Public Safety committee  Right now, for some reason, the government has left it to the rights holders to go after the proceeds of the crime. If someone is charged criminally with these offences, the government can't attack some of the assets. The rights holders are saying, we want you to take the assets, because civilly we're never going to get to them anyway; it's not possible civilly.

Public Safety committee  One example is one case I was involved in where somebody was caught by the police with the help of the brand owners. He was manufacturing counterfeit products. He had a $100,000 computerized embroidery machine in his possession. The fine was $25,000, but that person made a lot more than $25,000.

Public Safety committee  I want to give you an example here. I'm chair of the education and training committee of the Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network, and I've been going to a public school for four years now. An elementary school teacher invited me four years ago to come in and tell her class what I did for a living.

Public Safety committee  It is a problem that's being addressed by the industry through a large increase--this is another growth industry--in brand protection. A lot of the companies have very sophisticated brand protection techniques. This is something the government knows about through passports and through currency.

Public Safety committee  I would also like not to lose sight of the fact that these repackaging cases—certainly the ones I've been involved in—are under everyone's radar. Canada is not making any money on them. Goods are coming in; no one is paying anything. They're being declared at insignificant dollars.

Public Safety committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman and honourable members. I thank you for having given me the opportunity to speak to the committee about counterfeiting and piracy. I have been a lawyer since 1981. I'm a partner in a law firm, and since 1999 I have practised exclusively in anti-counterfeiting enforcement across Canada.