The Auditor General of Canada, Michael Ferguson, released his Spring 2013 Report (the “Report“) today and among the key findings, found that a whopping $3.1 billion in funding to programs to combat terrorism in Canada is unaccounted for. Moreover, the Report found that some of the $12.9 billion approved for fighting terrorism in Canada went to pay for [...]
As reported in The Province today, anti-money laundering (“AML“) expert and former RCMP officer, Garry Clement was in Vancouver to help launch a Vancouver chapter of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (“ACAMS“). ACAMS is the largest international membership organization dedicated to enhancing the knowledge and expertise of AML and counter terrorist-financing (“CTF“) financial crime [...]
The Court of Appeal for British Columbia ruled today that the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, as it applies to lawyers in that province, interferes to an unacceptable degree with the independence of the Bar as a principle of fundamental justice, and as a consequence, held that the legislation does not apply to [...]
Canada is failing miserably in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing efforts according to a report published by the country’s Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce. The report, entitled “Follow the Money: Is Canada Making Progress in Combatting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing? Not Really” (the “Report“) makes several findings and recommendations, the chief [...]
As anticipated, the federal Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act (the “Act“) came into force in Canada on March 13, 2013 without much fanfare. The Act creates a cause of action that allows victims of terrorism to sue natural and legal persons (and of particular interest, listed entities) and certain foreign states, in a Canadian court for loss [...]
Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed an appeal by convicted terrorist Mohammed Khawaja from a decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal that upheld his conviction for terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act and had imposed a sentence of life imprisonment plus 24 years on Khawaja for his crimes.
In what is seen as a positive move in support of Canada’s anti-terrorism laws and extradition law for terrorism and money laundering charges, the Supreme Court of Canada today refused an appeal by Suresh Sriskandarajah from the Ontario Court of Appeal upholding an order for his extradition to the United States to face charges of [...]
The Safe Streets and Communities Act, (Bill C-10), also known as the omnibus crime bill received Royal Assent today in Parliament and is significant from an anti-terrorism perspective. Justice for Victims of Terrorism Bill C-10 enacts the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act (the “Act”) which creates a cause of action that allows victims of terrorism to [...]
The Canadian government announced that it is undertaking a potentially significant revision to its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter terrorist financing (CTF) regime. The proposed changes are in addition to those proposed by the government in November 2011. In its Consultation Paper entitled “Strengthening Canada’s Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Regime”, the government is proposing [...]
Canada’s proposed Bill C-10 (also casually called the omnibus crime bill), if passed, would allow anyone who suffered loss or damage as a result of a terrorist act to bring an action to recover damages suffered by the person. Recovery is possible from any person, listed entity or foreign state provided there is a real [...]