Finance committee  When I say it's not a priority, the Canada Revenue Agency has its own enforcement program specifically for that. In terms of identifying tax evasion, as I mentioned earlier, it could be through a proceeds of crime investigation related to drug trafficking, a money laundering investigation, or fraudulent activity, for example.

Finance committee  From our experience, compared to 10 years ago, I think it has evolved significantly. Whether in terms of money laundering, fraudulent activity, capital markets, or criminal investigations, in all of those areas we have very strong partners internationally, in a number of countries, especially the larger countries.

Finance committee  After 9/11, under the federal government's money laundering anti-terrorist financing program, the RCMP was given resources specifically related to terrorist financing.

Finance committee  It has to some extent.

Finance committee  There are probably two entities. There is a law enforcement working group under the G-8. Within that group, a number of the issues they look at on a regular basis are related to financial crime, especially money laundering activity. Under the umbrella of the G-8 law enforcement working group, we've done a number of activities in partnership with other countries in terms of international cash interdiction.

Finance committee  We're fine.

Finance committee  I can't say for certain whether we will be asked to provide any opinion or input into that. Obviously, that type of decision is a larger policy decision for the Government of Canada. If we were asked, we would have to have all the information and all the dynamics of the actual process in order to do a proper assessment of whether we would see any impact on law enforcement, criminal activity, the flow of funds, or our ability to do our work as law enforcement officials.

Finance committee  They're proceeds of crime. How they would react to that I can't say at this point, but that option is now available.

Finance committee  In a number of cases, we can get through it. We have the mutual legal assistance treaty process, and Canada has mutual legal assistance treaties with a number of countries, including a number of tax haven countries such as the Caymans. Some countries may be more protective in releasing information related to tax investigations, as opposed to other types of criminal activity such as drug trafficking.

Finance committee  Do you mean on tax evasion?

Finance committee  I guess from a law enforcement perspective what we would look at is what would be an effective deterrent, regardless of the type of criminal activity, whether it's tax evasion or fraudulent activity. The greatest deterrent is always being caught. After that, obviously, it would be whether there's a prison sentence or a fine.

Finance committee  The less severe the consequences, the less effective the deterrent, I would think.

Finance committee  Under current legislation, the Canada Revenue Agency is very limited in their ability to refer tax information of Canadians to us. That's why under the Criminal Code there is a provision for law enforcement to get an order for us to go and get tax information to assist us in an investigation.

Finance committee  Not always. If we're doing a criminal investigation such as drug trafficking, for example, and we need to do a further assessment of an individual's revenue, of legitimate income, we use that order under the Criminal Code, signed by a judge, to go and ask Revenue Canada for that information during an investigation.

Finance committee  Most of what we see and what we refer to the Canada Revenue Agency emerges through our proceeds of crime and money laundering investigations. We're actually investigating proceeds being generated from criminal activity. An example would be drug trafficking. We do an investigation.