Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to take part in this debate, an important debate.
Why is it important? Bill C-24 amends the Criminal Code and related laws, specifically to clarify a major social problem.
The Bloc Quebecois, long before this bill, wanted to do battle. My colleague from Berthier—Montcalm naturally headed this battle. He spearheaded this important bill, which he could have tabled, but which the government tabled.
This bill could very easily have been tabled by a member of this party, the Bloc Quebecois, because for many years the Bloc Quebecois has called for a vigorous law, tighter legislation, to limit and reduce crime, and criminal gangs in Canada.
My colleague from Berthier—Montcalm was not the only one. I recall very clearly from an event in the Montreal riding of Hochelaga—Maisonneuve that my colleague who represents that riding introduced a motion under private members' business and initiated this debate in this House to ensure that the government was taking the necessary steps to establish legislation to fight organized crime.
What is being tabled today concerns basically six elements, six legislative means to fight organized crime. One concerns the question of participation in a criminal organization, which becomes an offence under the bill.
Another is the whole issue of protection given to persons participating in the legal system against certain acts of intimidation.
The third aspect is the simplified definition of criminal organizations. This is essential, essential because we wanted to see a clear definition of what a criminal organization, what a gang, is. Right at the start of the bill, in clause 1, in the explanatory notes, the definition is clear:
—“gang”. Group or association or other body consisting of five or more persons, whether formally or informally organized,
(a) having as one of its primary activities the commission of an indictable offence under this or any other Act of Parliament for which the maximum punishment is imprisonment for five years or more;
(b) any or all of the members of which engage in or have, within the preceding five years, engaged in the commission of a series of such offences;
This bill provides clarification of what a criminal organization is, because we feel that the current legislation—not the bill we are looking at today but the present legislation—is in my opinion complex and to some extent provides organized groups with loopholes about which we as parliamentarians have a duty to do something.
The other aspect addressed by this bill is the whole matter of seizure and forfeiture of the proceeds of crime.
There is also the matter of protection for those mandated to monitor application of the legislation, what is termed immunity.
Lastly, there is the matter of non legislative measures, the budget in particular.
I will close on this point. It is not merely a matter of equipping ourselves with legislation. We also need the financial means to be able to enforce it. We are waiting for a budget that will allow us to meet the challenge.