Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to Depictions Media Radio. Welcome to
Speaker 1: Policy and Rights the show up Gosh, welcomer Policy Human Joy,
Speaker 1: Welcome back to policy and rates here Depictions Media rad
Speaker 1: I'm your host, Michael Cloggs. And well let's see uh
Speaker 1: the Tim Hodges. They met with European Commissioners for Energy
Speaker 1: and Housing in Paris, where they were at a European
Speaker 1: Union Energy and Security conference. Minister Hodges reaffirmed the Canada's
Speaker 1: enduring a commitment to Transatlantic stability and Arctic operation. The
Speaker 1: Minister and the and the Commissioner discussed further UH cooperation
Speaker 1: on a multi lateral critical minerals mechanisms, including Critical Mineral
Speaker 1: Production Alliance and Critical Mineral Action Plan, and building the
Speaker 1: direction provided in the EU Canada Strategic Partnership of the
Speaker 1: Future launched in June twenty twenty five. The Minister and
Speaker 1: the Commissioner discussed the EU instruments that could facilitate and
Speaker 1: enhance Canada EU trade and investment, including the EU's aggregate
Speaker 1: aggregate liquefied natural gas purchasing mechanism. So while we're talking
Speaker 1: about foreign affairs and and we had talked about in
Speaker 1: a previous episode, about foreign interference from from other countries
Speaker 1: into the lives of of business owners in Canada. That
Speaker 1: there was a discussion yesterday by Minister Champagne as they
Speaker 1: discussed the high levels of extortion you know in British Columbia.
Speaker 1: This actually is is a very hot button item that
Speaker 1: there is a lot of extortion happening from UH countries
Speaker 1: such as they have been named, such as China and
Speaker 1: also India and the the extortion.
Speaker 2: U.
Speaker 1: Minister Champagne talked about things they could actually help prevent
Speaker 1: these extortions from happening, and they could help business owners
Speaker 1: run their businesses efficiently and freely from interference from individuals
Speaker 1: outside of Canada. And we have some some of those
Speaker 1: things that we're talked about that that actually are going
Speaker 1: to help. Key measures to include prioritizing financial intelligence and
Speaker 1: resources to tackle extortion, will surge resources to combat extortion.
Speaker 1: This will enable law enforcement to receive a more timely
Speaker 1: and relevant financial intelligence to identify criminal networks and support investigations.
Speaker 1: Launching countering extortion partnerships with financial inciitutions, government and law enforcement.
Speaker 1: Of course, leading back to the first one we talked
Speaker 1: about as signing financial intelligence experts to support police and
Speaker 1: providing financial institutions with clear guidance to how to detect
Speaker 1: extortion transactions, and then publishing intelligence on how criminals move
Speaker 1: and hide extortion money. Will be published in Strategic Intelligence
Speaker 1: detailing how criminals launder extortion proceeds, including indicators and typographies
Speaker 1: that aid to detection. Mission Champagne made this quote, Extortion
Speaker 1: is a serious crime that harms Canadians, businesses and communities.
Speaker 1: Our government is strengthening financial intelligence and working closely with
Speaker 1: law enforcement and financial institutions to better detect and disrupt extortion,
Speaker 1: support investigations and help protect Canadians. So it would seem
Speaker 1: that on one front at least, that the Canadian government
Speaker 1: is actually taking extortion extremely seriously and trying to put
Speaker 1: it into it. Meanwhile, in places like Surrey, BC, where
Speaker 1: we're actually recording this podcast from, that the sorry police
Speaker 1: force is and and and the mayor are asking for
Speaker 1: more federal help to help detect the criminals that are
Speaker 1: they are perpetrating these extortions and trying to shut things
Speaker 1: down so that they can better protect the citizens and
Speaker 1: residents of British Columbia, as especially those who who are
Speaker 1: being affected by this in Surrey, BC, there also have
Speaker 1: been a series of gang shootings and things to help
Speaker 1: push business owners in the direction that the extorters want
Speaker 1: them to go. There are a number of different ways
Speaker 1: that that some of these extortion people have have used
Speaker 1: to coerce business owners into doing what they want them
Speaker 1: to do. So and we also have today UH trade
Speaker 1: agreements from with with Mexico and the discussions and everything
Speaker 1: that are going along with increasing trade with Mexico while
Speaker 1: at the same time eliminating the United States from that
Speaker 1: same exact table. As as we know that that Donald
Speaker 1: Trump has imposed pretty steep tariffs onto Mexico. But Mexico
Speaker 1: does have a strong economy and is weathering the the
Speaker 1: Trump storm and looking for for global trade partners to
Speaker 1: promote the products that that that Mexico has to offer, which,
Speaker 1: believe it or not, h on the mining front, especially
Speaker 1: and with minerals that we talked about earlier with the
Speaker 1: European Union Union that Mexico is pretty strong in copper
Speaker 1: and iron UH for the mining industry, just for small examples.
Speaker 1: So Canada reaching out to the to to Mexico as
Speaker 1: trade partners is a wise move for both countries, especially
Speaker 1: in this time when Donald Trump is trying to oppose
Speaker 1: tariffs under his Make America Great Again campaign, So why
Speaker 1: don't we get started and we will hear from Tim
Speaker 1: Hodgens as he is in Europe, and we'll probably end
Speaker 1: up with Minister Champagnes as he talks about the effects
Speaker 1: extortion is having on Canadian businesses.
Speaker 3: Good afternoon everyone, Poja atus and I'm sorry for interrupting
Speaker 3: the hockey game. Hopefully we will all get back to
Speaker 3: cheering for a team Canada.
Speaker 2: I'm joining you from Paris.
Speaker 3: This evening, where I just led the delegation that represented
Speaker 3: Canada at the twenty twenty six International Energy Agency Ministerial.
Speaker 3: We had the pleasure of being in Warsaw, Poland, earlier
Speaker 3: this week to explore opportunities to strengthen energy cooperation, particularly
Speaker 3: on nuclear power, between Canada and Poland. As many of
Speaker 3: you have seen over the past few months, the Prime Minister,
Speaker 3: myself and my Ministerial colleague have been deeply focused on
Speaker 3: strengthening trading relationships and expanding exports with our allies abroad.
Speaker 3: During the Prime Minister's speech in Dallas, he said aloud
Speaker 3: what many of our allies have all been thinking we
Speaker 3: are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition,
Speaker 3: and while nostalgia is not a strategy our allies see,
Speaker 3: Canada does have one. In fact that Davos, the Prime Minister,
Speaker 3: laid out a clear path forward for middle powers like Canada.
Speaker 3: We are positioning a path where we engage with the
Speaker 3: world as it is, not as we wish it to be,
Speaker 3: where we diversify experts experts and strengthen multilateralism so that
Speaker 3: we are never reliant on a single partner again, and
Speaker 3: where we build major energy and mining infrastructure projects at
Speaker 3: home so we can be our own best customer and
Speaker 3: a reliable supplier to our allies around the world, including Poland, France,
Speaker 3: in our partners in the G seven and the IEA.
Speaker 2: We were in Poland this week to do just that.
Speaker 3: Canada and Poland share a strong bilateral relationship formalized in
Speaker 3: the Canada Poland Strategic Partnership Joint Statement of August twenty fifth.
Speaker 3: Of August twenty twenty five, signed by Prime Minister Carnie
Speaker 3: and Prime Minister Tusk. In that joint statement, one of
Speaker 3: the specific comments was to strengthen cooperation on nuclear energy
Speaker 3: as part of their energy transition and goal to enhance
Speaker 3: energy security. Poland is in the process of exploring ways
Speaker 3: to reduce its reliance on coal. They are striving for
Speaker 3: an ambitious target of six to nine gigawatts of installed
Speaker 3: large nuclear capacity by twenty forty, including building a second
Speaker 3: large scale nuclear reactor. That is where Canada's nuclear expertise
Speaker 3: comes into play. As a Tier one nuclear nation, we
Speaker 3: have decades of expertise and a world class supply chain
Speaker 3: which is already supporting nuclear energy in Poland, helping us
Speaker 3: to build the first reactors as we speak. We would
Speaker 3: like to see that supply chain and the tens of
Speaker 3: thousands of Canadian workers it supports gain even more opportunities
Speaker 3: through new partnerships with Poland. Of course, while Canada helps
Speaker 3: build different types of nuclear actors, we are specifically in
Speaker 3: Poland to discuss can do our homegrown large scale reactor technology.
Speaker 3: Canada has deployed twenty six CAND reactors around the world,
Speaker 3: including fairly close by in Romania.
Speaker 2: These reactors have.
Speaker 3: Delivered secure, low carbon electricity to our partners, avoiding thirty
Speaker 3: million tons of pollution annually. CAND technology offers our allies
Speaker 3: enhanced energy security. Our reactors run on natural uranium, moving
Speaker 3: the need removing the need for third country enrichment services
Speaker 3: such as from Russia. This is relevant to the energy
Speaker 3: security of countries like both. Of course, Canada can also
Speaker 3: provide Poland with the world's highest quality uranium resources from
Speaker 3: Canadian companies like Chemico. Canadian Energy has also an extraordinary
Speaker 3: record of maintaining our candy technology, with our past eight
Speaker 3: domestic candy refurbishment projects being completed on time and on budget. Finally,
Speaker 3: candy reactors also helped create localized supply chains and economic
Speaker 3: opportunities in the countries in which they are built. For example,
Speaker 3: candy reactors in Romania have created over nineteen thousand local
Speaker 3: jobs for Romanians. While in Warsaw, I had a productive
Speaker 3: meeting with my counterpart, Minister Moyitka, along with mister Vrakna,
Speaker 3: Minister Belzan and Minister Zurdler, I also met with Polish
Speaker 3: energy companies.
Speaker 2: Include pc PGE and Orland.
Speaker 3: In these meetings we discussed nuclear energy as well as
Speaker 3: opportunities in renewable energy, offshore wind, onshore wind, lerg energy
Speaker 3: storage and grid modernization. Moving to our delegation's time in
Speaker 3: the IE, we spent the last two days in Paris,
Speaker 3: Laser focused on Canada's commitment to building a secured, diversified
Speaker 3: and resilient global energy system. It was the oil embargo
Speaker 3: and economic turmoil it created in the world's major economies
Speaker 3: in the nineteen seventies that led to the creation of
Speaker 3: the IEA. In this new era of disruption, institutions like
Speaker 3: the IEA matter more than ever. As the IA, like
Speaker 3: in Davos, Canada's abundant resources and political leadership were noticed
Speaker 3: by our allies and prospective trading partners around the world.
