Prime Minister Stephen Harper refused to apologize on Thursday after sparking an uproar in the House of Commons a day earlier when he seemed to imply the Liberals were voting against extending two provisions of the anti-terrorism law to protect one of their MPs.

Liberal MP Navdeep Singh Bains led off question period Thursday, saying that Harper had attacked his integrity and the integrity of his family. He twice asked Harper to retract his remarks.

Liberal MP Navdeep Singh Bains asked Prime Minister Harper for an apology in the House of Commons.
(CBC)

During question period on Wednesday, Harper tried to mention a Vancouver Sun article that said the RCMP wants to use parts of the Anti-Terrorism Act to interview Bains's father-in-law in connection with the Air India bombing.

The article noted that if the controversial provisions were not extended, the father-in-law would not have to testify at an investigative hearing.

But Harper, who was accompanied by family members of victims of the Air India bombings into question period Thursday, said he didn't accept the premise of Bains's question. He instead focused on the Liberals' refusal to extend the two controversial provisions.

"I'm not sure precisely what remarks he's referring to," Harper said in response to Bains. "If the honourable member denies any particular element in that Vancouver Sun story, I'd be more than happy to accept his word on the matter.

"At the same time, I can't say how important it is to proceed with the police investigation on the Air India inquiry," said Harper.

"I would hope the Liberal party would reverse their position for the benefit of the Air India families and for all Canadians, and do the right thing."

Provisions set to expire

The Anti-Terrorism Act, introduced by the Liberals in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, includes two provisions that are set to expire March 1 unless they are renewed by Parliament.

They allow police to arrest people and hold them without charge for up to 72 hours if they're suspected of planning a terrorist act.

It also requires anyone with information relevant to the investigation of a terrorist act to appear before a judge for investigative hearings. Neither measure has ever been used.

Harper's government supports renewing the provisions. But Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has said he opposes extending the provisions, and has demanded that Liberal MPs vote against the extension. The Bloc Québécois and NDP also oppose extending the provisions.

Earlier, Dion dismissed as "outrageous" any suggestion that his opposition to the provisions was politically motivated.