WATCH ABOVE: Bill C-51 passes Wednesday night’s vote in House of Commons with the Tories and Liberals voting in favour.
OTTAWA – The federal government’s controversial new anti-terrorism bill has won the approval of the House of Commons.
The Anti-Terrorism Act, also known as Bill C-51, easily passed third reading by a margin of 183 to 96, thanks to the Conservative government’s majority and the promised support of the third-party Liberals.
READ MORE: Conservatives’ anti-terror law will hurt tech sector: business leaders
The legislation gives the Canadian Security Intelligence Service more power to thwart suspected terrorist plots – not just gather information about them.
It also increases the exchange of federal security information, broadens no-fly list powers and creates a new criminal offence of encouraging someone to carry out a terrorist attack.
READ MORE: Conservatives to amend C-51: will curb, clarify anti-terror bill powers
In addition, the bill makes it easier for the RCMP to obtain a peace bond to restrict the movements of suspects and extend the amount of time they can be kept in preventative detention.
Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney has said the legislation is required to keep Canadians safe from jihadi-inspired attacks like those that claimed the lives of two soldiers in attacks just days apart last October.
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