthening the laws against crimes based motivated by race, religion or ethnic origin. (Sentence range, depending on the nature of the offence: 18 months-10 years.)