Speaker 3: Our allies are looking to US as a reliable supplier
Speaker 3: of low carbon fuels, nuclear technology, and critical minerals. These
Speaker 3: perspective trading partners are interested in making investments in Canada
Speaker 3: to create these opportunities. They see our commitment to democracy,
Speaker 3: sustainability and multilateralism and they want to work with us
Speaker 3: and learn from us. At the IA at a productive
Speaker 3: meeting with a number of private sector companies with interests
Speaker 3: in Canada, as well as meetings with our international counterparts
Speaker 3: from New Zealand, Norway, Turkey, France, the United States, and
Speaker 3: the EU. I also met with my Ukrainian counterpart, First
Speaker 3: Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Denish Mahal Canada
Speaker 3: signed an MoU on energy cooperation which addressed Ukraine's wartime
Speaker 3: energy needs and will benefit both countries in the long
Speaker 3: term by reinforcing energy infrastructure resilience in cyber and physical attacks,
Speaker 3: and promoting expertise sharing in the deployment of microgrids in
Speaker 3: rural areas. I also met with my British counterpart, Secretary
Speaker 3: ed Milliban, to follow up on my trip to London
Speaker 3: this past fall. We are pleased to announce that, coming
Speaker 3: out of the discussions during that trip that have now
Speaker 3: turned into action, the Government of Canada is investing fifteen
Speaker 3: million dollars to support Connetrics collaboration with the UK atomic
Speaker 3: energy authorities Tritium Facility. Connetrics, a Canadian company headquartered in Toronto,
Speaker 3: is at the forefront of emerging fusion supply chain.
Speaker 2: Supply chains.
Speaker 3: Working with experts in the UK, they will advance Canadian
Speaker 3: and British research into fusion and create opportunities for Canadian
Speaker 3: businesses and workers. Finally, tomorrow, we will be hosting the
Speaker 3: Canadian Critical Minerals Forum in Paris, which will bring together investors,
Speaker 3: industry and government leaders with Canadian critical mineral opportunities, including
Speaker 3: shovel ready projects for lithium, nickel, graphite, rar earths, scandium, titanium, and.
Speaker 2: Other battery materials.
Speaker 3: As I reflect on my time in Europe this week,
Speaker 3: it is clear Canada has what the world needs. Our
Speaker 3: allies want our reliable, low carbon, low cost products. We
Speaker 3: are building the infrastructure to make that possible at home,
Speaker 3: and the trade links to get our exports to allies,
Speaker 3: so we become a more secure, more sovereign, and stronger Canada.
Speaker 3: Thank you, Mercy, and I look forward to your questions.
Speaker 4: Minisir will now begin taking questions. Does that ripon? That's
Speaker 4: so if I'll start with ayadfour, you can meet your microphone.
Speaker 5: Who can you hear me?
Speaker 2: Yes?
Speaker 6: I can.
Speaker 7: Thank you Minister Hodgson for taking our question. This is
Speaker 7: Iodophore with eye politics. There's a recent report that came
Speaker 7: out saying offshore power in the Maritimes it's an abundant resource.
Speaker 7: There's hundreds of gigawatts of potential generation there, but economics
Speaker 7: and infrastructure constraints could mean that only a fraction of
Speaker 7: that potential is eventually realized. What do you make of
Speaker 7: that report?
Speaker 3: I haven't seen that report, but what I know is
Speaker 3: Nova Scotia right now has a process in place solicit
Speaker 3: opportunities for fifty five gigawatts of wind. That would be
Speaker 3: a huge resource to develop, and we're in active discussions
Speaker 3: with Nova Scotia about.
Speaker 2: How we facilitate the development of that project.
Speaker 7: Okay, and then for my follow up question, when can
Speaker 7: we expect more referrals to the Major Project's office and
Speaker 7: what would that announcement look like.
Speaker 3: As I've said many times, I learned a long time
Speaker 3: ago not to get ahead of my boss. The Prime
Speaker 3: Minister will decide when the when the next set of
Speaker 3: projects get announced from the Major Project's Office. But I
Speaker 3: as you've seen in the past, there's been a sort
Speaker 3: of a regular cadence of that and I would expect
Speaker 3: to see that that cadence continue.
Speaker 4: Thank you Aya. Next we'll move to Michael Blanchfield, and Michael,
Speaker 4: I see that you're unmutable. We can hear you, so
Speaker 4: we'll just move to the next one. We'll put you
Speaker 4: on mute now and let you sort that out and
Speaker 4: let's go back to you after. So we'll go to
Speaker 4: Ryan Tumility next with the starf.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 6: Hi, Minister.
Speaker 8: Talked a little bit about promoting can do over in Poland.
Speaker 8: I'm wondering if the government, because there are Canadian utilities
Speaker 8: who are considering it, if the government is going to
Speaker 8: incentivize Canadian utilities to use can do over other countries options.
Speaker 3: It's up for proponents to choose the technology they want
Speaker 3: to use in Canada. There are several proponents that are
Speaker 3: at early stages of talking about that they will make
Speaker 3: the technology choice, not the government of Canada.
Speaker 8: And we're just over a month away from the deadlines,
Speaker 8: or from several of the deadlines that are in the
Speaker 8: MoU with Alberta. You know, we've seen Premier Smith make
Speaker 8: some comments that she thinks maybe some of these targets
Speaker 8: are a bit too aggressive or to restrictive. I'm just
Speaker 8: wondering how you feel those negotiations are going and if
Speaker 8: you think that April first deadline will be met.
Speaker 3: As I said at my remarks in Calgary late last week,
Speaker 3: which is the last time I was in Canada, from
Speaker 3: everything I see, both the federal government and the Alerta
Speaker 3: government are fully committed to the process of executing the
Speaker 3: MoU against the timeline. Both parties are working in good
Speaker 3: faith to get there.
Speaker 2: As we all know.
Speaker 3: In doing deals, sometimes deals come right up to the deadline.
Speaker 2: Sometimes they go a little bit over the deadline.
Speaker 3: It's all about the good faith efforts of the two
Speaker 3: parties to get.
Speaker 2: To get to a good conclusion.
Speaker 3: And from everything I see, we have two good faith
Speaker 3: parties in the case of Alberta and the federal governman,
Speaker 3: and we've had active, active dialogues with the other stakeholders
Speaker 3: around the MoU.
Speaker 4: Thanks Ryan, We'll go to max Paris next. We'll have
Speaker 4: time for one more for that.
Speaker 9: Hi, minister, can you hear me as I can? Hey,
Speaker 9: how are you doing?
Speaker 2: Listen?
Speaker 9: Yesterday Minister McKinnon and said your government expects a pipeline
Speaker 9: proposal for consideration to the MPO by this summer. Does
Speaker 9: that mean there's a proponent, that someone has been that
Speaker 9: a company has been chosen to build a pipeline to
Speaker 9: the coast of BC.
Speaker 3: Well, I've been in Europe, so I didn't see what
Speaker 3: mister McKinnon said. But what Alberta has said is they
Speaker 3: planned to be the proponent and they plan to put
Speaker 3: forward a pipeline proposal by the summer. So that's that's
Speaker 3: what I suspect Minister McKinnon was referring to, but I
Speaker 3: didn't I've been out of the country.
Speaker 2: I didn't see what he said exactly.
Speaker 10: Okay.
Speaker 9: The other thing I guess I want to ask about
Speaker 9: is it has to do with the with the can
Speaker 9: Do reactors. Who are our main competitors to sell to
Speaker 9: sell nuclear reactors to the polls and how are you
Speaker 9: dealing with them? I guess I'm not quite sure how
Speaker 9: to put it, but like, how what kind of strategy
Speaker 9: do you have to deal with their sales pitch?
Speaker 3: So, uh, you know, we're not making the sales pitch.
Speaker 3: The can Do Consortium is making the sales pitch. They
Speaker 3: would be leading the sales effort, and uh, they would
Speaker 3: be designing the sales pitch against any competing companies. What
Speaker 3: Canada does is supports their technologies and we are there
Speaker 3: to make clear that we stand beside our providers of
Speaker 3: nuclear technology and where there is financing for Canadian Canadian
Speaker 3: content in those in those projects, we will we will
Speaker 3: support the companies through using things like Export Development Corp
Speaker 3: and other other tools that we have to make the
Speaker 3: providers of Canadian providers of nuclear technologies proposals attractive.
Speaker 4: Thanks for your question.
Speaker 6: Let's try.
Speaker 4: Let's go back to Mike Clinchfield.
Speaker 2: Minister, can you hear me?
Speaker 11: Yes, I can great a Minister, I just want to
Speaker 11: ask you about the IA Chair of summary that came
Speaker 11: out our colleagues in Paris report that the climate change
Speaker 11: was not listed on the agency's priorities.
Speaker 2: Just wondering what you think about that.
Speaker 11: And what implications that has for net zero and what
Speaker 11: the government's position was during the talks, which were apparently
Speaker 11: quite quite intense.
Speaker 3: I think there was a little bit of hyperbole in
Speaker 3: your colleague's headline.
Speaker 2: I'll quote from the actual press release.
Speaker 3: A large majority of ministers stressed the importance of energy
Speaker 3: transition to combat climate change and highlight the global transition
Speaker 3: to net zero. So I quite frankly think your colleague's
Speaker 3: headline is a little bit misleading.
Speaker 11: Do you think we'll be seeing a national electricity strategy
Speaker 11: anytime soon?
Speaker 3: The Prime Minister is indicated the national we should expect
Speaker 3: that in the next few weeks, and so I would
Speaker 3: expect to see that relatively soon.
Speaker 4: Okay, thanks for questioning. I think we have time for
Speaker 4: one more, so we'll go to ashak Duta with smp
Speaker 4: lebe asham you.
Speaker 12: Sorry, minister, can you hear me now?
Speaker 13: I can't.
Speaker 2: It's good good to you, Thank.
Speaker 12: You for taking my question. I had had a quick one, Minister.
Speaker 12: On your trip to Europe, are you picking up any
Speaker 12: buzz about interest for Canadian LNG please?
Speaker 2: I would say everywhere we go, I hear.
Speaker 3: That countries understand that LNG is an important transition fuel
Speaker 3: to getting to net zero. I also hear everywhere I
Speaker 3: go that because of the significant in electricity demand because
Speaker 3: of electrification, and also because of the wave of AI
Speaker 3: data centers being developed, that they need that transition fuel,
Speaker 3: they need more of it, and they need it for
Speaker 3: longer than they.
Speaker 2: Had thought in the past.
