OTTAWA — The Conservatives are understood to be considering new legislation that would make it an offence to condone terrorist acts online.
There is frustration in government, and among law enforcement agencies, that the authorities can’t detain or arrest people who express sympathy for atrocities committed overseas and who may pose a threat to public safety, one Conservative MP said. “Do we need new offences? If so which?”
Sources suggest the government is likely to bring in new hate speech legislation that would make it illegal to claim terrorist acts are justified online.
The Prime Minister told the House of Commons on Thursday that Canada’s law and policing powers need to be strengthened in the areas of surveillance, detention and arrest. He said work is already under way to provide law enforcement agencies with “additional tools” and that work will now be expedited.
The dilemma faced by law enforcement agencies was highlighted by the case this week of Martin Couture-Rouleau.
His passport was seized by the authorities, who feared he wanted to go overseas to fight but there was not enough evidence to charge and detain him. He was fatally shot Monday, after hitting two soldiers with his car in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., killing Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent.
The Conservative MP said the new legislation was crafted before this week’s events and is not “trauma tainted.”
Mr. Rouleau’s website featured a black ISIS flag and rejoiced that “disbelievers” will be consigned to the fires of Hell for eternity.
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Conservatives mulling legislation making it illegal to condone terrorist acts online | National Post
There is frustration in government, and among law enforcement agencies, that the authorities can’t detain or arrest people who express sympathy for atrocities committed overseas and who may pose a threat to public safety, one Conservative MP said. “Do we need new offences? If so which?”
Sources suggest the government is likely to bring in new hate speech legislation that would make it illegal to claim terrorist acts are justified online.
The Prime Minister told the House of Commons on Thursday that Canada’s law and policing powers need to be strengthened in the areas of surveillance, detention and arrest. He said work is already under way to provide law enforcement agencies with “additional tools” and that work will now be expedited.
The dilemma faced by law enforcement agencies was highlighted by the case this week of Martin Couture-Rouleau.
His passport was seized by the authorities, who feared he wanted to go overseas to fight but there was not enough evidence to charge and detain him. He was fatally shot Monday, after hitting two soldiers with his car in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., killing Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent.
The Conservative MP said the new legislation was crafted before this week’s events and is not “trauma tainted.”
Mr. Rouleau’s website featured a black ISIS flag and rejoiced that “disbelievers” will be consigned to the fires of Hell for eternity.
more
Conservatives mulling legislation making it illegal to condone terrorist acts online | National Post