It's not usually the way government announcements are made but in a response tabled with the Clerk of the House of Commons Wednesday, the Harper government says it will reintroduce legislation to restore the anti-terrorism powers it lost a few months ago in a parliamentary vote.

As well, it says it will bring forward new legislation concerning security certificates, the old one having been struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada. Security certificates allowed the government to detain and, at least in theory, deport foreign nationals who are considered a threat. But the courts prevented Ottawa from deporting individuals to countries where they might be tortured.

In February, MPs voted 159 to 124 against extending two controversial anti-terrorism measures that had been added to the government arsenal after 9/11. One measure allowed police to arrest suspects without a warrant and detain them without charges for three days if they believed a terrorist act might be committed.

The second measure allowed judges to compel witnesses to testify in secret and jail them if they refused to comply.

Also in February, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the use of security certificates on the grounds that they violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The court's ruling was suspended for 12 months to give Ottawa time to rewrite its security laws.

Wednesday's announcement came as a reply to a report by the House of Commons' committee on public safety and national security.

Oh, and if you're wondering why the government chose this venue, it's not a backdoor tactic. The House of Commons' standing orders allows the government to table anything with the clerk on the first Wednesday after the 15th of each summer month.

The next opportunity is Wednesday, August 22nd. And what might it reveal then?