Speaker 3: What I hear in Europe specifically is Europeans felt like
Speaker 3: they were far over exposed to a hedgemon called Russia,
Speaker 3: that energy from Russia was weaponized against them, and they
Speaker 3: are very keen to make sure they do not fall
Speaker 3: into a situation where they have dependence on any one
Speaker 3: supplier again. And so when they look at their options,
Speaker 3: they see Canada as a highly attractive supplier, a supplier
Speaker 3: that is reliable, a supplier of it, believes in free trade,
Speaker 3: supplier that produces the lowest carbon intensity leg in the world,
Speaker 3: and if they have an opportunity to buy from US,
Speaker 3: they are keen to take that. So consistent with my
Speaker 3: trips to the UK, my trips to Germany, my colleagues
Speaker 3: trips around Europe, my trip to Poland, my trip here,
Speaker 3: everyone is interested in in our energy.
Speaker 4: Thank you very much, Thank you, thank you very much.
Speaker 4: That's where a lot of time, so I just want
Speaker 4: to remind the folks. If you have any more questions
Speaker 4: or fall us, please feel free to reach out to
Speaker 4: meet relations or to the Minister's Press secretary. This concludes
Speaker 4: the event.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Thank you. Go to Canada.
Speaker 14: So mercibokul mia, premide, tulmond, mercid permu. I'm speaking to
Speaker 14: you today from Montday, Mexico, following three days in Mexico
Speaker 14: City with one of the largest Team Canada trade missions
Speaker 14: in Canadian history. I had the privilege of leading a
Speaker 14: delegation of more than two hundred and forty business organizations
Speaker 14: and over three hundred and seventy business delegates from across Canada.
Speaker 14: Their objective was to strengthen economic ties, diversify trade, and
Speaker 14: advanced prosperity in Canada and in North America. In Mexico City,
Speaker 14: my colleagues and I met with President Shinbaum and several
Speaker 14: members of her cabinet, where we reviewed progress under the
Speaker 14: Canada Mexico Action Plan struck by the Prime Minister and
Speaker 14: President Shinbaum. During our visit to Mexico last September, we
Speaker 14: also met with Mexico's Commerce Secretary Marcelo Ebrard to discuss
Speaker 14: the joint review of Kuzma or Temec as it's known
Speaker 14: here in Mexico. Our Mexican counterparts have been the most
Speaker 14: gracious of hosts and we want to thank them for
Speaker 14: their support throughout this big trade mission. And as Mexico
Speaker 14: nusavon tremission COMMERCIALI c Hu SUI at the premideer Monterey Cica, Guadaajara,
Speaker 14: who's a true vactul mar may colegg Le, Minister Agriculture,
Speaker 14: Heath McDonald, Pala Motel, David Miles Lisita, the Nuevo Leona Jalisco,
Speaker 14: who's a situ respective Ma Monterrey a Guadalajara. So there's
Speaker 14: zippisand the activity Manufacturier Eplusier Sichiux company Canadian compart example
Speaker 14: Magna p r P, McCain Foods, Quissan Solid Ma itably
Speaker 14: Los presence on Salt, Mexican tem wine, la natier anti great.
Speaker 14: There's Econemi, Benifiski de cour de libre change nor American
Speaker 14: teampul the Canada carepol Le mexic As Canada looks to
Speaker 14: double its non US exports over the next decade, we
Speaker 14: intend to deepen our economic and people to people ties
Speaker 14: with Mexico. On that score, this Team Canada Trade Mission
Speaker 14: has sent a strong message about Canada and Canadian businesses
Speaker 14: commitment to establishing an ongoing and lasting presence here in Mexico.
Speaker 14: Thus far, national business associations and Canadian companies from Quebec,
Speaker 14: British Columbia, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador have signed fifteen
Speaker 14: commercial partnerships and deals. The hundreds of companies taking part
Speaker 14: in this trade mission, many of them small and medium
Speaker 14: sized businesses, are participating in nearly nineteen hundred business to
Speaker 14: business meetings with Mexican counterparts. Through these direct connections with
Speaker 14: prospective clients and partners, companies will get strong support from
Speaker 14: Canada's Trade Commissioner Service to get their products into Mexico's
Speaker 14: growing and dynamic market. The Canadian Business delegation will be
Speaker 14: continuing their program over the next couple of days and
Speaker 14: there's lots more that took place in Guadalajara. So for
Speaker 14: more on that, I'm happy to turn it over to
Speaker 14: my colleague, Our Agriculture and Agrifood Minister Heath MacDonald and
Speaker 14: then Parliamentary Secretary David Miles will speak about creative and
Speaker 14: cultural industries a Heath.
Speaker 10: Thanks Tominic. Real pleasure to be here obviously in Guadalajara.
Speaker 10: It's the weather is beautiful by the way, Dominic, but
Speaker 10: I'm not sure where you are, but I'm certainly appreciative
Speaker 10: of the people that we're meeting with here and they
Speaker 10: certainly appreciate the communication collaboration that we're seeing between our
Speaker 10: two countries as of late, and optimism is very high.
Speaker 10: Expanding our partnerships and building trade relationships in Mexico is
Speaker 10: a top priority obviously for our government and it will
Speaker 10: allow us to increase and diversify our exports to this region. Look,
Speaker 10: agriculture plays a major role in supporting jobs in the
Speaker 10: economy in both countries, and we have both benefit from
Speaker 10: highly integrated supply chains leading to efficient markets. We enjoy
Speaker 10: a complementary agri food trade relationship that brings both our
Speaker 10: economies value. Canada exports safe, high quality products such as
Speaker 10: grains and meats, while Mexico supplies Canadians with fresh fruits,
Speaker 10: vegetables and meat year round. Agriculture connects farmers' economies and
Speaker 10: our people. Agriculture is a fundamental to our economic prosperity, public.
Speaker 15: Health, and national sovereignty. It's extremely important that we.
Speaker 10: Do everything we can in the geopolitical times we find
Speaker 10: ourselves into diversify our trade. It's also not lost on
Speaker 10: us that the impediments that we see around the world
Speaker 10: because of those geopolitical issues are allowing us to have
Speaker 10: more of a vocal and active trade missions like the
Speaker 10: one we are on today, and it's extremely important. So
Speaker 10: I'll just leave it there for now and turn it
Speaker 10: over to David. But what I can say is the
Speaker 10: optimistic value that we're seeing with all the people that
Speaker 10: we're meeting here in Guadalajara and Mexico City in the
Speaker 10: last few days has been extremely important. From ministers to
Speaker 10: deputy ministers, to regulatory bodies and to producers, farmers, ranchers
Speaker 10: and processors.
Speaker 15: Thanks, thank you.
Speaker 13: Heath and it's a real pleasure to be here on
Speaker 13: behalf of Minister Miller. And it's been a great pleasure
Speaker 13: to be here with Minister Leblon, mister McDonald my first
Speaker 13: trade mission and it has been a tremendous success. It's
Speaker 13: been amazing to see and feel the hospitality in Mexico.
Speaker 13: I think we've all felt that. I think the businesses
Speaker 13: that are all down here have felt that in their
Speaker 13: meetings there's a very very positive energy uh and excited
Speaker 13: about the relationship building that relationship in the cultural sector.
Speaker 16: UH.
Speaker 13: That has been very easy to see in many business meetings.
Speaker 13: Uh deja on that fate he had.
Speaker 6: I had.
Speaker 13: Sint uh rendezvous a Mexico, Dona Villele Mexic A d
Speaker 13: don't come in sae anfl in Nome. But it's a
Speaker 13: it's amazing to watch the energy. Mexico is one of
Speaker 13: our most significant cultural trading partners, representing one point six
Speaker 13: billion dollars, our sixth most important partner, and it is
Speaker 13: growing year after year, particularly in the audio visual sector,
Speaker 13: in the interact of digital media sector, but also in
Speaker 13: the performing arts and so we have organizations and businesses
Speaker 13: here from all of those sectors and and you can
Speaker 13: tell that they are meeting with people who are interested
Speaker 13: in what they're doing, and they're properly matched. One of
Speaker 13: the big things with these trade missions that I've seen
Speaker 13: is that it's really important that the businesses that are
Speaker 13: there are matched up with receptive businesses on the other side.
Speaker 17: And uh that is very much the case.
Speaker 13: And uh it's been a real, a real joy. Obviously,
Speaker 13: I had the opportunity to speak with the Undersecretary, uh,
Speaker 13: doctor Nunez Bestvalova. We were able to speak in depth
Speaker 13: with a number of policy uh you know, concerns that
Speaker 13: we shared. And also I was able to have the
Speaker 13: great pleasure of meeting with these two gentlemen yesterday with
Speaker 13: the President of Mexico, President Sean Mama. It was a
Speaker 13: real thrill to be able to speak at that table
Speaker 13: and talk about culture. Aim he fond the de llang
Speaker 13: de Pelson, Come come comlqutu AC vict you on Mexic
Speaker 13: and it's been a wonderful reception.
Speaker 17: Okay, we will move over to questions now. Once again,
Speaker 17: if you have a question, please use the raised hand function.
Speaker 17: Everybody will have one question and one follow. We will
Speaker 17: start with Kelly Malone from the Canadian press.
Speaker 15: Yeah, I can't hear the question.
Speaker 17: Yeah, it's not allowing me to unmute. Oh I think
Speaker 17: now it's good. Yeah, here, good Kelly, go ahead.
Speaker 15: Those are famous COVID words. I think you're on mute.
Speaker 15: So Mexico is still negotiating with the United States.
Speaker 17: Does that put Canada at a disadvantage for the Kuzma review?
Speaker 10: And what are your counterparts telling you about what to
Speaker 10: expect there in Mexico.
Speaker 14: Mexico is talking to the United States about a whole
Speaker 14: series of bilateral issues and preparing for the Kuzma review,
Speaker 14: as is Canada. So there's no surprise and no concern
Speaker 14: that we have there. I am reassured by the Mexican
Speaker 14: Economy Secretary, who would be my counterpart in those conversations
Speaker 14: with the American administration, his desire to work with Canada
Speaker 14: and to ensure that the review of Kuzma results in
Speaker 14: a strengthened an ongoing trilateral trade arrangement. So the Mexicans,
Speaker 14: as I say, are pursuing some bilateral challenges or issues
Speaker 14: with the United States, so is Canada. But we both
Speaker 14: remain absolutely committed to the trilateral free trade agreement and
Speaker 14: working together as this review process unfold.
Speaker 18: Are you sending a message to the Americans with this
Speaker 18: Mexico trip, especially had of Kuzma talks.
