PrairieFella
Army.ca Veteran
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Man is there ever some evil shit in Project 2025. Seems like they're speed running atm.
CAN-USA Tariff Strife (split from various pol threads)
- Thread starter Remius
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OldSolduer
Army.ca Relic
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IKnowNothing
Army.ca Veteran
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Am I the only one that reads that as as bit of a power struggle? Team Trump has one camp (that he seems to agree with) that are more in favour of playing rough, but there's another strong camp that isn't willing to have the American economy face the consequences of the fight?
@Cloud Cover , getting back to this sorry:
Nope.
Will it? Could CAF not provide certain capabilities such as surveillance assets as an electronic tripwire? I don’t think anyone is realistically envisioning soldiers on the border to deal with detentions.
Don’t think so. They’ll wedge cartels into existing definitions. The risk self-mitigates to an extent; odds of 83 offences against cartel members are super slim, and I doubt Sinaloa is going to be sending counsel up here to fight a listing.
A RICO like act would be huge and we should have one. It would present significant challenges to Charter proof it but I believe it could be done. It would take a few years to get something coherent and comprehensive assembled though.
Yeah potentially. We’re quite sensitive for mistreatment by foreign entities. We’re quite twitchy and extraditions and deportations to certain places, along with info sharing.
What’s needed here is DOJ International Assistance Group needs to be substantially beefed up so MLATs can go through in a timely manner. There’s a ton of solid criminal evidence we can really only get by MLAT and it takes effing forever. Cases will go to court halfassed rather than waiting for MLAT results. MLAT vs Jordan is a huge tension in our criminal justice system, and not one that will resolve in favour of the crown.
Unlikely to happen. Lots of Charter jurisprudence around cruel and unusual punishment. The criminal offences we have are adequate; we need more ability to investigate and get them to court in a timely manner.
Disagreed. Our legal wiretap regime is fine, and already Charter compliant. We mess with this to try to match up to the U.S., we probably break it. Conventional wiretaps are fading anyway with the shift to IP based communications; the barriers are more legal than technical. Crowns are more reticent to go for full blown Part VIs or intercept General warrants than the law allows for. They’ll insist on investigative necessity even for org crime or terrorism offences where they aren’t needed. The biggest challenge with intercept files, whether conventional wiretaps or on-device intercepts, is how extremely resource and disclosure intensive they are.
A comprehensive proceeds of crime and property along with a RICO statute would be a major improvement. We need to be careful though, not to slide into the rampant abuse of forfeiture we see in the U.S. our police funding models at least partly protect against that.
Nope.
Will it? Could CAF not provide certain capabilities such as surveillance assets as an electronic tripwire? I don’t think anyone is realistically envisioning soldiers on the border to deal with detentions.
Well Trump attacked Canadian sovereignty and has been trolling Canada for months. What sort of reaction were you expecting?
As for the bump in support for the outgoing leader and his performance, I suspect that anyone in that position would gain support. If PP was PM he’d also get kudos for standing up for the country. Doug Ford is all but guaranteed to win the election in Ontario because he took a hard stance. Even people that dislike him are conceding that.
If we keep going through this every 30 days and during CUSMA talks, I suspect polls will rise for whoever is in power as well.
Something something “Events dear boy, events.”
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There's a 3 kilometer line up of people anytime there's a job opening in the GTA.
Why don't we
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Which means they're both also true - all in the eye of the beholderBoth
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This is the sort of success stories we need to both promote but also unfortunately highlights some of the behind the scenes legal crimes that has the US so upset. It also speaks to some loopholes that are being exploited that I view as legislatively difficult but also necessary as it needs to be comprehensive and not just a knee jerk "modify a clause" type change.
Article courtesy of the Edmonton Journal:
Published Feb 02, 2025 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 3 minute read
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/alberta-bc-money-laundering-charges#comments-area
On Jan. 30, 2025, the RCMP's Edmonton-based federal financial crime team announced the arrest of a B.C. man allegedly involved in organized crime and money laundering.
On Thursday, the RCMP’s Edmonton-based federal financial crime team announced the arrest of a B.C. man allegedly involved in organized crime and money laundering.
Investigators claim Harry Seo, 30, of Burnaby, and six others laundered proceeds of crime “via online transactions of illicit cannabis” in both provinces between September 2018 and August 2020 to the tune of $47 million. They say the criminal organization used Alberta and B.C. numbered companies, which operated as unregistered money services businesses.
Seo is also alleged to have operated illicit “cannabis-related” businesses in Edmonton and Burnaby.
Stephen Scott, a former Mountie who spent almost two decades investigating money laundering and asset forfeiture, was struck by the size of the alleged operation.
“Certainly for Alberta, it’s probably one of the biggest they’ve ever had. I’ve never seen anything in the media that comes close to that.”
