TORONTO — The member of Parliament representing the Toronto riding that is now home to the widow and son of an alleged al Qaeda leader is urging the government to charge the family under Canada's new anti-terrorism law.

John Cannis has sent a letter to Justice Minister Irwin Cotler saying the Khadrs should be charged with "aiding a terrorist organization with which Canada is at war," CBC's The National reported Friday.

"Are we going to sit back and wait for the bomb to explode before we take action?" Cannis asked.

But lawyer Clay Ruby told the network a terrorist charge won't stick unless there are specific accusations.

"Carried a gun, shot someone, tried to kill an American forces officer. We haven't got any of that," he said.

U.S. intelligence officials allege Egyptian-born Canadian citizen Ahmed Khadr, 57, was an al Qaeda financier with close ties to Osama bin Laden. He died in a gun battle with coalition forces near Afghanistan last October.

Since their return to Canada a week ago, there have been calls to revoke the citizenship of his widow, Elsamnah, and her 14-year-old son, Karim, who was paralysed in the gunfight.

Another son, Abdurahman Khadr, 21, returned to Canada last year after being released from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He has admitted to attending al Qaeda training camps in the 1990s.

Elsamnah admitted her family links to al Qaeda and bin Laden during a CBC television documentary. She has since denied the family's involvement.

"My mother is at least honest enough to come out and say what she thinks. There is a lot of people that are al Qaeda, but they're not talking out, and those are the people we should really be worrying about," Abudurahman told CBC on Friday.

Another child, Omar Khadr, 17, remains in U.S. custody in Guantanamo Bay. He was arrested almost two years ago and is accused of killing an American soldier.

An online petition to have the family removed from Canada has attracted more than 10,000 signatures.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham said Friday he's confident that charges will be laid if they are appropriate.

Cannis said he plans to present a case for charges to Liberal caucus next week.