Tories to Expand Anti-Terrorism Act

Glorifying terrorism and attending a terrorist training camp could soon be illegal.

The Conservative government is considering adding two new amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act that would make it illegal for Canadians to either attend a terrorism training camp or to incite or glorify terrorism. The act, first passed in 2001, is up for renewal this year, and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson (he of the omnibus crime bill) wants to leave his signature mark on the legislation. The proposed changes would mirror those put in place in the United Kingdom after the London subway bombings, and would have meant extra charges for the "Toronto 18" who attended a terror-training camp outside Toronto. But legal observers are concerned that laws forbidding the "glorification" of terrorism are bound to run into constitutional challenges over whether they violate free speech or not. Britain's experience with the law also led to a great amount of concern that the Muslim population was being unfairly targeted by the government.