Prime Minister Stephen Harper makes a speech at a Canadian Jewish Congress event in Toronto on Sunday. (Canadian Press/Jim Ross)The federal government will soon introduce legislation that will allow victims of terrorism to sue perpetrators in Canadian courts, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Sunday.

Harper made the announcement at a Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) event in Toronto where he received the Saul Hayes Human Rights Award.

He said the legislation would allow "victims of terrorism to seek justice against individuals, organizations and foreign states that support terrorism."

Other details will be provided when the legislation is unveiled this week, Harper said.

Law professor James Morton, who was at the CJC event, said that while news of the legislation received a standing ovation, the announcement also raises questions about how Canada deals with foreign states.

With files from The Canadian press