Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good morning, and thank you for inviting us here to speak today about this important issue. I had the opportunity to appear before your committee on April 1 to discuss Bill C-14, and I appear before you again today on behalf of the RCMP organized crime program. Fighting organized crime, as we previously testified, is a strategic priority for the RCMP. As a partner in the fight against organized crime, we appreciate the fact that the committee has undertaken this study.
Many of our federal, provincial, and municipal units of the RCMP prioritize the investigation of organized crime where it intersects with their respective areas of responsibility. As well, through our combined forces special enforcement units, the investigative teams target criminal organizations that represent the highest level of harm in their communities.
The position of the RCMP in relation to listing criminal organizations is that we are supportive of this move. We believe that such a measure would increase our efficiency in the fight against organized crime and contribute to building safer communities. I must add that the RCMP believes that any listing of a criminal organization should be done through a criminal trial process.
While my colleagues from CISC and the Sûreté du Quebec will discuss details specific to the Hells Angels, the RCMP's view is that this committee should consider applying this concept across a wider range of well-established criminal organizations. Prior testimony before this committee stated that organized crime is present all over Canada, as well as in many other countries.
Our greatest concern is that there are well-established organizations that have been in existence for decades, if not longer, and that continue to have a impact on all Canadians. Frequently, these organizations rely on the use of intimidation, violence, and corruption of public officials as part of the tools of their trade.
Many of these organizations have become transnational in nature, not only because they peddle their illegal wares in other countries, but also because they work with established cells in other countries to facilitate their activities. Furthermore, in many cases, improvements in technology and globalization have allowed these organized crime groups to remain one step ahead of law enforcement.
An emerging trend that is of concern to us is that organized crime groups are now moving parts of their operations to countries that may not have the legal and/or the law enforcement framework or capacity to adequately address a threat.
Beyond the well-documented violence and crime that threaten the safety and emotional well-being of our citizens, the economic impact of organized crime on our country is staggering and affects everyone. As an example, auto theft alone costs us $1 billion. These are real costs that are incurred by private businesses, which then pass them on to Canadian consumers through higher insurance premiums and banking fees.
I have another example. The World Customs Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development estimate that 7% to 10% of global trade is derived from counterfeit products alone.
In some instances, organized crime has contributed to the destabilization of governments and infrastructure of foreign countries.
To be more specific, currently in Canada when the RCMP engages in an investigation of a criminal organization, we have to structure the investigation, the case management, and disclosure into three areas: one, proving that a substantive offence or offences have taken place; two, proving that the group itself is a criminal organization; and three, proving the link between the individual or individuals and the organization itself.
Our experience with the legislation has shown that it can be of value when it is applied. An example I would like to mention is Project Colisée in Montreal, which targeted or focused on the activities of traditional organized crime. The investigation lasted five years and resulted at the very end, or very recently, in the top six members of traditional organized crime pleading guilty.
More particularly, these individuals pled guilty to offences such as benefiting from the activities of criminal organizations or participating in the offences of a criminal organization. Since then, a number of other individuals also have pled guilty. However, to reach these results, the Colisée investigation required a tremendous amount of work, resources, and time dedicated to the investigational and disclosure preparation stages. This was required to demonstrate the existence of the criminal organization itself over and above the substantive offences investigations.
The cost of this investigation right up to 2006 was around the $40 million mark. Under the current legislation, if we were to go after this same organization, we would have to repeat much of the same work. This operation clearly reveals the applicability of the current legislation. Having to deploy significant resources to meet the three elements of the investigation would be very challenging and very taxing to our resources. In our view, this would result in a duplication of large amounts of work that has already been completed through the investigation and preparation disclosure.
The threat of organized crime is a challenge not only for Canada, but one that is faced by many other countries. Just as we are doing here, other countries are also looking at ways to address the same issue. As an example, approximately a month ago I met with an assistant commissioner from the South Australia Police, who explained that Australia had recently enacted legislation to better deal with organized crime, to provide courts and law enforcement with better tools to pre-empt the activities of the members of criminal organizations.
I'm not at liberty, and I don't think it would be appropriate for me to speak on the details of their legislation; however, we could facilitate this committee meeting, by video link or whatever, with the resources from Australia.
In conclusion, the RCMP is of the view that the listing of criminal organizations is a measure that would be of great assistance to law enforcement in our fight against organized crime. The current reality facing the law enforcement community is that organized crime is evolving rapidly and expanding its influence, and we must find ways to quickly adapt.
Addressing this reality will require bold moves and prompt action if we wish to gain ground on these criminals. The RCMP is more than willing to be a participant in the elaboration of appropriate measures to address this problem, while at the same time ensuring that the rights of all individuals, as guaranteed through our charter, are respected. The tentacles of organized crime have now extended beyond traditional boundaries and reach more and more into legitimate business. Any new tools that lawmakers can provide to the law enforcement community, such as the listing or scheduling of criminal organizations, to enhance our ability to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute these individuals and organizations would be welcome.
Thank you, sir.