WINNIPEG -- The NDP government has pledged to bring in new laws aimed at making it easier to deny or revoke business licenses to gang fronts, as well as making it illegal to fortify a vehicle.
Justice Minister Andrew Swan rolled out some more detail yesterday related to a couple of new anti-gang laws mentioned in Monday's throne speech. It's still unclear whether the legislation will be coming during the current session, which runs until Dec. 10, or introduced in the spring.
One law would make it illegal for anyone to modify a vehicle with things like bullet-proof glass, armoured doors and gun ports, which Swan said police have seen in B.C.
"We haven't seen them here in Manitoba but we want to get ahead of the game," he said.
The province also wants to amend the law to allow the government greater power to deny or revoke the business license of any owner whose operation can be proven to be a front for gang activity.
Swan said there are some limitations to the legal provisions in place with respect to that issue, and the province wants to remove them.
"I believe it's going to have an impact. We want to find ways to make it more difficult for criminal organizations to operate," Swan said.
The final legal measure Swan discussed is the establishment of a list of gangs that would be recognized by the courts for use with all of Manitoba's civil anti-gang and criminal profit laws. Swan said the list would save prosecutors the time and effort of having to prove in court any particular organization is legally considered a gang.
The idea is to have the list readily accepted by courts to skip that step.
Tory justice critic Kelvin Goertzen said he's not opposed to any of the changes, but doesn't think they'll make much of a difference on the streets.
Meanwhile, the province launched an ad campaign Monday geared at making the gang life unattractive to kids. The $250,000 campaign features TV ads, posters, transit ads and a website, stayoutofgangs.ca.
The "scared straight" style ads feature an actor who portrays a gang member discussing what life is really like for gangsters.
paul.turenne@sunmedia.ca
