JUSTICE SYSTEM FAILING TO COMBAT ORGANIZED CRIME: DIANNE WATTS

Four Mayors Speak About Justice

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said the justice system is failing when it
comes to cracking down on organized crime.

Appearing before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice
and Human Rights yesterday in Vancouver, Watts called for tougher
sentencing for firearms possession.

"It's time we had more minimum mandatory sentences for illegal
firearms," she said. "If you find someone with an Uzi sitting beside
them, you know it's not going to be used for anything but creating
havoc."

Watts was one of four Metro Vancouver mayors speaking yesterday as
part of the committee's study on the state of organized crime. Its
final report will be sent to the House of Commons.

"A lot of the crime that has taken place with the gangs . . . a lot of
them are out on bail with gun charges," said Watts. "The justice
system is failing us."

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson called for continued investment in
cash-strapped police forces.

"We need the federal government to play a more prominent role," he
said, noting the Vancouver Police Department had already spent 50 per
cent of its annual budget by March.

"The resources we have been given have not been enough," he
said.

Robertson also asked that the approach to drugs be looked at, adding
that the current war on drugs "is not working."

Delta Mayor Lois Jackson, who chairs Metro Vancouver's Mayors
Committee, said the issue is that gangsters know the judicial system
too well.

"Gang members use both the Canadian Charter and the constitution to
their benefit," said Jackson, adding that the Criminal Code needs to
be updated so police officers can wiretap new technology such as
BlackBerrys.

"This is not really a political situation, this is a people
situation," she stressed.

Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender suggested a number of deterrents the
federal government should adopt.

Firstly, the Canada Revenue Agency should increase its investigations
into the profits made by gangsters, he said.

"Criminals don't willingly pay taxes on their huge crime profits," he
said. "A tax crackdown on grow-ops would make it less lucrative."

Second, the government should introduce regulations on the sale of
hydroponic growing equipment, while also enforcing the existing safety
regulations of medical marijuana grow-ops.

Finally, he said more resources have to be put into research into
detecting clandestine labs.