Speaker 14: I don't think it should surprise anybody in the United
Speaker 14: States or elsewhere. We ran an election campaign last spring,
Speaker 14: the Prime Minister was very clear that we were going
Speaker 14: to seek to diversify our trading relationships with reliable partners
Speaker 14: around the world. He personally and my colleagues have advanced
Speaker 14: that effort very considerably. We've talked about strengthening bilateral trade
Speaker 14: relations with Mexico. He did that when he was the
Speaker 14: Prime Minister was here with President Shinbaum in September. They
Speaker 14: signed a comprehensive partnership agreement that talked about prosperity and
Speaker 14: increasing bilateral trade. And at that news conference with President Shinbaum,
Speaker 14: he talked about putting together a Canadian trade mission to
Speaker 14: Mexico as quickly as possible. So again this was well
Speaker 14: known last fall. We wanted to do it before Christmas.
Speaker 14: It wouldn't have been possible logistically to have the level
Speaker 14: of participation and the frankly unexpected mass of participation of
Speaker 14: Canadian businesses and business organizations that decided to join us
Speaker 14: on this trade trip, so it's not surprising. It'll be
Speaker 14: very beneficial to the Canadian economy and the Canadian businesses,
Speaker 14: and we're going to do it with other countries around.
Speaker 15: The world as well.
Speaker 17: Thank you. I will now go to Promitt Mukerji from
Speaker 17: Thompson Writers.
Speaker 19: Thank you minister for taking my question. Can you hear
Speaker 19: my voice properly? We can hear you, we can, okay,
Speaker 19: Thanks minister. I wanted to ask you that how are
Speaker 19: you coordinating your USMC strategy with Mexico to being divided
Speaker 19: in negotiations with Washington.
Speaker 14: So the Prime Minister and President Shinbaum, as I noted,
Speaker 14: signed a comprehensive partnership, which is the highest level of
Speaker 14: diplomatic engagement, and we committed to working as we always have,
Speaker 14: but in a renew dued sense of engagement with the
Speaker 14: Mexican government. As we knew that twenty twenty six would
Speaker 14: bring the review of the KUSMA Agreement. The Mexicans have
Speaker 14: very similar interests to Canada, ensuring that some of the
Speaker 14: sectoral tariffs that the United States has applied are diminished,
Speaker 14: are brought down, and that we conclude a review that
Speaker 14: preserves the framework of prosperity in North America for over
Speaker 14: three decades. If you look at the benefit to the
Speaker 14: economy of all three countries since the NAFTA agreement was
Speaker 14: signed over three decades ago. We both believe that it's
Speaker 14: in the interests of all three countries to maintain and
Speaker 14: to ensure that that agreement continues. So there's no division
Speaker 14: as between the interests of Mexico and Canada in in
Speaker 14: committing ourselves to the trilateral trade Agreement. And we are
Speaker 14: both having conversations with counterparts in the United States and
Speaker 14: we'll continue to do so over the next number of months.
Speaker 19: And the second question, has Canada also discussed any contingency
Speaker 19: planning with Mexico in case the US formerly seeks biolactual arrangements.
Speaker 15: No, we haven't, thank you.
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Speaker 15: Thank you.
Speaker 17: We will now go to the anum from political. Hello,
Speaker 17: we can hear you go ahead, Dean.
Speaker 21: So this one's for minutester lebon Us t r Jameson
Speaker 21: Greer was on Fox Business Network last week and accused
Speaker 21: can of pursuing policies that make it difficult to begin
Speaker 21: a mandatory review of Cosmo on a bilateral basis. So
Speaker 21: Greer said that there is a variety of issues that
Speaker 21: can isn't addressing, and quote, this makes it a big
Speaker 21: challenge and an obstacle for starting real negotiations with them.
Speaker 6: End quote.
Speaker 17: So is this an accurate claim?
Speaker 21: What are some of these issues that he's mentioning that
Speaker 21: you're aware of?
Speaker 14: So, thank you for the question. Obviously I don't speak
Speaker 14: for the US government. I took note of those comments
Speaker 14: from Ambassador Greer. After those comments, I had a productive
Speaker 14: and cordial phone conversation with him. We've agreed to meet.
Speaker 14: I indicated to him that I was in Mexico this week.
Speaker 14: In the next few weeks, we would have a chance
Speaker 14: to sit down and discuss the Kuzma review. So I,
Speaker 14: the US trade representative, said those comments. But at the
Speaker 14: same time, we have been doing the work necessary in
Speaker 14: Canada to prepare for this not surprising review that was
Speaker 14: built into the agreement six years ago. And so have
Speaker 14: the Mexicans and so of the Americans. So we look
Speaker 14: forward to those conversations.
Speaker 16: I'm not.
Speaker 14: I think that those conversations can be can be fruitful,
Speaker 14: and obviously some of the issues that I assume Ambassador
Speaker 14: Greer was referring to are some of the issues that
Speaker 14: the US Administration discusses publicly and some of the issues that.
Speaker 15: We were talking to them about for a long time privately.
Speaker 21: Thank you and the users clients kind of suggest that
Speaker 21: there are preconditions for bilateral trade talks to begin. Your
Speaker 21: Mexican counterparts team received a list of issues from USDR
Speaker 21: related to non tariff barriers to kind of guide their talks.
Speaker 21: Me you confirm if the Canadian side has also received
Speaker 21: a list of issues from USTR related to non tariff
Speaker 21: barriers to do the same.
Speaker 14: I don't want to get into the details of what
Speaker 14: precise exchanges we have had or are having with our
Speaker 14: American counterparts, other than to say, well, they publicly have
Speaker 14: a list that they published. The US Trade Representative's Office
Speaker 14: publishes a list of the non tariff barriers that they
Speaker 14: take note of for every country in the world, so
Speaker 14: Canada has a lot fewer than many other countries. Our
Speaker 14: conversations with the Americans deal with some of those issues.
Speaker 14: But as I say, I'm confident that those concerns. I
Speaker 14: don't speak for the Mexican government either, They'll work through
Speaker 14: in the way that they think is appropriate those concerns.
Speaker 14: I'm absolutely confident that Canada can do the same thing.
Speaker 17: Okay, Next on the list we have Markrendell from the
Speaker 17: Globe of Mail.
Speaker 15: I mean, can you hear me, No, we can hear you, Mark,
Speaker 15: go ahead, fantastic.
Speaker 22: So question for Minister Lebloc. You mentioned that Mexico in
Speaker 22: the US and Canada and the US are addressing a
Speaker 22: number of issues bilaterally and separately, but there are a
Speaker 22: number of trilateral issues that have been highlighted that are
Speaker 22: certainly on the USTRS list of things they want to address.
Speaker 22: Top of those on that list is rules of origin
Speaker 22: for non automotive arts, alignment on tariffs, export controls, foreign
Speaker 22: direct investment screening, those kind of things. How aligned are
Speaker 22: Canada and Mexico when it comes to these trilateral issues
Speaker 22: again around rules of origin and you know, external tariffs,
Speaker 22: and where are Canada and Mexico differing on those issues?
Speaker 15: So Mark, thanks for that question.
Speaker 14: I think it's a good one in the sense you've
Speaker 14: identified some of the issues that the US Trade Representative
Speaker 14: has raised publicly as concerns around Kuzma, the trilateral trade agreement.
Speaker 15: We are and I've said this to Ambassador Greer and.
Speaker 14: To Secretary Lutnik, We're anxious to sit down with our
Speaker 14: Mexican counterparts and have those conversations with the United States.
Speaker 14: I think my impression from our conversations in Mexico City
Speaker 14: earlier this week with the Economy Secretary, President Sinbaum, the
Speaker 14: Foreign Minister of Foreign Secretary was also there. She brought
Speaker 14: a number of her senior cabinet officials to the to
Speaker 14: the meeting, and we had other occasions to interact with them.
Speaker 15: Maybe my colleague Heath or David wants to want.
Speaker 14: To add something, but I don't think that, at least
Speaker 14: in a starting point, as we look at the trilateral
Speaker 14: issues the United States may raise that Canada and Mexico
Speaker 14: would not easily find common ground.
Speaker 15: I'm encouraged by my conversations with the Mexicans and to.
Speaker 14: Be fair with the Americans on some of those issues
Speaker 14: that you raised, Canada would probably quite easily find common
Speaker 14: ground with Mexico and the United States. I don't speak
Speaker 14: for Mexico, but if the United States raises those issues publicly,
Speaker 14: some of them that you enumerated, we wouldn't necessarily begin
Speaker 14: the conversation hesitant to try and find the right common ground.
Speaker 10: Yeah, Dominic, I might have just add Look from what
Speaker 10: I'm hearing on the ground in Mexico over this the
Speaker 10: course of this week, try colateral agreement is more most beneficial.
Speaker 10: We have economies that are integrated me suffice. That's something
Speaker 10: that I'm hearing. I can constantly they want the trilateral
Speaker 10: and I think when you look at the economics of this,
Speaker 10: I think it's very plain to see that it has
Speaker 10: served all three countries very well.
Speaker 22: Just following up on that question about external tariffs, Mexico
Speaker 22: has been moving in the last six months or so
Speaker 22: to align more closely with what Washington has asked for
Speaker 22: on tariffs on Chinese goods in particular, but you know
Speaker 22: non FTA goods in general.
Speaker 2: They have raised tariffs significantly.
Speaker 22: Canada has broken step I guess with Washington, at least
Speaker 22: when it comes to electric vehicle tariffs. And I'm wondering
Speaker 22: to kind of ask the question in a slightly different
Speaker 22: way on specifically on the question of external tariff alignment
Speaker 22: it appears like Mexico is going one direction and aligning
Speaker 22: more with Washington, and Canada is going another direction in
Speaker 22: aligning less with Washington. And I wondering if you can
Speaker 22: comment on what certainly appears to be a divergence between
Speaker 22: Mexico City and Ottawa on their willingness to align with
Speaker 22: the US on external tariffs.
Speaker 14: So again, I don't speak for the government of Mexico
Speaker 14: or the government of the United States. We as a
Speaker 14: federal government in Canada, make decisions that we think are
Speaker 14: in the interest of the Canadian economy and Canadian workers.
Speaker 14: So we take note of what decisions our partners make.
Speaker 14: We're fundamentally committed to a true free trade agreement with
Speaker 14: the United States and with Mexico. We didn't start a
Speaker 14: series of sectoral tariffs or reciprocal tariffs last year. We
Speaker 14: have to take the steps necessary in our judgment to
Speaker 14: protect Canadian industry and Canadian workers, and the Mexicans make
Speaker 14: their own decisions for their own economy. But I wouldn't
Speaker 14: I wouldn't say there's a divergence between Mexico City and Ottawa.
