You have suggested that this would not in any way impact the discretion of the courts in levying sentences. If we're looking at doing something substantive in addressing things like money laundering, why would we not look more carefully and increase the use of mandatory minimum penalties?
Quite frankly, I have yet to be convinced that limiting the discretion of judges in select cases is not an appropriate response. I have a legal background. I practised law for many years and I followed the law carefully over those years. I do not have an aversion in select cases to putting some parameters around the discretion that judges would have, especially for something as significant as money laundering.
On the role that FINTRAC plays, when you look at how foreign money and money laundering could be playing a significant role in the unaffordability of housing, why would we not revisit the issue of mandatory minimums?
I'd be pleased to hear your comments on that.