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Canada votes down anti-terror measures

[PoliticsWatch updated 6:15 p.m., February 27, 2007]

OTTAWA  — The opposition parties used their control of Canada's Parliament on Tuesday to kill two anti-terrorism measures that were introduced after 9/11.  

The minority Conservative government's motion to extend preventive arrests and investigative hearings for three years was defeated by a vote of 159 to 124. 

But the Liberal opposition to the motion was not unanimous. 

Liberal MP Tom Wappel defied the wishes of his party leader and voted with the government. Former justice minister Irwin Cotler was in the House but abstained from voting. 

In addition 12 other Liberals were absent from the House including Derek Lee, Roy Cullen and Keith Martin. All three of those MPs were outspoken in their criticism of their party's position. 

Former prime minister Paul Martin and former interim Liberal leader Bill Graham were not present. Graham missed the vote because of illness, CTV News reported. 

The vote brought to a climax a heated two-week debate on Parliament Hill which created some division within the Liberal caucus and saw Prime Minister Stephen Harper regularly accusing Liberal Leader Stephane Dion of being "soft on terror" and being directed by "extremist elements" within his party. 

The Liberals originally introduced the measures in 2001, but now oppose them and question whether they are an infringement on civil liberties. The two measures have never been used by law enforcement since they were introduced five years ago.  

With Dion and the Liberals now on the record of being opposed to the two provisions, the Conservatives are expected to continue to attack the Liberal decision to go against the wishes of former Liberal deputy prime ministers, former leadership candidates and even the relatives of the Air India bombing and 9/11 attacks. 

Hours before the vote, Harper attacked Dion in question period for what he believes are a litany of betrayals on the file, noting that Dion has refused to meet with the families of the two major terror attacks in recent weeks. 

"It is time the leader of the Liberal Party acted like Canadians should trust his judgment on national security issues," Harper said. 

After question period, Liberal MP Michael Ignatieff denied the allegation that Liberals had not met with 9/11 family members. 

"I know for a certainty that our members have met with victims of 9/11. I in a personal capacity have met with the members of the victims of 9/11 for many years. So that's just a sideshow," he said.

"The issue here is what we do with Canada's anti-terrorist legislation and we're saying it needs substantial change."

Earlier in the day three family members of Canadian 9/11 victims held a press conference on Parliament Hill where they accused the Liberals of politicizing the debate. 

Maureen Basnicki, whose husband Ken died in the North Tower of the World Trade Centre, told reporters that she has not been able to get a meeting with Dion. 

She also accused the Liberals of giving the 9/11 families the cold shoulder and noted that Harper was the first prime minister to meet with her in the five years since 9/11. 

Basnicki also said her local MP, Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj, won't meet with her. 
 
Wrzesnewskyj resigned his position as Liberal deputy foreign affairs critic over the summer after he suggested Canada have open talks with the banned terrorist group Hezbollah. 

:  Related Links

> "Extremist elements" in Liberal party making Dion soft on terrorism- PM

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