Speaker 14: What I would say is that we have in some
Speaker 14: cases different economies, different sectoral challenges and some cases, some
Speaker 14: cases very similar. I met people from the steel industry
Speaker 14: today in Monterey. Some of their concerns are not different
Speaker 14: than steel producers uh from from Canada, with whom we
Speaker 14: meet as well. So there's many issues where there's an
Speaker 14: obvious common circumstance. Some sectors and some challenges are unique
Speaker 14: to Mexico or to Canada, And obviously in Canada, the
Speaker 14: government makes the decisions that we think are in the
Speaker 14: best interest of protecting the Canadian economy and Canadian workers.
Speaker 17: Next on my list, we'll go to Chris Rands from CBC.
Speaker 15: Hi, minsters, can hear me?
Speaker 17: Okay, Yes, go ahead, Chris.
Speaker 15: Thanks bean for.
Speaker 23: Mister Leblon, mister Pauliev is causing your party of trying
Speaker 23: to seize majority through quote back kroom, dirty back room deals,
Speaker 23: and we're wondering if you ever response to that place.
Speaker 14: I never ceased to be amazed by the hypocrisy of
Speaker 14: mister Polliev on these issues. I was a member of
Speaker 14: Parliament when in mister Harper's government, they stood and cheered
Speaker 14: and I think even made her deputy leader or deputy
Speaker 14: leader in a Liberal MP crossed the floor to join
Speaker 14: the Conservatives. He should look in the mirror and ask
Speaker 14: himself why he's having these challenges in his caucus. It's
Speaker 14: easy to somehow make up a phrase like back room deals.
Speaker 14: He would be the expert in that sort of stuff.
Speaker 14: If his caucus members choose to leave his caucus, he
Speaker 14: can explain that, and he also should be able to
Speaker 14: defend why they celebrated similar decisions at a different time
Speaker 14: in a different parliament.
Speaker 17: Chris, do you have a follow up?
Speaker 24: Don't ask him again in case he does keep going. No,
Speaker 24: it's it's I have to go through the immuting prompt.
Speaker 24: Thank you for that answer. Could you shed some light
Speaker 24: on when mister Genero did reach out to the Liberal Party?
Speaker 15: I can't.
Speaker 14: I wasn't involved directly in those conversations. Others may very
Speaker 14: well have been. And as I say, who reached out
Speaker 14: to whom and what I don't have any information on that.
Speaker 14: I can't comment on that. But I think that mister
Speaker 14: Generou's decision is good for the people of Edmonton, the
Speaker 14: people of Alberta, and for Canada. He wants to join
Speaker 14: our government in some of the priorities that the Prime
Speaker 14: Minister is aggressively pursuing. That makes our country stronger, it
Speaker 14: makes our caucus better. Representation from the great province of
Speaker 14: Alberta is positive for us, so I look forward to
Speaker 14: working with him.
Speaker 17: Unfortunately, that is all of the time that the ministers
Speaker 17: have today for questions. Thank you very much for joining us.
Speaker 17: This will conclude today's press conference.
Speaker 15: Thanks me, Thanks everybody here.
Speaker 2: Thanks.
Speaker 25: My name is Faris Alsud and I am the proud
Speaker 25: Member of Parliament for Mississauga Center. For those of you
Speaker 25: who call Mississaga home, it's great to see you as always.
Speaker 25: And for those of you who don't, welcome to our
Speaker 25: beautiful city. Now there's quite the lineup behind me, but
Speaker 25: it is my distinct pleasure to welcome my good friend
Speaker 25: Minister Champagne. Thank you for taking the time to be
Speaker 25: with us today and for this important conversation. Mister Minis,
Speaker 25: before we begin, i'd like to acknowledge that we're gathered
Speaker 25: here today on the treaty lands and territory of the
Speaker 25: Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. The land is also
Speaker 25: part of the traditional territory of the Innishinabe, howd Nishawnee,
Speaker 25: Huron when Datt and Wyandot nations. We recognize an honor
Speaker 25: the enduring presence, history, and stewardship of the Indigenous peoples
Speaker 25: who have cared for this land since time immemorial. Public
Speaker 25: safety is foundational when people feel safe, Communities thrive. Residents
Speaker 25: and business owners must be able to live, work, and
Speaker 25: invest in their futures without fear, coercion or disruption. The
Speaker 25: measures being introduced today reflect exactly that, a commitment to
Speaker 25: protecting our communities, supporting law enforcement, and ensuring accountability. With that,
Speaker 25: it is my pleasure to welcome the Mayor of Mississauga,
Speaker 25: Her Worship Carolyn Parish to share her remarks.
Speaker 6: Madam Mayor, thank you, Thank.
Speaker 26: You very much, and welcome to everyone.
Speaker 18: Welcome particularly to Minister Champan, who has been entertaining us
Speaker 18: for the last twenty minutes. He's so excited about his announcement.
Speaker 18: It's really fun to watch. Then, Venue Mississauga. That's the
Speaker 18: best I can do. Welcome also to Minister Sadu, Minister Valdez,
Speaker 18: Minister Ali, my good buddy, Minister Cosendova, Basta and our
Speaker 18: great partner with Peel Chief Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief
Speaker 18: Nick Milanovitch, who's representing Chief Nish, who does a lot
Speaker 18: to keep us all safe. I thank you all for coming.
Speaker 18: We are happy to host members of the federal government.
Speaker 18: We have a fantastic federal team here and really appreciate them.
Speaker 18: I want to start by saying we are all partners.
Speaker 18: We are all strong over the spirit of cooperation. I'm
Speaker 18: thrilled min A Champagne has chosen to make an announcement here.
Speaker 18: The facts about extortion are frightening and appalling. We share
Speaker 18: the concern that this criminal violence has become an epidemic
Speaker 18: in our communities. We recognize the urgency to deal with
Speaker 18: this dangerous problem. What you are announcing today will benefit
Speaker 18: the people of Mississauga and all of Canada. As an
Speaker 18: important side note, I also want to thank you, mister
Speaker 18: Champagne for your federal and your federal colleagues for the
Speaker 18: latest installment. Can't I can't not say this twenty eight
Speaker 18: million dollars from the Housing Fund because we are so
Speaker 18: good at building, how that we are leaders in providing
Speaker 18: local incentives to inspire our developers and builders, but could
Speaker 18: not be successful without your assistance.
Speaker 5: We look forward to the morning's announcement. Mercy, Thank you,
Speaker 5: thank you for coming.
Speaker 26: Thank you very much for thank you very much. Very
Speaker 26: good morning everyone.
Speaker 6: Mom.
Speaker 27: It's it's a real pleasure to be in Messissauga this
Speaker 27: morning for a very consequential announcement. This morning, I want
Speaker 27: to say thank you, Mayor Perish for uh the introduction,
Speaker 27: but also your leadership. Not only you're in Mississauga, but
Speaker 27: in Ontario and in our nation. And I'm always glad
Speaker 27: to be here to have good news for you.
Speaker 12: Mayor.
Speaker 27: I'll come back again and certainly pleasure to join everyone
Speaker 27: from the Pield region.
Speaker 26: We are in this morning for a very significant announcement.
Speaker 27: Our message to criminals is both powerful and simple enough,
Speaker 27: and this morning we're going to double down.
Speaker 26: On measures to fight extortion.
Speaker 27: That is the key message that I'm sending to all
Speaker 27: those who are listening and watching at home.
Speaker 26: And we'll read about these announcements today.
Speaker 27: But before I go further, let me acknowledge a number
Speaker 27: of people who have decided to join us this morning
Speaker 27: because they understand the importance of what we're doing today.
Speaker 27: I want to say I have a number of colleagues,
Speaker 27: and I hope you see we are united in our
Speaker 27: voice and our action to fight extortion. And I want
Speaker 27: to say President Ali from the treasure Board. Thank you
Speaker 27: for being your sir, and thank you for your leadership
Speaker 27: in the community. Have the pleasure of serving with you,
Speaker 27: and I see what you can do, and you've done
Speaker 27: no straight, sid which is reshaping Canada's international trade in
Speaker 27: a way that we've not seen in a long time.
Speaker 27: I want to say to my dear friend, Richie Valdez,
Speaker 27: She's an amazing leader. She's done great things. Always a
Speaker 27: pleasure to be with you. I want to say to Faris,
Speaker 27: the youngest member of our team and the MP from
Speaker 27: this region, from this city.
Speaker 26: You're doing great, my friend.
Speaker 27: And it's not by accident that you're here this morning
Speaker 27: with us and introducing the discussion. We have Charles Susa,
Speaker 27: which everyone knows in this province served with distinction. Sonya Sidou,
Speaker 27: which is also with us. Sonya is this, dear Amandi
Speaker 27: is with us. Somewhere Amandi, there you are, Ikuander is
Speaker 27: with us. Peter Fonseca, my dear friend, and I hope
Speaker 27: I've forgotten nobody, oh Ikra.
Speaker 26: Ali, so sorry.
Speaker 27: Listen if I show you the list that I received
Speaker 27: this morning, and you'll see that there's everyone wanted to
Speaker 27: be here in Nikrop is a big voice in our
Speaker 27: caucus and someone who's been fighting. Also want to say
Speaker 27: I texted my dear friend doc Ford yesterday as well,
Speaker 27: and you made sure that we have representative from the
Speaker 27: provincial government because we understand the only way we're going
Speaker 27: to succeed is by working together. And I want to
Speaker 27: say thank you to the MPPs that are here in
Speaker 27: the minister for joining us this morning. I appreciate that Mayor,
Speaker 27: thank you for allowing us to be here in Mississauga.
Speaker 27: Obviously this is a issue for many families, business owners, workers.
Speaker 27: There's in Mississauga, but it goes beyond obviously Mississauga, Brampton
Speaker 27: and the Peel region, and also.
Speaker 26: In other parts of our country.
Speaker 27: I want to say also thank you to Rika Sing,
Speaker 27: the deputy mayor of Brampton. Thank you, Deputy. You'll have
Speaker 27: a lot of work after the announcement today. To Nick,
Speaker 27: my new friend, the deputy chef of police, the mayor
Speaker 27: was right. I did spend twenty minutes talking to him.
Speaker 27: But when you see the cheaf of police smiling, you know.
Speaker 26: That this is real.
Speaker 27: This is not one of those announcements to look good.
Speaker 27: This is not an announcement just to make an announcement.
Speaker 27: This is about concrete measures that will make a difference
Speaker 27: for law enforcement. And when you see the Deputy Chief
Speaker 27: of Police saying, yeah, this is what is going to
Speaker 27: help us to make.
Speaker 26: A difference, you know you're on the right track.