Based on what police have said publicly, Scott said it is a rare case based solely on money laundering — rather than money laundering paired with other offences like drug trafficking or fraud.
The entities also received “tens of millions” through e-transfer payments. Investigators used the emails attached to the transfers to identify eight people “who received a total of $47 million in proceeds of crime.”
Seo is accused of being paid by the criminal organization for laundering the dirty money and for concealing its origins from law enforcement, regulators and financial institutions. He was arrested by Vancouver police on Dec. 30 and charged with laundering proceeds of crime, commission of an offence for a criminal organization, failing to register a money services business and unauthorized possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling.
Seo is one of the last of the alleged conspirators to be charged. RCMP say five others have already been sentenced as far back as June, including four Edmonton residents.
None of the convicted Edmontonians were named by RCMP, but they include a 25-year-old sentenced to a 12-month conditional sentence and ordered to forfeit $155,000 deemed proceeds of crime; a 30-year-old handed a 12-month conditional sentence and ordered to forfeit $105,000; a 35-year-old given a nine-month conditional sentence, who forfeited $70,000 in dirty money; and a 26-year-old handed a 10-month CSO and ordered to surrender $85,000.
An unnamed Ontario resident allegedly involved in the scheme is set to face trial in Edmonton on Nov. 3. That person is charged with failing to register a money services business under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.
RCMP Insp. John Lamming called the probe a “substantial win” in Canada’s fight against money laundering, which he said undermines the “economic integrity of Canada’s financial institutions.”
Scott said he would be interested to see more details about the case, including whether any of the unregistered money services businesses operated in public with names the public would recognize.
He is also curious about how the scheme came to light and the role played by FINTRAC, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.
The case also stands out because of the criminal organization allegation against Seo, Scott said, adding “it’s not a charge that’s laid very often” in money laundering cases.
B.C. in recent years has been in the spotlight for the prevalence of money laundering — though one study suggested it might be even more widespread in Alberta.
A 2019 report from the B.C. government’s Expert Panel on Money Laundering in B.C. Real Estate estimated $7 billion was laundered through B.C.’s economy in 2018, raising the cost of buying a home and financing the province’s opioid crisis. The report estimated that more than $10 billion was laundered through the Alberta economy in 2015, a figure that was met with skepticism by Alberta’s ministry of justice.
Article courtesy of the Edmonton Journal:
Police lay charges in $47M Alberta-B.C. money laundering operation: 'One of the biggest'
Jonny WakefieldPublished Feb 02, 2025 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 3 minute read
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/alberta-bc-money-laundering-charges#comments-area
On Jan. 30, 2025, the RCMP's Edmonton-based federal financial crime team announced the arrest of a B.C. man allegedly involved in organized crime and money laundering.
Article content
A former police investigator says a recently uncovered money laundering scheme spanning B.C. and Alberta is among the largest he’s seen.On Thursday, the RCMP’s Edmonton-based federal financial crime team announced the arrest of a B.C. man allegedly involved in organized crime and money laundering.
Investigators claim Harry Seo, 30, of Burnaby, and six others laundered proceeds of crime “via online transactions of illicit cannabis” in both provinces between September 2018 and August 2020 to the tune of $47 million. They say the criminal organization used Alberta and B.C. numbered companies, which operated as unregistered money services businesses.
Seo is also alleged to have operated illicit “cannabis-related” businesses in Edmonton and Burnaby.
Stephen Scott, a former Mountie who spent almost two decades investigating money laundering and asset forfeiture, was struck by the size of the alleged operation.
“Certainly for Alberta, it’s probably one of the biggest they’ve ever had. I’ve never seen anything in the media that comes close to that.”
Based on what police have said publicly, Scott said it is a rare case based solely on money laundering — rather than money laundering paired with other offences like drug trafficking or fraud.
Dispensaries and e-transfers
Money service businesses are firms that transmit or convert money. The illegal money services businesses in this case received, transferred or converted dirty money through illicit cannabis sales “via a variety of online dispensaries,” police said.The entities also received “tens of millions” through e-transfer payments. Investigators used the emails attached to the transfers to identify eight people “who received a total of $47 million in proceeds of crime.”
Seo is accused of being paid by the criminal organization for laundering the dirty money and for concealing its origins from law enforcement, regulators and financial institutions. He was arrested by Vancouver police on Dec. 30 and charged with laundering proceeds of crime, commission of an offence for a criminal organization, failing to register a money services business and unauthorized possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling.
Seo is one of the last of the alleged conspirators to be charged. RCMP say five others have already been sentenced as far back as June, including four Edmonton residents.
