Evidence of meeting #47 for Finance in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was transactions.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Horst Intscher  Director, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
Peter Bulatovic  Assistant Director, Tactical Financial Intelligence, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
Yvon Carrière  Senior Counsel, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada

10:55 a.m.

Director, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada

Horst Intscher

We have begun. We've done quite a lot of work. More needs to be done, and a round of consultation with other agencies needs to occur. We will also need a round of consultation with the industry to ensure that we're getting it right.

The whole purpose of proceeding down this path was that in the current regime we have the power of persuasion—and we can be quite persuasive—but there is also the power to refer for criminal investigation prosecution. Many of the transgressions or deficiencies we identify are in that big grey zone in the middle where some sanction should be applied, but not one as draconian as a criminal investigation prosecution. For example, if we were to proceed with a criminal prosecution against a smallish money service firm that is otherwise law-abiding, we would put them out of business.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Okay, so you are getting ready for that.

Are the changes going to make you more cost-efficient and able to find things? Will you be able to prosecute more people, or to find more people who are now slipping through the cracks?

10:55 a.m.

Director, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada

Horst Intscher

The registration scheme for MSBs, for example, will make us much more efficient, because we will be able to identify all of them and make sure they're brought under coverage. Moreover, the administrative monetary penalties will make it possible for us to be more effective in ensuring compliance.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Right. You have no stick for that group at the present time.

Thank you.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister

Merci beaucoup, monsieur.

Thank you, Director, and thank you all for your participation in the panel this morning.

Committee, we will reconvene in a moment in room 237-C.

We are adjourned.