Speaker 27: And I assured him if that's not enough, we'll double
Speaker 27: down again to make sure that with our law enforcement
Speaker 27: partner we can do that. I want to expect knowledge
Speaker 27: our colleagues from the RCMP, which are doing an amazing
Speaker 27: amount of work.
Speaker 26: There are great partners.
Speaker 27: And by the way, let's try to applaud all the
Speaker 27: men and women who serve in our country.
Speaker 26: They keep us safe.
Speaker 27: They deserve all our respect, our support, and that's what
Speaker 27: we're giving them this morning, new tools and the toolbox
Speaker 27: to fight crime. And I want to say thank you
Speaker 27: to also Mike you m the RCMP Commissioner with whom
Speaker 27: I exchanged about the announcement this morning. Sava Packet from Findrack.
Speaker 27: She is the lady leading up the agency where we're
Speaker 27: going to put boots on the ground helping our law
Speaker 27: enforcement partners across the country to fight extortion, to combat extortion.
Speaker 27: Thank you to you and your team the moment I
Speaker 27: sent you that notice that instructions to double down, you
Speaker 27: respond and you said, yes, Minister, we.
Speaker 26: Will do it and we will be there to support
Speaker 26: law enforcement.
Speaker 27: I want to say to Peter Rochlitz, the superintendent Ahilosophy
Speaker 27: may not be known by most Canadians, but someone who
Speaker 27: is known by all the banking community in our country.
Speaker 27: Peter and I have been working with the CEOs of
Speaker 27: all the Canadian banks to make sure that they do
Speaker 27: their part, and I'm glad that we have many representatives.
Speaker 27: I think all the banks and financial institution are represented
Speaker 27: this morning. Peter and I make sure that they would
Speaker 27: be part of this endeavor. We have to combat extortion
Speaker 27: and I think that with that, Jimmy Zeppler, the RCMP
Speaker 27: Commissioner Office, I think I acknowledge you, sir, and all
Speaker 27: the RCMP officers, the men and women who can do
Speaker 27: a lot of work, and all obviously the representative of
Speaker 27: the bank. I think the message for Canadians watching at
Speaker 27: home this morning is simple. We speak with one voice
Speaker 27: to come back in gonna make crime, and this is
Speaker 27: the team that's going to make sure that we have
Speaker 27: new tools in our toolbox.
Speaker 26: It was really important for me to be here this.
Speaker 27: Morning in the Field region, first to meet the mayor,
Speaker 27: to meet the men and women who are on the
Speaker 27: front line, to reassure families and businesses who have been
Speaker 27: sadly affected by the rise of extortion. I've heard many
Speaker 27: stories of people would say they have family members, neighbors,
Speaker 27: people in their community who have suffered from what we've
Speaker 27: seen in extortion in that particular region. For too many people,
Speaker 27: extortion is not an abstract concept anymore. It is a
Speaker 27: trend that is sent to their phone. It is a
Speaker 27: business owner deciding whether it is safe to open. It
Speaker 27: is families fitting unsafe in their home communities.
Speaker 26: That's not the Canada that I know. That's not the
Speaker 26: Canada that we want.
Speaker 27: My message to all of you, we hear you, we
Speaker 27: support you, and today we're taking decisive and concrete actions
Speaker 27: to detect the tour and disrupt financial crime activity in
Speaker 27: your neighborhood. These crimes target more than finances. They own
Speaker 27: their mind, people's sense of security, and Canadians deserve to
Speaker 27: feel safe where they live and where they work. Extortion
Speaker 27: is also a sophisticated financial crime. I can assure you,
Speaker 27: having spent time with the expert, they will tell you this.
Speaker 26: Is evolving, fast, evolving.
Speaker 27: Can we even discuss that with our G seven partners,
Speaker 27: how we can work together as nations to make sure
Speaker 27: that we fight financial crime which are going beyond our borders.
Speaker 26: These criminal networks.
Speaker 27: Will wind up moving money quietly to financial systems, like
Speaker 27: I said, often across borders to found their operation and
Speaker 27: try to avoid detection.
Speaker 26: We'll have news for them today.
Speaker 27: We're gonna double down to the turn, distruct and distract
Speaker 27: what you're doing. That's why one of the most powerful
Speaker 27: tools we have is financial intelligence, because when we follow
Speaker 27: the money, we expose the networks behind these crimes. We
Speaker 27: identify those which are responsible and we disrupt their ability
Speaker 27: to operate, whether it's here in the Peel region in
Speaker 27: Canada and even internationally. Farcilla repons Canada, facle Exton, proate
Speaker 27: Linen not a Magras collab.
Speaker 26: Oselves Canada.
Speaker 27: Yeah, they can rule Ellerg paulisande elis the opera financier.
Speaker 26: Helps Canada.
Speaker 27: The strengthen are followed the money strategy. I have directed
Speaker 27: the CEO of Fintrack in fact a week ago because
Speaker 27: we knew we could not wait. This is an important
Speaker 27: issues for families and worker in the region to take
Speaker 27: immediate action to prioritize and mobilize resources to support law
Speaker 27: enforcement in detecting and distructing extortion and by deploying liaison
Speaker 27: officers on the ground to work alongside our law enforcement
Speaker 27: partners in selected regions of the country.
Speaker 26: This has never been done before.
Speaker 27: We learned best practices when we decided to come together
Speaker 27: as a team to fight fentanyl. And I must say
Speaker 27: I want to acknowledge the Fintrack team and you, your leadership,
Speaker 27: your responded to.
Speaker 26: The call of duty. You said, yes, Minister, we will
Speaker 26: be there.
Speaker 27: We'll support our law enforcement partners like we've never done
Speaker 27: before with boots on the ground being working alongside our
Speaker 27: law enforcement partners. Their role Canadians may not know is Fintrack,
Speaker 27: but they do a very important role. They can monitor
Speaker 27: financial transaction that are reported to them by financial institutions
Speaker 27: in the country. So their role is to help investigators
Speaker 27: which will identify patterns, trace illicit fonds and intervene.
Speaker 26: Before further harm is done.
Speaker 27: As part of this effort, find Track will implement a
Speaker 27: new targeted indicator profile on extortion, which will be shared
Speaker 27: with financial institution across the country to help the people
Speaker 27: recognize suspicious transaction with a series of red flags, so
Speaker 27: that they can be equipped to report quickly and effectively
Speaker 27: the suspicious transactions to relevant authorities.
Speaker 26: What we're saying, in other words, we're going to make
Speaker 26: life very difficult for criminals around the country.
Speaker 27: I'm also announcing a new countering extortion partnership between Fintrack
Speaker 27: and the profit sector. This is something that we have
Speaker 27: tried before in till In and we are reactivating. This
Speaker 27: partnership will strengthen awareness, improve information sharing, and have ensured
Speaker 27: that businesses and financial institutions are equipped to recognize and
Speaker 27: report signs of extortion related financial activity. So for Canadians
Speaker 27: who are watching at home today, what we're saying is
Speaker 27: that the whole financial community is coming together to combat
Speaker 27: extortion so that criminals won't be able to hide which
Speaker 27: stolen money.
Speaker 26: Like I said before, enough is enough, We're gonna find you.
Speaker 27: We're gonna distract the shop, deter you from targeting families
Speaker 27: and business owners in this community and other communities across
Speaker 27: the nation. As I see in decade, free Track liison
Speaker 27: officers will work directly with law enforcement in targeted areas
Speaker 27: of our country, including here in Peel and in on Tier,
Speaker 27: but also in BC and in Alberta to support the
Speaker 27: financial to ensure that financial intelligence is used properly and
Speaker 27: effectively to support investigation and enforcement action. Finally, French RACK
Speaker 27: will also publish new strategic intelligence, so we will define patterns,
Speaker 27: We will see how people operate and have bad news
Speaker 27: for criminals. We will publish that how you operate, what
Speaker 27: you're doing and how you're doing it, so that the
Speaker 27: intelligence will be published will be around laundering, how laundering
Speaker 27: of proceeds from extortion is done. So to help law
Speaker 27: enforcement and financial institution across the country identify emergen strength
Speaker 27: and strengthen prevention efforts.
Speaker 26: Because once we expose how they operate, it's going to
Speaker 26: help all.
Speaker 27: The financial institution in the country to help us in
Speaker 27: deterior detect these crimes. This will be a coordinated effort
Speaker 27: bringing together federal agencies, many of them are represented today
Speaker 27: that are maybe not known to Canadians, but they do
Speaker 27: very important work. Local police now want to tank again
Speaker 27: the police Appeal and other law enforcement partners, financial institution,
Speaker 27: businesses and communities across the country. Because this meanting these
Speaker 27: networks require collaboration. It requires bold actions and relentless focus
Speaker 27: and attention and even said to the Mayor that we'll
Speaker 27: be back in thirty days to see if it works.
Speaker 27: If it doesn't work enough, we'll have to double down
Speaker 27: and look at other means that we can put in
Speaker 27: terms of financial intelligence working with our partner. As Mayor
Speaker 27: Brown Rampted recently said, if you disrupt the money, you weaken.
Speaker 26: The trip, and I agree with that.
Speaker 27: That is exactly what we're doing today with our follow
Speaker 27: the Money strategy. We are doing exactly what you said, Mayor,
Speaker 27: And I want to thank him as well, because we
Speaker 27: had the pleasure to exchange and understand the importance of
Speaker 27: what we're announcing this morning. And I like to think
Speaker 27: all the representatives from our partners that are here today,
Speaker 27: including Canada's financial institution and credit unions, for their continued effort.
Speaker 27: And and I want to say thank you, Petary to
Speaker 27: our police force. Uh they're on the front line of
Speaker 27: this and we're giving more tools in the toolbox to
Speaker 27: fight crimes and we will be there with them along
Speaker 27: this journey. Viget do Millvin signed ken it is auto
Speaker 27: prieg conte finaci e resans and columnist The Security Public, The.
Speaker 26: Milac de.
Speaker 27: Mill we see Millevo, the service Fontellier dos concil specific
Speaker 27: manage Financia, Zavolis, Sidus Visa Reforcilous Stems Mirac La Francier
Speaker 27: Canada and.
Speaker 26: New DETECTI Supervision confrom the regime the lunt.
Speaker 27: And Budget twenty twenty five and ounce the creation of
Speaker 27: a new financial crime Agency which I'm very pleased and
Speaker 27: proud as the lead agency, which will investigate complex financial
Speaker 27: crimes including extortion, organized crime.
Speaker 26: Fraud and to recover illicit proceeds.
Speaker 27: As you can see, we're stepping up in a big,
Speaker 27: big way to have more tools in our toolbox to
Speaker 27: go after a criminal and combat extortion. Many different form
Speaker 27: and sophisticated type of crimes are evolving and we need
Speaker 27: to evolve.
