Ottawa - Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, recently was elected Chair of the committee that will review Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act.

"This is an important Act that requires review because certain provisions are about to expire," says Brown.

The government enacted the Anti-Terrorism Act in 2001 to combat terrorism at home and abroad. In particular it addressed international agreements on terrorist financing and bombing and rewrote sections of the Criminal Code to define and outlaw terrorist activities. It also amended other Acts.

When it was passed, certain provisions came with a "sunset" clause that causes them to expire.

"The committee will review the entire Act," explains Brown.

The committee is a sub-committee of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.