The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence has tabled its final report on Bill C-51.
The Committee has made four observations for consideration by the government for the final approval of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
One suggestion is establishing a specialized team of lawyers to prosecute terrorism cases and ensure judges who are selected to hear these kind of cases have specialized background and training about terrorism.
Another recommendation is stronger accountability and specialized bodies in order to exchange information and conduct joint investigations.
The changes also call for extending the period of time for the laying of charges under the Secure Air Travel Act from one to five years and making it a criminal offence to be a member of a “designated” terrorist group in Canada.
The Committee is also calling for an automatic review of Bill C-51 within five years after it’s approved by the Senate.
The Committee held over 17-hours of hearings and heard from 63 witnesses during its review.
Dryden Senator Lynn Beyak says she’s pleased to see the bill move forward to the Senate for final debate and a vote.