Speaker 26: With them as well, so that we have the best tools.
Speaker 27: And the best options and will continue to work with
Speaker 27: our G seven partner as well to learn best practices.
Speaker 27: Canada strand has always come from its communities, the people
Speaker 27: who are watching at home and expect us to be
Speaker 27: there for them. And this is why this work matters
Speaker 27: more than ever, because behind every investigation is a person,
Speaker 27: a shop owner, a worker who depends on their job,
Speaker 27: a family that deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood.
Speaker 27: To those we have been targeted, I want to say
Speaker 27: you're not alone. We stand with you, Law enforcements stand
Speaker 27: with you, and Canada stand with you, and we will
Speaker 27: use every tool available to.
Speaker 26: Protect you and hold criminals to account.
Speaker 27: Criminals will feel the pressure as we detect the shrub
Speaker 27: and counter their activities, and communities and families should feel
Speaker 27: the benefit from our actions. In conclusion, I would say,
Speaker 27: let's be bold and double down on their efforts. Let's
Speaker 27: speak quick interactions to increase the sense of security in
Speaker 27: our community, and together let's fight extortions.
Speaker 26: CMMs at MISCHEU.
Speaker 28: Thank you everyone, well, thank you everyone. Good morning to
Speaker 28: Minister Champagne. Thank you so much for your leadership and
Speaker 28: welcoming you to Peel. Today's an honor for all of us.
Speaker 28: You know we stand together as we fight crime in
Speaker 28: our communities, and so thank you for making this announcement
Speaker 28: today in Mississauga. I also want to thank Mayor Parrish
Speaker 28: of course, and our men and women in office in uniforms,
Speaker 28: the RCMP Peel Regional Police for his deputy Chief Alonovitch.
Speaker 28: Thank you so much for all the work that you
Speaker 28: do to keep our communities safe every single day. I'm
Speaker 28: especially proud to be here as the Member of Parliament
Speaker 28: for Bramptonice and Canada's Minister of International Trade, standing alongside
Speaker 28: partners as we battle extortion. Extortion has no place in
Speaker 28: our communities. Extortion is not just a financial crime, as
Speaker 28: we heard from the Minister. It is a crime that
Speaker 28: threatens families, targets business owners and undermines the sense of
Speaker 28: safety that every Canadian deserves to feel safe in their
Speaker 28: homes in their community. Here in Peerle Region, especially in Brampton,
Speaker 28: we have seen firsthand the impacts these criminal networks can have.
Speaker 28: Small business owners who have worked hard to build something special,
Speaker 28: meaningful are being threatened. Families are being intimidated, and this
Speaker 28: is unacceptable and our government will not tolerate it. Our
Speaker 28: new government has been clear being tough on crime means
Speaker 28: being tough on extortion. Protecting Canadians and protecting our communities
Speaker 28: is our first and foremost priority. Today's announcements represents real
Speaker 28: concrete action to deliver on that commitment. By supporting fintrack
Speaker 28: to dedicate more resources to word combating extortion, we are
Speaker 28: strengthening Canada's ability to follow the money, identify criminal networks,
Speaker 28: and disrupt their operations. It means dedicated financial intelligence experts
Speaker 28: will work directly with law enforcements in communities here in Mississauga,
Speaker 28: Brampton and across Canada, helping ensure local police have the
Speaker 28: tools and expertise they need to act quickly and effectively.
Speaker 28: And it means strengthening collaboration between governments, law enforcement, financial institutions,
Speaker 28: and regulators to ensure we are working together to protect Canadians.
Speaker 28: Because the reality is that many of these criminal networks
Speaker 28: operate across churi sections, they operate online, they operate in
Speaker 28: sophisticated and coordinated ways, our response must be just as coordinated,
Speaker 28: just as sophisticated, and just as determined. This announcement builds
Speaker 28: on the broader actions our government is taking to crack
Speaker 28: down on organized crime and protect Canadians. We are investing
Speaker 28: one point seven billion dollars to strengthen the RCMP and
Speaker 28: support their work combating organized crime and financial crime. We
Speaker 28: are establishing a new Canada Financial Crimes Agency to lead
Speaker 28: the fight against money laundering, fraud, and criminal financial networks.
Speaker 28: And we are strengthening laws and enforcement tools to ensure
Speaker 28: criminals are held accountable.
Speaker 6: For their actions.
Speaker 28: Through legislation, we are strengthening the consequences for serious offenses,
Speaker 28: including extortion, with tougher sentences and keeping violent and repeat
Speaker 28: offenders out of our communities. We are giving law enforcement
Speaker 28: and financial intelligences stronger tools to disrupt organized crime, crack
Speaker 28: down on money laundering, and stop criminal networks at their source.
Speaker 28: And we will continue to engage with all levels of
Speaker 28: government to keep our community safe. Everyone deserves a peace
Speaker 28: of mind that comes from knowing that their government is
Speaker 28: standing with them. This is exactly what we are doing
Speaker 28: today and that is exactly what we will continue to do.
Speaker 28: Thank you very much, beste.
Speaker 29: Question, Good morning everyone. It's so I'm honored to be
Speaker 29: here to represent the writing of Mississauga. Streetsville A welcome
Speaker 29: Minister Champagne to Mississauga. Honored to stand with many of
Speaker 29: my colleagues, law enforcement, all the financial institutions. As you've
Speaker 29: heard today already, we stand together to ensure that we're
Speaker 29: going to tackle the extortions that is happening in our country,
Speaker 29: particularly in Mississauga, Brampton and of course out west in BC.
Speaker 29: Before entering public service, I was a small business owner
Speaker 29: right here in Mississauga. I started my business while raising
Speaker 29: my two kids, and like every entrepreneur, I put my
Speaker 29: heart into making sure that that business succeeds. When you
Speaker 29: run a small business, it is very personal. Your business
Speaker 29: represents years of sacrifice and the future you're.
Speaker 5: Building for your family. And that is why extortion is
Speaker 5: so devastating.
Speaker 29: When organized crime targets businesses and in our neighborhoods, it's
Speaker 29: not only the demand for money.
Speaker 5: It creates fear. It disrupts our operations.
Speaker 29: It puts entrepreneurs, employees and families in danger, and this
Speaker 29: is completely unacceptable and that is why today's announcement matters
Speaker 29: so much to small business owner here in Peel region
Speaker 29: and right across the country. When we strengthen financial intelligence
Speaker 29: and improve coordination across institutions, we make it harder for
Speaker 29: those those networks, those criminal networks, to profit from intimidation
Speaker 29: and violence. We disrupt their ability to move money and
Speaker 29: we make it harder for them to target small businesses.
Speaker 29: So for entrepreneurs, this means earlier detection of suspicious activity,
Speaker 29: faster disruption of criminal networks, and stronger prevention efforts to
Speaker 29: stop extortion before it escalates. These new measures announced today
Speaker 29: are about protecting families, they are about protecting jobs, and
Speaker 29: they are about protecting the confidence that allows communities to
Speaker 29: grow and for small businesses to thrive. And here in
Speaker 29: Peel Region, that commitment is reinforced by our one million
Speaker 29: dollars in federal funding to strengthen Peel Regional Police's work
Speaker 29: to combat extortion, support victims and disrupt criminal nos works
Speaker 29: targeting local businesses. And this commitment was previously announced by
Speaker 29: Minister Gary and Nanda Sandegree. So to the entrepreneurs in
Speaker 29: Puel Region and across Canada, we see the risks you take.
Speaker 29: We value the work that you do, and we are
Speaker 29: committed to ensuring that you build, invest and thrive in
Speaker 29: safety and with confidence. So thank you again to Mayor
Speaker 29: Parish for having us here and the commitment of everyone
Speaker 29: and particularly our law enforcement who continuously support us to
Speaker 29: protect us each and every day.
Speaker 26: So thank you all.
Speaker 6: Good morning to law. My name is Jeff ka Ali.
Speaker 16: I'm a Member of Parliament for Brampton Chingkuzie Park and
Speaker 16: the President of the Churchy Board of Canada. First of all,
Speaker 16: I would like to thank Madameyir, Madame Parish. She's actually
Speaker 16: the one I started politics with. I was on her
Speaker 16: eda when I started my journey political journey. Thank you,
Speaker 16: thank you for having us, thank you for your leadership
Speaker 16: on this issue. And I also like to thank our
Speaker 16: Minister of Good News. Actually he's the Minister of Fineance,
Speaker 16: but every time he comes he brings good news.
Speaker 6: Thank you, a Minista Champagne, for your leadership.
Speaker 16: We've been working together in this new government very closely,
Speaker 16: whether it's expenditure review, whether it's red tape review, whether
Speaker 16: it's community safety.
Speaker 6: Fundings, building communities or all other initiatives.
Speaker 16: But this is very important announcement you have made today,
Speaker 16: very important step you have taken and this is really
Speaker 16: a great news for the residents of Peel and all Ontario,
Speaker 16: in all Canada. Thank you for your leadership. Crime has
Speaker 16: been devastating. Extortion crime, it creates, created fears, It created
Speaker 16: you know, uncertainty, It created.
Speaker 6: Bad impact on businesses. And I like to thank our
Speaker 6: law enforcement agencies.
Speaker 16: That the REPS Council, we have Dipty mayor from Brampton,
Speaker 16: we have council member from Mississauga, and I see some
Speaker 16: members of Peelboard Police Board.
Speaker 6: Thank you all for your leadership, for your advocacy.
Speaker 16: I also like to thank the people behind cameras taking
Speaker 16: this message to Canadians.
Speaker 6: Thank you for your service. You know I hear directly
Speaker 6: from community members about their consent and when it comes to.
Speaker 16: Crime, especially extortion. Actually I have few residents of Brampton
Speaker 16: Chinkuzi Park who were targeted and I can understand and
Speaker 16: I know how painful it is, how devastating it is
Speaker 16: that to address that issue today, Minister Champagne took this
Speaker 16: action to crack down on those criminals, to go after them.
Speaker 6: Thank you mister Champigne once again.
Speaker 16: And far too many people have been affected by the
Speaker 16: rise in extortion and we have that. We know that
Speaker 16: strong communities are built on safe communities. The measures Minister
Speaker 16: Champagne is announcing today has announced today. It will make
Speaker 16: a real difference for Bramptonian, for residents across the Greater
Speaker 16: Toronto area, for Canadians who have been victims of financial
Speaker 16: crimes linked to extortion.
Speaker 6: Safety is not a party is an issue.