None of the convicted Edmontonians were named by RCMP, but they include a 25-year-old sentenced to a 12-month conditional sentence and ordered to forfeit $155,000 deemed proceeds of crime; a 30-year-old handed a 12-month conditional sentence and ordered to forfeit $105,000; a 35-year-old given a nine-month conditional sentence, who forfeited $70,000 in dirty money; and a 26-year-old handed a 10-month CSO and ordered to surrender $85,000.
An unnamed Ontario resident allegedly involved in the scheme is set to face trial in Edmonton on Nov. 3. That person is charged with failing to register a money services business under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.
RCMP Insp. John Lamming called the probe a “substantial win” in Canada’s fight against money laundering, which he said undermines the “economic integrity of Canada’s financial institutions.”
Scott said he would be interested to see more details about the case, including whether any of the unregistered money services businesses operated in public with names the public would recognize.
He is also curious about how the scheme came to light and the role played by FINTRAC, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.
The case also stands out because of the criminal organization allegation against Seo, Scott said, adding “it’s not a charge that’s laid very often” in money laundering cases.
B.C. in recent years has been in the spotlight for the prevalence of money laundering — though one study suggested it might be even more widespread in Alberta.
A 2019 report from the B.C. government’s Expert Panel on Money Laundering in B.C. Real Estate estimated $7 billion was laundered through B.C.’s economy in 2018, raising the cost of buying a home and financing the province’s opioid crisis. The report estimated that more than $10 billion was laundered through the Alberta economy in 2015, a figure that was met with skepticism by Alberta’s ministry of justice.
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Great interview with the Governor of Kentucky - a democratic - on why tariffs against Canada is a bad idea. Note, he even calls out the BOTH Kentucky Senators, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, who are high ranking Republicans have said that tariffs on Canada are a bad idea. So, it seems, at least according to the Gov of Kentucky, a red state, that their 2 Senators are not in 'tariff Canada camp' of President Trump.
IKnowNothing
Army.ca Veteran
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I view DJT as an irredeemable conman that I wouldn't trust to give me last nights scores- but In this case I would actually lean to his version being more "true."Which means they're both also true - all in the eye of the beholder
It's a lowest common denominator explanation that misrepresents the details of the actual situation via simplification- de facto vice de jure kind of thing. American banks are not technically banned, but from their perspective our regulatory regime creates an untenable competitive environment, which has resulted in them having an insignificant and inexplicably small market share for a supposedly "free trade" environment- which is kind of potato-potahtoe from their side of the fence. I don't think knowledgeable person would argue the principle of the matter, that our regulatory regime does indeed stifle competition and restrict entry. We just don't care because we like it the way it is- it serves the interest of our people.
Someone on our side trying to refute the above and position our banking industry as open and competitive by framing 113 billion in cumulative assets as being in any way meaningful is counting on audience ignorance of the scale of the banking industry to deceptively invalidate the US concerns and avoid discussing the crux of the issue- that certain of our national interests definitely do fly in the face of free trade, and that if the US pushes we may be forced to choose.
We gain nothing by meeting his lies with lies to ourselves, or by burying our heads in the sand about the nature of their grievances.
KevinB
Army.ca Relic
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Canadians need to understand that your sovereignty is solely guarded by the US Military. Rusted out Frigates, less than. handful of inoperable submarines, an inconsequential number of old MPA's, and half of the original number of ancient CF-18's is a credible force.
Doug Ford is your version of Trump he says and does things for reactions. Not sure that's a solid model to emulate
The key to dealing with Trump isn't necessarily what he says in public (also to heed that he refuses to lose a public argument - so it's often better to ignore the bluster to let him save face ) and see what he actually wants
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Sadly a large percentage of Canadians view what happened yesterday as a victory and a pathway to not do very much else.
I'm concerned about what he is going to ask for next, and then 30 days after that. At what point do we simply say not and accept the tariffs.
That’s a real concern. Though as I mentioned ruined yesterday, the legality of these tariffs is entirely tied to a declaration of an emergency at the border. If he moves the goalposts he’ll telegraph it with a new pretext.
QV
Army.ca Veteran
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Very real possibility he moves ahead with deal making designed to absorb all or parts of Canada into the Union.
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Maybe someone here with more knowledge on this subject can shed some more light on this.
A few years back a person that I know who works in Real Estate in the GTA once told that that an immigrant from China can only legally bring with them 30k USD when they leave China to immigrant elsewhere. When I asked them how it was possible for them to come here (or the US) and buy a house in the GTA with that little money. They kind of laughed and said, why they smuggle it in of course, either through a shell company or gold or bank wires.
Anyone here know if the 30k USD amount when leaving China is correct?
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TARIFFS ARE LEGITIMATE!
So, this morning I heard on the radio, the Premier of Newfoundland averring that Free Trade across Canada, ditching inter-provincial trade barriers, both tariffs and non-tariff barriers, would be difficult.
Short form: Tariffs have utility.
