Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The importation and selling of counterfeit goods is one such activity, and it is gaining significant momentum in Manitoba and across the country. Almost anything manufactured can be counterfeited, including sunglasses, batteries, automotive parts, to name but a few. Also included in this list, however, are pharmaceuticals, which by their nature present enormous risk to public safety.
The risk of apprehension in counterfeiting and trademark violations is extremely low. Investigations, often crossing international boundaries, can be very complex, and involve victims in multiple jurisdictions and countries, making prosecution difficult and in some cases impossible.
Several organized crime groups in Manitoba have expanded in the trafficking and distribution of contraband tobacco, which mostly originates from southern Ontario. The resulting loss of federal and provincial tax revenues has significant impact on the economic integrity of this country, including that of this province.
When speaking to the threat of organized crime in Manitoba, I would be remiss if I did not make brief mention of the port of Churchill in Manitoba's far north. The port of Churchill is the closest ocean port to the vast grain-growing area of western Canada. While this port is currently open about five months of the year, global warming is having a significant impact on the area. Government and other estimates report that ocean access into Hudson's Bay could become ice-free sometime between 2013 and 2050.
For example, in October 2007, the first vessel from Russia arrived in Churchill directly from the port of Murmansk. While there is currently little intelligence to suggest that organized crime is targeting this port, the opportunity for organized crime to gain relatively easy access into North America through this route should not be overlooked. As a result, it's an area that remains a high priority for the border integrity program of the RCMP.
I will speak very briefly about one specific challenge to our investigations. That's the issue of technology in our laws and the need for updated and “lawful access” provisions in our legislation, about which I'm sure you may have heard before.
Organized criminals are adept at using the newest technology available to avoid or delay the interception of their communications by law enforcement. As an example, they often use pay-as-you-go cellphones as a means of avoiding police wiretaps, changing them frequently. There is no legislative regime that currently exists compelling persons to show proof of identification, as an example, when purchasing a pay-as-you-go cellphone, nor is there any requirement on the part of the cellphone dealer to maintain a record of subscriber information.
Updated lawful access legislation is critical to enhancing our ability to intercept private communications, a keystone of organized crime investigations.
It has been my pleasure to highlight a few points relating to our organized crime situation. Together with my colleagues, I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.