Madam Speaker, on behalf of the official opposition I welcome the opportunity to respond to the solicitor general's statement on the state of security in Canada, in particular organized crime. There is overwhelming evidence that organized crime is increasing at an alarming rate. Today's numerous headlines on organized crime activities highlight the importance of action and commitment that the government get on with its job.
We agree that its effects are far reaching and devastating to our society both economically and socially. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is warning of the existence of 18 international crime rings in Canada. The CSIS report indicates that the cost of international crime to the domestic economy is $14.8 billion. Drug trafficking, dumping of toxic waste, money laundering, smuggling of arms, contraband, counterfeiting, security frauds, software piracy and auto theft are some of the issues under the control of organized crime.
CSIS is reporting that international crime organizations attack the very fabric of life in a democratic law based society like Canada. Criminals involved in organized crime have successfully landed in Canada without any opposition due to our lax immigration policy and inadequate screening. Organized crime with foreign origins poses a serious threat in many metropolitan areas of Canada, particularly on the west coast.
The danger imposed by modern day organized crime is a serious and destructive force. It imperils the security of our citizens and our nation. This threat attacks us in our streets, in our businesses and, worst of all, in our school yards. Organized crime is a threat to our economic sovereignty because the cost of organized crime in our society is astronomical.
The counterattack will require additional resources, legislation and co-operation provincially, federally and internationally. Canada cannot afford the continuing lip service the government is providing to the problem. We need resources. We need action and we need it now. Canadians will only feel safe and confident when these resources are committed to this attack. Crime is organized. So too should government efforts be.
I join the minister in congratulating the work of the RCMP, justice, revenue, citizenship and immigration, and others. I presume the minister also congratulates CSIS on its work. All these agencies must work together if they are to be successful in the war on organized crime. Effort must be made to avoid a duplication of resources and investigation by the agencies.
Taking today's headlines as an example, “CSIS warns of 18 international crime rings in Canada” and “RCMP charge four with eastern European crime links”, we must ensure there is no overlapping and squandering of essential but limited resources. In summary, no turf wars.
The minister has said that crime respects no borders. I would go even further and remind the minister that all those borders are not defined.
On a related issue, according to a study published by Carleton University, Canada is especially susceptible to economic spies because it is one of the world's most open and trade dependent countries. CSIS has warned that computer hackers pose a serious threat to national security. Terrorists could hack into government networks to sabotage and steal important valuable information. CSIS's own computer network was broken into. It has been reported that the RCMP web site has been tampered with. A recent CSIS presentation shows that 28 federal departments have been hacked.
Control of information is critical and concerns are not restricted to cyberspace. The government even has trouble with low tech like ink on paper. This past week access to confidential documents has been made easier, thanks to the federal government's decision to let contracts to bankrupt companies that are supposed to shred confidential documents.
What happened? The documents were shipped out in their entirety, not shredded or burned as required, to destinations like China and Korea. The government has not retrieved the documents. Nor does it seem to care. Some of these files were so highly classified by the privy council and national defence they should have been burned in front of witnesses.
The government's cavalier attitude does little to assure Canadians that their privacy and security has not and will not be breached. I urge the government to get on with the job. It seems that sometimes with the government more is said than done.