Organized crime task force gets $400K boost

Manitoba's organized crime task force received a cash infusion Wednesday, when the provincial government announced it will double its funding for the force to $800,000 next year from $400,000 this year.

Justice Minister Dave Chomiak did not provide specifics about how the money will be spent, but did say one way to fight organized crime is by out-organizing the criminals. "The most effective response to organized crime is organized justice," he said in a release. "Organized crime in 2006 is much different than it was even 10 years ago," Winnipeg Police Service Supt. Gord Schumacher told the news conference where the funding was announced. "Many of the groups are sophisticated, strategic and take advantage of the most modern of technologies that are available. We have to do the same and them some."

Manitoba RCMP's commanding officer, Assistant Commissioner Darrell Madill, said the money will not go toward hiring more investigators, but will be spent on funding operational costs, such as more complex undercover investigations. "I don't need to tell you about the insidious nature of organized crime in Manitoba. There is not a community in this province that's not impacted by organized crime and their influences," Madill said. "The money that's provided today will be a concrete demonstration by the province of Manitoba in working with our front-line investigators to double their efforts and concentrate on the disruption of organized crime groups and their influences."

The Integrated Organized Crime Task Force in Manitoba includes investigators from the RCMP, the Winnipeg police, the Brandon police and other municipal police agencies.

Chomiak said the government also plans to introduce legislation to strengthen the provincial witness protection program.

CBC 22 November 2006