Presentation
to the Standing Committee on Justice and
Human Rights, Ottawa, May 8 2001 on Bill C-24 -
Organized Crime and Law Enforcement
Inspector Mike Ryan
Organized Crime Agency
of British Columbia
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British Columbia has always placed a
priority on attacking the financial basis of organized crime, and offences
committed to benefit a criminal organization must continue to be a
priority in order to effectively sanction organized criminal activity. In
order to accomplish this, it is paramount that some provisions of C-95 be
retained and expanded, and specifically matters which relate to
restraining and forfeiting proceeds of crime. Also, those provisions which
extend Part VI (wiretap) applications and the access to income tax
information in relation to criminal organizations must, continue in order
to ensure that police have the necessary means to investigate organized
crime.
This legislation may however fall short,
in its effect on organized crime at the international level. Where a
group, of three or more "persons" (and "persons" in
the Criminal Code may be real or corporate persons) have one of its main
purposes or activities the facilitation of one or more serious offences,
presumably some or even all of those three "persons" may be
located outside of Canada. While the most visible aspect of organized
crime is often the acts of violence and drug abuse on the streets of
Canadian towns and cities, those events are often caused by competition
between rival groups regarding international distribution systems. The
true power base and decision making process is often in another
jurisdiction. This legislation must include some consideration to the
international aspects of organized crime in order to be effective.
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