ALBERTA JUSTICE MINISTER DEFENDS NEW LAW ALLOWING CRIMINAL GOODS TO BE SEIZED

Justice Minister Alison Redford says the courts will likely have to
decide whether Alberta has a right to seize and sell assets
associated with crime before suspects are even convicted.

Alberta passed legislation in December that allows police to seize
vehicles, homes, weapons and other items used by criminals.

Since the new law took effect, seven vehicles and a house used for
growing marijuana have been seized for a total of $500,000.

The minister says the legislation helps take the profits out of
criminal activity, including gang crime and illegal drug operations.

But Redford says Canada's legislators need to have "real
conversations" with judges about what society expects the
consequences of criminal acts should be.

Alberta's justice minister says in the last three or four years,
legislators "have been absent from that discussion.