Ministerial Forum on Organized Crime

OTTAWA, June 1, 2007 – Federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for Justice and Public Safety concluded their Ministerial Forum on Organized Crime today, and agreed to a renewed commitment to a national agenda on organized crime. The main purpose of this meeting was to discuss how to increase coordination and cooperation across the country in the fight against organized crime.

Ministers who attended the Forum, which was hosted by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Rob Nicholson, and the Minister of Public Safety, Stockwell Day, all benefited from discussions with and presentations by a range of Canadian and international experts on organized crime.

Ministers agreed to target organized crime and collectively acknowledged it as a local, regional, provincial-territorial, national and global issue. Its effects are felt directly in communities across Canada, through criminal activities such as drug-related crimes including marijuana grow-ops, gang violence, identity theft, the sale of counterfeit goods and human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, especially women and children. Ministers agreed that while many successful actions to combat organized crime have been taken by the federal, provincial and territorial governments, sustained, enhanced and integrated efforts are needed to address the serious risk organized crime presents to the safety of communities.

Areas for priority work and study were identified including targeting proceeds of crime, sharing information and better understanding the ever-changing structures, activities and impact of organized crime, as well as strengthening criminal law responses and prosecution services. Ministers identified the importance of enhancing training and support for police, prosecutors and correctional services agents, developing integrated strategies to deal with gang activities including street gangs and continuing to support collaboration amongst law enforcement, prosecutors and intelligence personnel.

Ministers will review progress at upcoming federal-provincial-territorial meetings.