As the Prime Minister stated in the House this morning, the contraband smuggling trade in tobacco, alcohol and firearms presents this country with a problem of national proportions. The facts speak for themselves and they cry out for coordinated action by federal and provincial governments. Organized crime has become a major player in the contraband trade. What we are facing is a frightening growth in criminal activity. We are seeing a breakdown in respect for Canadian law.
Canadian society is the victim.
The huge growth in the contraband tobacco trade, is of course the most troubling aspect. The problem is now worsening in the Western provinces. Left unchecked, the availability of, and the demand for vastly cheaper tobacco will see the contraband trade continue to grow. Moreover, growth in trade of other types of contraband such as alcohol, drugs and illegal weapons increases the seriousness of the problem. The smuggling and use of military weapons, completely illegal in Canada and almost unheard of a few short years ago, is extremely troubling, especially to our police.