We want to make sure that when we do move forward with actually applying sanctions against an individual, entity or state, the legislation has teeth. There was a report published in March of last year by Global Affairs Canada on the evaluation of their sanctions operations. It pointed out that the sanctions bureau was understaffed. They didn't have the resources to go out there and ensure that our sanctions regime is working. Compare that to the Brits, the Americans, the Aussies and the European Union, where they have a much more robust desk to actually ensure that sanctions are being carried out. We want to ensure they're having a financial impact on those we are targeting to ensure they're not using our secure financial system, our relatively stable real estate market and our rather easy citizenship requirements to come here and hide their wealth, hide their families—in some cases their girlfriends or boyfriends—and shelter here when they should be facing the music back in the regimes where they are carrying out their kleptocracy and/or atrocities.
If we're going to stand up against those corrupt individuals, then we have to make sure we increase the powers of the RCMP as well as FINTRAC and provide proper reporting on all these transactions of over $10,000. We need to make sure that reporting is being coordinated on those sanctioned individuals back into the Global Affairs Canada sanctions desk. That's the only way we're going to have teeth.
I realize that Global Affairs Canada is looking at how they can make those improvements now, but if we legislate those changes and provide the increase in the reporting and tracking of individuals and money—you know what they always say, follow the money—you'll find out exactly how they are getting around the system.