VICTORIA — The president of the Association of Chiefs of Police in Canada has criticized the country’s laws as "outdated and inadequate" for addressing modern criminal activities that cross international borders. Thomas Carrique, who also serves as the commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, made these remarks during a news conference on Tuesday at the association's annual conference in Victoria.

Carrique stated that if the federal government had heeded the association's recommendations for legislative changes back in 2001, police would be better equipped to tackle transnational crime today. He emphasized that current laws do not reflect the realities of a criminal landscape increasingly influenced by global factors. "Across Canada, police are confronting the domestic fallout of international disorder, but we are being asked to do so using tools and authorities built for a different era," he said.

He pointed to "geopolitical instability and social unrest" as key drivers of what he termed a "new wave of public safety threats." Canadian law enforcement is currently facing challenges from transnational organized crime, extremism, drug trafficking, and online exploitation. Carrique noted that organized crime groups are exploiting gaps in legislation and digital platforms to victimize Canadians.

The federal government has proposed the Strong Borders Act, which aims to provide police with additional tools to combat globalized crime. This legislation is intended to help authorities address issues such as transnational organized crime, the flow of fentanyl, money laundering, and the overall response to criminal networks. Carrique indicated that while the proposed legislation aligns with several resolutions passed during the conference, it still contains significant loopholes that need to be addressed.

One specific concern raised by Carrique is the inability of police to obtain search warrants for Canada Post packages weighing less than 500 grams. He highlighted the potential dangers of this limitation, stating, "A judge cannot even issue a search warrant for a package of that size that may contain enough fentanyl to kill a number of people."

Carrique also reiterated the need for bail reform, noting that the federal government has promised a crime bill this fall that will introduce tougher bail sentencing provisions. He described these changes as critical for enhancing public safety.

Victoria Police Chief Del Manak echoed Carrique's sentiments, emphasizing the necessity for stricter release conditions. He shared insights from a recent operation in which police made 16 arrests in the downtown area, but noted that many individuals were re-arrested shortly after being released. "What we’re really asking for here is the criminal justice system to be strengthened," Manak said. "There must be consequences and a deterrence for those that are carrying out criminal activity every single day."

Despite acknowledging a downward trend in crime rates, as indicated by a 4.1 percent drop in the Crime Severity Index for 2024, Carrique stressed the importance of addressing public perception of crime. He stated, "It doesn’t do us any good as police leaders in building trust, and confidence, or legitimacy, when we simply cite statistics to say, ‘property crimes are down five percent, or the homicide rate dropped ten percent,’ because there are still people being victimized."