The Associated Press
TORONTO- Canada on Friday unveiled anti-terrorism measures to be implemented at the country’s airports, railway systems and marine ports in the next few months.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the government also would spend more than C$250 million (US$224 million; euro176 million) to beef up the country’s ability to detect potential terrorist attacks, as part of the C$1.4 billion (US$1.3 billion; euro987 million) approved in the federal budget for security.
Harper said passenger luggage would be more thoroughly screened and there would be more resources for scanning passports. Security at marine ports also will be increased, including more thorough background checks for port workers.
Harper also said his government would review the country’s anti-terrorism legislation and look at options to improve security along the 6,440-kilometer (4,000-mile) border with the United States.
Some in Washington have criticized Canada’s immigration laws as too lax and have long called on their neighbor to tighten regulations at airports, border crossings and ports. That criticism has been heightened in the past few weeks, with the arrest of 17 suspects in the Toronto area who are accused of plotting bomb attacks against southern Ontario targets.