Government: Forfeiture Programs

government: With civil forfeiture, the government must merely demonstrate that on the balance of probabilities, it's justifiable taking someone's property, according to Georgia Asian. In 2014, Sunny Dhillon, then with the Globe and Mail, highlighted the shortcomings of administrative forfeiture programs in a series of articles. As far back as 2008, journalist Travis Lupick noted in the Straight that the government was seizing items on a lower standard than what's required in criminal court, where things must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. His monthlong investigation revealed that B.C. set targets for recoveries, unlike Ontario. Under the law, the government has had the power to seize property even if a person suspected of using this for unlawful activity was acquitted in criminal court. Dhillon also pointed out that there's a reverse burden of proof anyone whose property is seized must prove a negative, i.e. why it shouldn't be taken by the government. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.