Greens Call for Real Action on White Collar Crime

OTTAWA – The Green Party is skeptical of the Conservatives' plans for a White Collar Crime bill and is calling for a broad-based approach to tackling economic crimes in Canada.

“Canada is widely understood to be soft on organized and white collar crime but simply increasing the length of a sentence does not solve this problem,” said Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader.  “We need a government that supplies law enforcement personnel and prosecutors with the tools to successfully prosecute.  It helps nothing to have strong penalties upon conviction if prosecutors cannot get a conviction.”

The Green Party is calling for provisions that ensure restitution is a key element within sentencing for economic crimes as well as greater freedom in issuing subpoenas and reduced disclosure requirements.

“Economic criminal investigations are often quite complex and require highly specialized legal teams and sophisticated information management,” said Jared Giesbrecht, Justice Critic, Green Party of Canada.  “Federal prosecutors must be given enough resources to conduct effective and timely prosecutions of these commercial fraudsters.”

The Green Party is calling for provisions that will...

•    Make sure those who commit crimes that cost the public money through police investigation or embezzlement repay the costs of their misbehaviour as much as possible.  Although criminal charges for economic crime is important, simply placing people in jail is not always the answer.
•    Amend the laws to provide for stiffer sentencing and full restitution in white collar crimes.  It is important that the sentences fit the severity of the crimes and judges understand that economic crimes are to be met with significant consequences.
•    Allow for greater freedom in the issuing of subpoenas that would require witnesses to give a sworn statement during white collar criminal investigations.  
•    Reduce the disclosure requirements when prosecuting corporations.  In a complicated stock market fraud or investment scam, disclosure can amount to thousands of documents that have to be gathered, sorted, organized, and copied so they can be given over to the defendant and his or her lawyers as soon as charges are laid in a case.  

“We need to be much tougher on white collar crime. Economic crimes cannot be tolerated by any responsible government,” said Ard Van Leeuwen, Finance Critic, Green Party. “Victims of investment fraud include people who are preparing for their retirement security.  A broad clamp down on white collar crime will benefit all investors.”

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Contact:
Michael Bernard
Communications Officer
Green Party of Canada
613-562-4916 ext. 244
(c) 613-614-4916
michael.bernard@greenparty.ca