TARGETTING CRIMINAL PROFITS A GOOD MOVE

The Stelmach government has introduced proposed legislation that will
give the province more power to seize property that has been used to
commit crimes, including drug offences.

Under proposed amendments to the Victims Restitution and Compensation
Payment Act, vehicles, weapons, and other property could be seized and
sold, with the proceeds going to victims and to programs that support
victims and their families.

The move is a good step, not only giving victims the support and
compensation they need and deserve, but also perhaps acting as a
deterrent to young people who may be considering getting involved in
criminal activity.

"In order to disrupt and dismantle the business of organized crime, we
need the tools to take the profit out of crime and help compensate
victims. This bill will do that," said Alison Redford, Minister of
Justice and Attorney General.

"The ability to seize instruments that have been used to commit crime
is one piece of the Safe Communities Initiative, which is allowing us
to come at crime from all directions."

The proposed legislation establishes the process through which civil
courts can seize property and profits gained from unlawful acts.
Proceeds or property from any criminal activity can be seized and sold.

Cases under the Victims Restitution and Compensation Payment Act will
be prosecuted by the Civil Forfeiture Office, which has been
established as part of the province's new Safe Communities Initiative.

While it would be nice if the old adage that 'crime doesn't pay'
really was true, the sad fact is that in 2008 many criminal
activities, including drug trafficking, remain very, very profitable
for organized criminal gangs, including in west central Alberta.

With the principle and primary motive for most criminal activity being
the making of money, going after the profits and proceeds of crime is
the best and perhaps only way to bring the fight directly to the criminals.

And if victims of crime get the help and compensation they deserve
because of these new rules, that's all the better.

Defence lawyers may, of course, take exception to the new rules and
launch lawsuits on behalf of their clients, perhaps arguing that
taking away vehicles and other property used to commit crimes is
unfair, making victims out of criminals. Haven't stranger things happened?

Anyway, if the amendment succeeds in "disrupting and dismantling the
business of organized crime", as Minister Redford says it will, then
it's good for Alberta.

Hopefully MLAs from all parties will act quickly to pass this
legislation - obviously this is one case where political partisanship
should be put aside.