Whether it's a drug-related burglary, a carton of smuggled cigarettes, a telemarketing scam or juvenile prostitution, it's all part of the same problem. While organized crime has many faces, the danger it poses to our communities is very real. That's why organized crime has become a major preoccupation of the Government and a key priority of my Ministry. During our first mandate, the Government took several steps to strike hard at these criminals. But to win this war, we will need strong national leadership, more tools for the police and continued coordination.
National leadership means setting a course and encouraging closer cooperation.
We have to be organized to stay ahead of the criminals and that's where the Solicitor General can play an important role. Leadership also means giving law enforcement agencies the tools they need to continue their fight against organized crime. The ability of the police to detect, prevent and deter money laundering activities is an important element in this fight, and one of the key ingredients in the federal government's anti-organized crime strategy. To that end, I intend to circulate a consultation paper on a proposed anti-money laundering framework. The consultation process represents an important step forward in implementing our strategy.