Liberals, NDP argue stronger police powers not needed
Prime Minister Stephen Harper plans to reintroduce sweeping police powers to detain and question terror suspects, according to a CBC interview set to air Thursday night. The powers, first granted after the 9/11 attacks then scrapped in 2007, permit police to hold a suspect for up to three days without charge if they believe a terrorist act has been committed, and allow judges to compel a witness to testify in secret about past associations or “pending acts.” Opposition figures say police don’t need the “draconian” laws, arguing the provisions were never used between 2001 and 2007 and haven’t been missed since.