Speaker 16: It requires all of us working together, federal, provincial and
Speaker 16: municipal government as well as members from all parties to
Speaker 16: protect our community. Communities, and thank you for our provincial
Speaker 16: counterparts for being here. Actually had an opportunity to meet
Speaker 16: with Premier Ford and we had this conversation that we
Speaker 16: need to work together, especially on this issue, because.
Speaker 6: This is essential.
Speaker 16: This is a right for every Canadian to feel safe.
Speaker 16: And as Minister Champagne noted, we established the new Financial
Speaker 16: Crimes Agency in Budget twenty twenty five. This is an
Speaker 16: important step bringing together expertise from across government to better
Speaker 16: combat extortion, organized crime and fraud. Minister shamp Pain once
Speaker 16: again thank you for today's announcement. Bamptonians and all Canadians
Speaker 16: will be safer because of these actions.
Speaker 6: Messi Bukul, thank you so much.
Speaker 16: And before I go, Happy Ramadan to all of those
Speaker 16: who are fasting today because I'm fasting and I my
Speaker 16: mother's right, So thank you, thank you, thank.
Speaker 4: You, thank you very much.
Speaker 5: Also to non I'm please dobate to see goose my thing.
Speaker 30: As mentioned, extortion is a very serious criminal activity that
Speaker 30: threatens Canadians and Canadian communities. It also generates significant profits
Speaker 30: for organized crime groups. Those profits are often laundry through
Speaker 30: Canada's financial systems and are used to facilitate their other
Speaker 30: criminal enterprises. FENTRAC has been actively engaged in supporting law
Speaker 30: enforcement efforts to combat this terrible crime. Over the past
Speaker 30: two years, our financial intelligence related to extortion has identified
Speaker 30: forty six subjects for police investigation involving eleven thousand financial transactions.
Speaker 30: This intelligence was provided to police in seven different jurisdiction
Speaker 30: across Canada. Today's announcement is about accelerating and deepening our
Speaker 30: support in relation to this key priority.
Speaker 5: In DM and the terms.
Speaker 30: We are deploying financial intelligence officers to engage directly with
Speaker 30: local police to boaster existing relationships and provide underground financial
Speaker 30: intelligence expertise. This will ensure that law enforcement will be
Speaker 30: able to fully leverage our intelligence in their extortion related investigations.
Speaker 5: And disrupting those activities.
Speaker 30: As the Minister has chair, we are also focusing our
Speaker 30: resources and expertise to work in partnership with businesses such
Speaker 30: as Canada financials institutions, to identify the financial transaction trends and.
Speaker 5: Typologies related to extortion.
Speaker 30: We will be developing expedited targeted Andicator profiles or TEAP
Speaker 30: sheets on indicators of extortion. These profiles will support financial
Speaker 30: institution and other businesses in interdentifying the latest money laundering
Speaker 30: practices related to extortion. By sharing indicator through trusted channels
Speaker 30: on an expedited basis, we will improve the timeliness and
Speaker 30: quality of suspicion transaction reporting to film Track. In turn,
Speaker 30: this will handhance our ability to provide actionable financial intelligence to.
Speaker 5: Local police related to extortion.
Speaker 30: In addition, will be collaborating with private sector businesses in
Speaker 30: developing and publishing a special built in on trends, methods
Speaker 30: and indicators of money laundering associated with extortion. In this work,
Speaker 30: fintrack will benefit from the frontline perspective of businesses that
Speaker 30: have adapted leading edge detection techniques.
Speaker 5: Our work with local police will also.
Speaker 30: Ensure that their expertise and underground knowledge inform our advice
Speaker 30: and guidance. The resulting special building will further assist businesses
Speaker 30: in indifying and reporting transactions related to extortion and facilitate
Speaker 30: our production of actionable financial intelligence in support of law
Speaker 30: enforcement investigation. Under the direction of Minister Champaine, Minister of
Speaker 30: Finance and National Revenue, we are mobilizing fintracks resources in
Speaker 30: way that responds to the seriousness of this threat, and
Speaker 30: we are taking image of action to support our financial sectors,
Speaker 30: stakeholders and law enforcement partners.
Speaker 14: Than the show.
Speaker 31: Last, but not least, to start, I would like to
Speaker 31: echo thanks that you've heard here today. Obviously like to
Speaker 31: thank Minister Champon for his sport today. The other federal ministers,
Speaker 31: members of provincial parliament, members of Parliament are counselors from
Speaker 31: Brampton and Missaga, and members of our Police Services Board.
Speaker 31: The reality is is that currently extortion is one of
Speaker 31: the most serious public safety threats that faces not only
Speaker 31: Peel Region, but our country on a national level. I
Speaker 31: would like to thank the federal government for recognizing that
Speaker 31: risk to our communities. This really is about protecting businesses,
Speaker 31: our communities and the people that make those communities up.
Speaker 31: I would like to provide some context, and when I
Speaker 31: do that, I'm going to share some statistics around Peel.
Speaker 31: But it's important to understand that this is not just
Speaker 31: a Peal issue. This is a national issue, which is
Speaker 31: why it's so important that the collection of people that
Speaker 31: you see standing here behind me are a part of
Speaker 31: the solution.
Speaker 2: To this issue.
Speaker 31: Families are being targeted, as you've heard, this crime occurs
Speaker 31: as a result of fear that's created in the community
Speaker 31: and the motivation is about money. Last year alone in Peel,
Speaker 31: we had four hundred and seventy six extortion incidents reported
Speaker 31: to us. Of those four hundred and seventy six, one
Speaker 31: hundred and ninety targeted our business community. That business community
Speaker 31: is made up of families and people that are working
Speaker 31: hard to make our community and Canada a better place
Speaker 31: to be. In those one hundred and ninety incidents, twenty
Speaker 31: nine resulted in shootings and artisans. Many of those have
Speaker 31: been captured on social media. Many in this room have
Speaker 31: seen those incidents and it is creating fear.
Speaker 15: In our community. That is not just a statistic.
Speaker 31: It represents hundreds of people who are living in fear
Speaker 31: and forced to live with the experiences they've had. And
Speaker 31: the reality is is, while it's not just Peel, we
Speaker 31: are on the forefront of this battle and it's one
Speaker 31: of the reasons why our police service has launched an
Speaker 31: all on offensive.
Speaker 6: Towards addressing that.
Speaker 31: Not just doing what you would expect from from a
Speaker 31: police service in terms of enforcement, but making sure our
Speaker 31: community feels safe and preventing these offenses. I've said this
Speaker 31: many times, this is the wrong community to be for
Speaker 31: people to come to and target for crimes like extortions.
Speaker 31: This is the wrong police service to try to attempt
Speaker 31: those types of things, and I think what you see
Speaker 31: here today is a demonstration of that. We were one
Speaker 31: of the first police services to launch an extortion Task Force,
Speaker 31: which has today grown to just from Peel over forty
Speaker 31: full time investigators, some of what you see standing behind
Speaker 31: me today who are working around the clock to investigate
Speaker 31: these offenses and keep our community safe. But policing alone
Speaker 31: is not the entire answer. We need support, like the
Speaker 31: announcement we hear today, we need support from fintrack, from
Speaker 31: the collection of people that have spoken today, in order
Speaker 31: to address extortions. We are currently formalizing partnerships in addition
Speaker 31: with the support we're going to have today from Fintrack,
Speaker 31: we're formalizing partners with our provincial partners, our federal partners
Speaker 31: and this will be, as I said earlier, one of
Speaker 31: the largest police efforts in responding to a serious community
Speaker 31: crime and concern that I in twenty six years have
Speaker 31: ever had the opportunity or a displeasure to be a
Speaker 31: part of. And we will continue to make arrests to
Speaker 31: lay charges and make sure that anybody that comes to
Speaker 31: our community is held.
Speaker 6: Accountable for doing that.
Speaker 31: In addition to the enforcement, we will continue to look
Speaker 31: for partnerships and opportunities that make us more effective in
Speaker 31: being able to achieve those objectives. Again, today's a great
Speaker 31: example of that. Extortion is not random. It is about money.
Speaker 31: Follow the money and you find the people responsible for
Speaker 31: extortions and a variety of other transnational crimes. So while
Speaker 31: today this partnership is important in extortions, tomorrow it will
Speaker 31: be important in other crimes well out. Financial intelligence is
Speaker 31: not just a support tool, it is a frontline tool
Speaker 31: towards keeping our communities safe again. It allows us to
Speaker 31: identify networks faster and to make sure that it is
Speaker 31: less rewarding for the people that are taking advantage of
Speaker 31: our communities.
Speaker 6: And then finally, I'll never you know, miss an opportunity.
Speaker 31: You know, we see today as kind of an outcome
Speaker 31: of really asking and conversations that we've had towards making
Speaker 31: ourselves better in the space and fighting extortion.
Speaker 6: Today's not the end of the conversation.
Speaker 31: You know, there are other opportunities where we can pull
Speaker 31: different organizations together and do different things in order to
Speaker 31: make it better for our communities and the relation in
Speaker 31: relation to extortions. You know, our service will continue to
Speaker 31: advocate for lawful access. I would not miss the opportunity
Speaker 31: to share that our ability to obtain information in a lawful,
Speaker 31: judicially approved manner expediently is crucial to extortions today and
Speaker 31: our ability to investigate those, but also to the crime
Speaker 31: or the next crime trend that we will be investigating
Speaker 31: several years from now. Of course, you know you've heard
Speaker 31: about justice and bail reform and some of the work
Speaker 31: that's being done there. Again, that is a conversation that
Speaker 31: absolutely needs needs to continue. Similar to our community wanting
Speaker 31: to see us arrest and charge people, they also want
Speaker 31: to feel that justice is being upheld and that their
Speaker 31: protection and rights are.
Speaker 15: Are being protected.
Speaker 6: In closing, the final message.
Speaker 31: I would leave you know, and I'd like to speak
Speaker 31: directly to our community. I want them to rest assured
Speaker 31: that we have absolutely organized ourselves in a way that
Speaker 31: He'll protect them and we are going to win this
Speaker 31: battle against extortion, and we're going to continue that battle
Speaker 31: until we do win that battle.
Speaker 6: So thank you very much.
Speaker 32: Wow, But I convinced my son that there were colors
Speaker 32: in the world back when I was young, and though
Speaker 32: everything wasn't black and white, wrong was wrong, and right
Speaker 32: was right. It was about that time I finally realized
Speaker 32: maybe my son was right. Though whole damn time most
Speaker 32: of us were gone. In a clearer time, yeah, things
Speaker 32: were black.
Speaker 6: Shows things will.
Speaker 1: Please contact us at Depictions Media for more information.