The B.C. government is creating new measures to combat money laundering, including legislation that could compel owners to explain where wealth came from to purchase assets such as luxury houses and cars.

So-called unexplained wealth orders would have to be applied for in each case through the courts and meet certain tests, but if passed, would put a reverse onus on the alleged perpetrator to explain where money came from to buy their assets where there is a suspicion of criminal activity or corruption.

The information from the orders could then be used to pursue civil forfeiture cases where the province aims to seize assets or money.

The amendments to legislation to enact the orders was introduced Thursday.

“Too many people are recruited into organized crime with dreams of exotic cars, fancy homes and a glamorous lifestyle. … Today’s amendments will make it more difficult for criminals to bank on their illicit assets,” said B.C. Public Safety Minister and Solicitor-General Mike Farnworth.

He added that one of the main drivers of repeat violent offences is the toxic drug crisis, which is fuelled by organized crime. Unexplained wealth orders will help go after the proceeds of criminal criminals profiting from this misery, said Farnworth.

Changes to B.C.’s forfeiture laws also include eliminating the 10-year limitation period on forfeiture proceedings and making it easier to access information from public bodies and organizations such as real estate boards.

The B.C. government says it will also create a public registry for beneficial owners of corporations intended to create more transparency and confidence that B.C. companies are not being used to launder money.

Unexplained wealth orders have already been introduced in the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand and in Manitoba, although the province has not yet used the tool.

Since then, the U.K. has made changes to the orders they believe will make them more effective.

Farnworth said they used those U.K. lessons to develop the province’s wealth orders, which he says he believes will make them effective and able to withstand court challenges.

James Cohen, executive director of Transparency International Canada, a global anticorruption advocacy group, welcomed the announcement of a corporate transparency registry in B.C. and hopes it will take the federal government’s lead in making it free for the public to access and coordinate with federal efforts.

“This is a domino effect of success, hopefully, across the country,” said Cohen.

It was also good news B.C. is taking lessons from the U.K. in establishing unexplained wealth orders, important so there are safeguards to its use and to establish it as a useful tool, he said.

Money laundering has been a hot-button issue in B.C. in the past several years, with far-reaching implications for the economy, the law, policing and trust in institutions.