Overhaul of terror law

Photo: The Canadian Press

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale

The federal Liberals plan to introduce legislation this spring to revamp the Conservative anti-terrorism bill known as C-51, the public safety minister says.

The package could include other measures that flow from the government's recently concluded national security consultation, Ralph Goodale said in an interview.

The Liberals promised during the last election to repeal "problematic elements" of omnibus security legislation ushered in by the previous Conservative government after a gunman stormed Parliament Hill.

C-51 gave the Canadian Security Intelligence Service explicit powers to disrupt terrorist threats, not just gather information about them. It also created a new offence of promoting the commission of terrorist offences and broadened the government's no-fly list powers.

The Trudeau government has committed to ensuring all CSIS warrants respect the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to preserving legitimate protest and advocacy and to defining terrorist propaganda more clearly.

It has also pledged that appeals by Canadians on the no-fly list will be subject to mandatory review.

The Liberals have faced persistent pressure from the NDP and civil libertarians to move quickly on the changes, but the government opted to consult widely and take its time.

Tens of thousands of people took part in the national security consultation, and there was "a tremendous amount of consensus" on the Liberal platform promises, Goodale said.

"There's a lot of input that we need to weigh very carefully. And we're doing that now to assess just exactly the thrust and direction of the consultation. And on the basis of that analysis, I will be taking proposals before cabinet for legislative changes," Goodale said.