Madam Speaker, yesterday the government introduced in the House its anti-terrorism act. It is strong new legislation to deal with people and acts that were mostly unknown before September 11.
The goal of the legislation is to identify, convict and punish terrorists and provide new tools to the police and other agencies effectively to pursue and prosecute terrorists. Some of these measures are strong but they are consistent with Canadian values of respect and fairness. The legislation is also in step with measures being taken by our allies everywhere. With the legislation, we join our international partners in taking steps to stamp out terrorism around the world.
Let me talk about some of the provisions of the new act. It would allow law enforcement agencies to define terrorist groups and activities. It would make it easier to prosecute terrorists and those who support them. It would make it an offence to participate in or contribute to the activities of a terrorist group. It would make it an offence to harbour a terrorist. The new legislation would create tougher sentences and parole provisions for terrorist offences.
All of these measures go to the heart of rooting out terrorists in our country. All of these measures are appropriate following the events of September 11. They are in line with what must be done and what is now being done by our allies around the world. It is important to repeat that following the attacks on September 11, the Prime Minister and Canadians with him have called for a renewed commitment to Canadian values of respect, equality, diversity and fairness.
The point is worth making one more time. This is a campaign. This is new legislation against terrorism, not against one cultural community, group or religious faith. The anti-terrorism act reaffirms Canadian values and ensures that the Canadian respect for justice and diversity is reinforced.
The legislation takes direct aim at the root causes of hatred and its expression. For example, amendments to the criminal code would allow our courts to order the deletion of publicly available hate propaganda from computers. Very importantly, further criminal code amendments would create a new offence of mischief with a maximum sentence of 10 years for acts committed against a religious place of worship which are motivated by bias, prejudice or hate. Amendments will also be made to the Canadian Human Rights Act clearly prohibiting using telephones, the Internet or other communications tools for the purposes of discrimination or hatred.
We are a free and democratic society. We must remain a free and democratic society. The anti-terrorism act introduced by the government yesterday has as its first goal to keep Canada free and democratic. To do this we must confront the terrorist forces against us within our own borders and across the world.
The government is doing just that. Canadians can be comforted in knowing that with the legislation all that must be done is being done to stop terrorists and terrorist acts, to deal with the hatred that is a root cause of terrorism, and to protect our values and our way of life.
It is my belief that the anti-terrorist act has balanced the need to confront our enemies with the desire of all Canadians to live in a free, diverse and fair society.