York Regional Police has nothing but praise for sweeping justice reforms proposed this week by the Ontario government, especially when it comes to making it easier to scoop up some of the tens of millions of dollars in proceeds of crime that are caught in the system.
Known as the Smarter and Stronger Justice Act, the comprehensive legislation would, if passed, make changes to more than 20 acts, including the Civil Remedies Act.
That act allows the government to seize property such as cash, cars and houses used by criminals for illegal activities, and give it back to victims of crime or fund projects that support victims and fight crime.
But in its current form, Ontario government officials say administrative and other barriers exist in accessing those proceeds in a streamlined way.
“The changes the government is proposing will allow us to be more efficient in processing the forfeiture of uncontested seized assets,” York Deputy Chief Brian Bigras said Tuesday at a news conference at the local force’s Aurora headquarters. “The value of illicit assets seized by police extends into the millions of dollars. A portion of these go uncontested, meaning no one is claiming ownership due, in large part, to the criminal nature in which these funds and assets were obtained.”
Bigras said that right now, police can’t seek civil forfeiture without a court order, which entails an exhaustive administrative process that impacts resources.
Reforms to the Act would eliminate the need for a court order and result in making compensation available to victims in a much more timely manner, he added.
“A portion of these forfeited illicit assets is used by the government to fund grants to police services for specific projects in support of victims of crime,” Bigras said.
For example, in 2018, York police received nearly $90,000 through the civil remedies grant program that it is being used to develop a user-friendly smartphone app to support victims of sexual violence, violent crime, and those curently working in the sex trade.
The local force has been working with Victim Services of York Region, 360kids, and Children’s Aid on the development of the app and it could have features that include an online link to sexual assault reporting, resources and information for those who are victims of crime but haven’t reported, victims who have reported, those seeking resources to exit sex trade, along with a variety of other possible options.
It’s expected to roll out in early 2020, Bigras said.
Other details of the government’s proposed replacement of the Civil Remedies Act were announced Tuesday at York police headquarters by Ontario’s Attorney General Doug Downey and Solicitor General Sylvia Jones.
Through the proceeds of crime front-line policing grant, Jones pledged the Ford government would invest $6 million over three years into front-line community safety initiatives to target three priority areas: gun and gang violence, sexual violence and harassment, and human trafficking.
“It is essential that proceeds of crime are reinvested where the money can do the greatest good,” said Jones.
Victim Services of York Region executive director Gillian Freeman said her organization helped 205 survivors of human trafficking in 2018.
“Programs and services are needed to support those most vulnerable, and this year the civil remedies grant program provided $1.5 million to help (Ontario’s police services) combat human trafficking crimes,” she said. “As awareness continues to grow on the subject, so, too, do our efforts to eradicate it.”
Downey said, “Ontarians want to see the proceeds of crime redirected from the pockets of criminals to the public purse where it can be invested into building safer communities”.
“That also means proceeds can be redirected back to compensate victims faster and without the need for police to spend time preparing court documents and attending court,” Downey said.
The Ontario government states that protections will remain in place to ensure innocent people, including those who rent or lease their property, would not be adversely or unfairly affected by administrative forfeiture.
