The provincial government has introduced legislation which it hopes will help disrupt criminal networks and increase public safety.
It’s called the Civil Forfeiture Act.
Essentially, it provides a process whereby the Crown can seize assets and money believed to be used in, or obtained from, criminal activity.
Government believes the legislation will help remove the proceeds and assets connected to criminal activity, which would make it harder for criminal organizations to operate.
Depending on the total value of the property involved, the process will either be administrative, or court-based.
Justice Minister Helen Conway Ottenheimer offered so called “trap houses” as an example.
She says the legislation would allow for any items involved in drug trafficking, and the money generated to be seized and forfeited to the Crown. She calls it a “very effective tool to get at the core issues involving crime in our community.”
