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Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Canada's laws ‘outdated and inadequate' to fight cross-border crime, head of police chiefs group says
VICTORIA — The head of the Canada's police chiefs association says they are guided by 'outdated and inadequate' laws that were never designed to take on the current criminal landscape that no longer respects international borders. Thomas Carrique, president of the Association of Chiefs of Police, said police would have been in a better place to 'disrupt' transnational crime, if the federal government had listened to his group in 2001, when it last proposed legislative changes. 'Across Canada, police are confronting the domestic fallout of international disorder, but we are being asked to do so using tools, and authorities built for a different era, guided by outdated and inadequate legislation that was never designed to address today's criminal landscape,' he said on Tuesday. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Carrique said 'geopolitical instability and social unrest' around the world are driving what he called 'a new wave of public safety threats' as Canadian police confront transnational organized crime, extremism, drug trafficking and exploitation through the internet. 'Whether it's human smuggling as well as illicit exportation and importation of drugs, precursors, and firearms, organized crime groups are taking advantage of systematic blind spots, outdated statues, and digital platforms to victimize Canadians,' he said. While geopolitics and social unrest might be beyond the control of Canadians and their government, their level of preparation and response is not, he said. The current Strong Borders Act legislation proposed by the federal governments gives police many — but not all necessary _ tools to confront globalized crime, he said. The government said the bill would help authorities combat transnational organized crime, stop the flow of fentanyl, crack down on money laundering and bolster police response to criminal networks. Carrique, who's the commissioner of Ontario Provincial Police, made the comments during a news conference in Victoria, where the association is holding its annual conference. He said the federal government's legislation aligns closely with several resolutions the group has passed during the conference this week. Carrique said there are a 'number of loopholes' that must be closed to reflect the realities of 21st century crime, such as the inability of police to get a search warrant for any Canada Post package under 500 grams. 'So, a judge cannot even issue a search warrant for a package of that size that may contain enough fentanyl to kill a number of people.' Carrique also repeated calls for bail reform. 'The federal government has promised a crime bill this fall, introducing tougher bail sentencing provisions,' he said. 'This will be critical.' Victoria Police Chief Del Manak agreed on the need for tougher release conditions. Manak said police made 16 arrests during a two-day-long project to disrupt disorder in the city's downtown core. 'But what was telling was the number of rearrests that we made,' he said. An individual arrested in one block was re-arrested the next day not far from his first arrest following his release on conditions, Manak added. 'What we're really asking for here is the criminal justice system to be strengthened,' Manak said. 'There must be consequences, and a deterrence for those that are carrying out criminal activity every single day,' Manak said. Carrique acknowledged 2024 statistics that show crime rates trending down. The Crime Severity Index, for example, dropped by 4.1 per cent in 2024. 'We attribute that to some amazing work being done by police officers across the country, as well as other social services,' Carrique said. 'But we need to balance that against … the perception of crime, and it doesn't do us any good as police leaders in building trust, and confidence, or legitimacy, when we simply cite statistics to say, 'property crimes are down five per cent, or the homicide rate dropped 10 per cent,' because there are still people being victimized,' he said. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Edmonton Journal
Canada's laws ‘outdated and inadequate' to fight cross-border crime, head of police chiefs group says
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'What we're really asking for here is the criminal justice system to be strengthened. There must be consequences and a deterrence,' Thomas Carrique said Thomas Carrique, president of the Association of Chiefs of Police. Photo by Derek Ruttan/Postmedia/File VICTORIA — The head of the Canada's police chiefs association says they are guided by 'outdated and inadequate' laws that were never designed to take on the current criminal landscape that no longer respects international borders. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Thomas Carrique, president of the Association of Chiefs of Police, said police would have been in a better place to 'disrupt' transnational crime, if the federal government had listened to his group in 2001, when it last proposed legislative changes. 'Across Canada, police are confronting the domestic fallout of international disorder, but we are being asked to do so using tools, and authorities built for a different era, guided by outdated and inadequate legislation that was never designed to address today's criminal landscape,' he said on Tuesday. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Carrique said 'geopolitical instability and social unrest' around the world are driving what he called 'a new wave of public safety threats' as Canadian police confront transnational organized crime, extremism, drug trafficking and exploitation through the internet. 'Whether it's human smuggling as well as illicit exportation and importation of drugs, precursors, and firearms, organized crime groups are taking advantage of systematic blind spots, outdated statues, and digital platforms to victimize Canadians,' he said. While geopolitics and social unrest might be beyond the control of Canadians and their government, their level of preparation and response is not, he said. The current Strong Borders Act legislation proposed by the federal governments gives police many — but not all necessary _ tools to confront globalized crime, he said. The government said the bill would help authorities combat transnational organized crime, stop the flow of fentanyl, crack down on money laundering and bolster police response to criminal networks. Carrique, who's the commissioner of Ontario Provincial Police, made the comments during a news conference in Victoria, where the association is holding its annual conference. He said the federal government's legislation aligns closely with several resolutions the group has passed during the conference this week. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Carrique said there are a 'number of loopholes' that must be closed to reflect the realities of 21st century crime, such as the inability of police to get a search warrant for any Canada Post package under 500 grams. 'So, a judge cannot even issue a search warrant for a package of that size that may contain enough fentanyl to kill a number of people.' Carrique also repeated calls for bail reform. 'The federal government has promised a crime bill this fall, introducing tougher bail sentencing provisions,' he said. 'This will be critical.' Victoria Police Chief Del Manak agreed on the need for tougher release conditions. Manak said police made 16 arrests during a two-day-long project to disrupt disorder in the city's downtown core. 'But what was telling was the number of rearrests that we made,' he said. An individual arrested in one block was re-arrested the next day not far from his first arrest following his release on conditions, Manak added. 'What we're really asking for here is the criminal justice system to be strengthened,' Manak said. 'There must be consequences, and a deterrence for those that are carrying out criminal activity every single day,' Manak said. Carrique acknowledged 2024 statistics that show crime rates trending down. The Crime Severity Index, for example, dropped by 4.1 per cent in 2024. 'We attribute that to some amazing work being done by police officers across the country, as well as other social services,' Carrique said. 'But we need to balance that against … the perception of crime, and it doesn't do us any good as police leaders in building trust, and confidence, or legitimacy, when we simply cite statistics to say, 'property crimes are down five per cent, or the homicide rate dropped 10 per cent,' because there are still people being victimized,' he said. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Top officer says Canada's laws are ‘inadequate' to fight cross-border crime
VICTORIA – The head of the Canada's police chiefs association says they are guided by 'outdated and inadequate' laws that were never designed to take on the current criminal landscape that no longer respects international borders. Thomas Carrique, president of the Association of Chiefs of Police, says police would have been in a better place to 'disrupt' transnational crime, if the federal government had listened to his group in 2001, when it last proposed such changes. Carrique says 'geopolitical instability and social unrest' around the world are driving what he called 'a new wave of public safety threats' as Canadian police confront transnational organized crime, extremism, drug trafficking and exploitation through the internet. He says the current Strong Borders Act legislation proposed by the federal governments gives police many — but not all necessary — tools to confront globalized crime. The government says the bill would help authorities combat transnational organized crime, stop the flow of fentanyl, crack down on money laundering and bolster police response to criminal networks. Carrique, who's the commissioner of Ontario Provincial Police, says the legislation aligns closely with several resolutions the group has passed during its annual conference being held this week in Victoria, but there are a 'number of loopholes' that must be closed to reflect the realities of 21st century crime. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2025.
