CRIME BILL GETS BACKING

Opposition's First Joint Policy Measure

The federal opposition is flexing its muscles, with all three parties
joining forces to push through a Bloc Quebecois-proposed bill that
would toughen laws against gangsters by making it easier for police to
seize the proceeds of crime.

While private members' bills normally have little chance of becoming
law, Bloc MP Richard Marceau's effort to clamp down on organized crime
has a good chance of success in light of the unusual cross-party
support in the minority Parliament.

It's the first joint policy measure since the opposition acquired
enough strength in the June 28 election to outvote the government.

"I think the support of the three opposition parties would signal it
is going to go through," said Joe Comartin, the bill's New Democratic
backer.

The bill will be tabled Thursday, and the three opposition parties
will hold a joint press conference to promote the initiative.

The proposed legislation would force people convicted of having links
to organized crime to prove their assets were acquired honestly, a
measure that would reverse the burden of proof that normally requires
the prosecution to make a case of guilt rather than the accused to
prove innocence.

The opposition parties are bypassing the Liberals, instead of lobbying
Justice Minister Irwin Cotler for his support.

Cotler's spokesperson, Denise Rudnicki, said she knows nothing about
the opposition initiative and that there are no government plans to
introduce more legislation on organized crime.

Comartin said he supports the bill because "it's a logical extension
of some of the work we've already done around gangsterism and
organized crime."

The Liberals passed a law three years ago to fight organized crime by
strengthening anti-gang legislation that critics complained resulted
in few convictions and light sentences.

The new law made it a crime to lead or even assist a criminal
organization, increased jail times for those found to have gang links,
and provided more protection for public officials and
prosecutors.

The government continues to tackle organized crime through other
initiatives, Rudnicki said.