Cabinet under a private bill introduced yesterday would gain new powers to blacklist criminal gangs similar to terrorists. Current law enforcement is ineffective, said the Bloc Québécois sponsor of the bill.

“The government’s strategy to combat organized crime is clearly inadequate,” said Bloc MP Rhéal Fortin (Riviere-du-Nord, Que.), sponsor of the bill. “We propose to allow law enforcement agencies to freeze or seize gang members’ assets if they are unable to prove they are were not acquired through crime.”

“Will the government support us?” MP Fortin asked in Question Period. “We are always open to supporting good ideas,” replied Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

Bill C-420 An Act To Amend The Criminal Code would allow the Department of Public Safety to publish a blacklist of “criminal organizations.