....
A couple of days ago I referenced an article where the author asked if Trump was seeking Revenge or Revenue.
I suggest we might as well as if local police departments and city halls are using traffic fines, and bylaws generally, for Revenge or Revenue.
...
To my mind a tariff is nothing more than a control, a lever to affect behaviour. Just like fines control the behaviour of drivers and protect the kids and pedestrians in a city so tariffs control the behaviour of traders and protect the citizens of countries.
The tariff can control the rate at which goods and services enter the country, the impact those goods and services have on costs, jobs and incomes and loss of wealth to foreigners.
Tariffs are held to be legitimate in every trade agreement on the planet, including free trade agreements. Every FTA, and every nation, has its schedule of tariffs. That goes for Canada, the EU and Japan.
The big question is whether or not the discretionary power to levy tariffs should be held at the political level, the executive level or in courts, and if in courts whose courts when and where.
I am inclined to keep the power in the hands of people that I can vote out of power every 2 to 5 years.
....
Yes there are costs of tariffs, like there are costs of every other control mechanism. But there are costs associated with uncontrolled actions.
Even Adam Smith saw value in tariffs.
financialpost.com
....
Soap boxes are free. The employ the free energy supplied by gravity and the driver uses that energy and a steering wheel to guide that cart safely down the course. However even soap box carts have brakes.
...
As to why the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador might be reluctant to foreswear the advantages of inter-provincial trade controls, Churchill Falls comes to mind. Quebec might be able to offer an opinion.
...
Trump appears to be using tariffs to control behaviour. And, possibly, collect a bit of revenue that could advantage his citizens.
So, this morning I heard on the radio, the Premier of Newfoundland averring that Free Trade across Canada, ditching inter-provincial trade barriers, both tariffs and non-tariff barriers, would be difficult.
Short form: Tariffs have utility.
....
A couple of days ago I referenced an article where the author asked if Trump was seeking Revenge or Revenue.
I suggest we might as well as if local police departments and city halls are using traffic fines, and bylaws generally, for Revenge or Revenue.
...
To my mind a tariff is nothing more than a control, a lever to affect behaviour. Just like fines control the behaviour of drivers and protect the kids and pedestrians in a city so tariffs control the behaviour of traders and protect the citizens of countries.
The tariff can control the rate at which goods and services enter the country, the impact those goods and services have on costs, jobs and incomes and loss of wealth to foreigners.
Tariffs are held to be legitimate in every trade agreement on the planet, including free trade agreements. Every FTA, and every nation, has its schedule of tariffs. That goes for Canada, the EU and Japan.
The big question is whether or not the discretionary power to levy tariffs should be held at the political level, the executive level or in courts, and if in courts whose courts when and where.
I am inclined to keep the power in the hands of people that I can vote out of power every 2 to 5 years.
....
Yes there are costs of tariffs, like there are costs of every other control mechanism. But there are costs associated with uncontrolled actions.
Even Adam Smith saw value in tariffs.
Lawrence Solomon: Trump’s tariff war has one surprisingly strong supporter: Adam Smith
No political leader anywhere in the world is truer to Adam Smith’s prescriptions for free trade than Donald Trump
financialpost.com
....
Soap boxes are free. The employ the free energy supplied by gravity and the driver uses that energy and a steering wheel to guide that cart safely down the course. However even soap box carts have brakes.
...
As to why the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador might be reluctant to foreswear the advantages of inter-provincial trade controls, Churchill Falls comes to mind. Quebec might be able to offer an opinion.
...
Trump appears to be using tariffs to control behaviour. And, possibly, collect a bit of revenue that could advantage his citizens.
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Pros and Cons
www.telegraph.co.uk
www.telegraph.co.uk
www.telegraph.co.uk
www.telegraph.co.uk
www.telegraph.co.uk
Britain could learn from Trump’s tariff playbook
As the President has figured out, when you run large and persistent trade deficits you also have leverage
www.telegraph.co.uk
Don’t be fooled: Trump’s trade war victories are not what they seem
The US president cares most about the optics of the deal – Mexico and Canada have satisfied him with only minor concessions
www.telegraph.co.uk
Donald Trump has capitulated to Canada – for now
The US president risks overplaying his hand with threats toward America’s northern neighbour
www.telegraph.co.uk
Trump’s trade war exposes German carmakers to a ‘full-on storm’
Already suffering from a geopolitical crisis, major brands risk buckling under the strain of tariffs
www.telegraph.co.uk
Britain beware – Trump’s trade war will choke growth across Europe
Sir Keir Starmer must decide whether it’s worth cosying up to Brussels amid the looming threat of tariffs
www.telegraph.co.uk
quadrapiper
Army.ca Veteran
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Which seems a sort of bleed that "we" should ensure continues.
