Pubdate: Wed, 02 Feb 2005 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2005, The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Rheal Seguin Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture) PROVINCES WANT OTTAWA TO EASE SEIZURE OF PROPERTY Quebec -- The provinces are urging Ottawa to change the Criminal Code to make it easier for governments to seize the properties of criminals. The amendment would force criminals to prove to the courts that their properties were not derived from the profits of criminal activities. Quebec Justice Minister Jacques Dupuis has argued that the current law requires prosecutors to undertake "a lengthy and painstaking process," and that "our proposal would reverse the burden of proof." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek