Madam Speaker, I want to commend the member for bringing forth the motion. I am pleased with it. My colleague who just spoke sits with me on the justice committee. He is a very valuable member of that committee.
I would like ask him what I think is a tough question and if he is unable to answer it today, that is quite understandable. However, I would like him to take the question under consideration.
I believe we have needed this law for a long time, not just in Quebec but across Canada. I too believe that criminals convicted of crime should have their proceeds from crime confiscated. It is too difficult now to prove in a court of law that what they have in their possession has been obtained dishonestly.
However, my question is this. What if someone in a charitable organization such as a church based organization possibly, for example the Mennonite Central Committee, or an organization like the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, which is very strong in my riding, or Samaritan's Purse, which operates across Canada, is a bad apple and is found dealing in drugs, or money laundering or some other such criminal activity?
Sometimes we hastily pass a law that may have a serious flaw in it. What assurance do we have that this law may not be used against organizations that have honourable goals but that may be disliked by someone? Can we ensure that another huge loophole is not created so criminals can use to keep their illegally obtained possessions? That is my main question.
The other question I have is this. In passing this law in Canada, can the proceeds if transferred out of the country be recovered by a law here within our country? As we know, criminals can easily transfer their assets elsewhere. Will this law help in recovering those assets if we pass the law in Canada?
In any event, my first question is the more important one.