Former RCMP executive Garry Clement is calling for a stronger and more independent federal policing capacity in Canada, arguing that organized crime and foreign interference can no longer be treated as separate problems.
In an exclusive interview with The Really Big Show, Clement said Canadian institutions must adapt to what he described as a convergence of transnational crime, economic influence and national security concerns.
“The reality of it is they have converged,” Clement said, referring to organized crime, transnational organized crime and foreign interference. “That is where Canada has fallen so far behind.”
Clement spent 34 years in law enforcement, including work focused on organized crime and a posting at the Canadian embassy in Asia. He said the country needs a clearer federal mandate for policing complex criminal networks that operate across provincial and international boundaries.
He argued the RCMP needs greater independence and a more focused federal role. He also raised concerns about staffing pressures, competing policing responsibilities and what he sees as a loss of capacity to investigate sophisticated criminal activity.
According to Clement, a more integrated approach would bring police, intelligence and financial investigators together around the networks behind criminal offences, rather than treating each offence in isolation. He pointed to United States racketeering laws as one possible model for pursuing organizations as criminal enterprises.
The former officer also discussed the fentanyl crisis, port security, trucking and licensing concerns, and the pressures facing the justice system. Throughout the interview, he argued that policy makers must give more attention to the connection between public safety, organized crime and national security.
Several of Clement’s broader assertions about political influence, business ties and foreign actors were presented as his analysis during the interview. KelownaNow has not independently verified every claim raised in the conversation.
The interview comes as public concern continues over violent crime, illicit drugs, foreign interference and the ability of governments and police agencies to respond to threats that cross jurisdictions.
Clement said Canada should focus on building institutions that can investigate those issues before they become more entrenched.
To watch the entire interview with Clement on The Really Big Show, click here.
