Fighting Crime Update

January 24, 2008

The Government of Canada has moved forward to combat the complex, serious and growing problems of identity theft and identity fraud. Organized crime and modern technology are changing the criminal landscape with new and ever-evolving technologies making identity theft easier than ever.

Our current Government has developed a strategy to combat this problem. We have submitted amendments to the Criminal Code that give the RCMP the tools they need to fight these crimes. We believe that Canadians are entitled to have their identities and valuable information protected to the highest degree possible. These amendments are crucial if Canadians are to be protected properly.

Anyone who has been online knows of the spam and scams that are received by users on a daily basis. The danger of this is when the people on the other end of these types of emails are criminals and seeking to resource your personal information, whether bank information, credit cards, or ID. The Criminal Code needs to be updated to protect Canadians from this high-tech fraud.

On top of addressing identity theft and fraud, the Government of Canada is also moving forward to secure our country’s borders from cross-border trafficking. Drugs and guns are entering Canada illegally and the past levels of security have not been getting the job done. We have promised to arm our border officers and also hire 400 new border officers. Firearms training have taken place over the past months and a number of border officers are already carrying sidearms.

Our Government has also begun to add 1000 new RCMP personnel to address federal policing priorities such as fighting drugs, smuggling and enhanced border security.
The responsibility of government is to provide law and order to its citizens so they are safe and secure in their home, community and nation. Our government takes this responsibility seriously.

Colin Mayes, MP
Okanagan-Shuswap