Surrey, BC – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, announced an action plan on shootings and extortions to stem the tide of violence and intimidation terrorizing communities across Canada’s major urban centres. 

Crime and chaos are spreading. Since the Liberals took power, violent crime is up 54%. Sexual assaults up 75%. Extortion has skyrocketed by 330% across Canada. From coast to coast, lax Liberal laws have Canadians living in fear.

Extortion has exploded into one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada. Police have reported waves of threats against small business owners, especially in communities like Brampton, Surrey, Vancouver and Calgary. Families are shot at, fire bombed and intimidated while the Liberals do nothing.

Poilievre launched the Conservative action plan to end extortion and restore safe streets:

  1. Ban the Bishnoi Gang – List one of the major extortion groups, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, as a terrorist entity, giving police and prosecutors stronger tools to dismantle this violent, transnational extortion network threatening Canadians.
  2. Stop Extortion – Restore and strengthen mandatory jail time so extortionists face real consequences: a minimum of 3 years for all extortion; 4 years if it involves a gun, and 5 years when tied to organized crime. Arson should count as an aggravating factor in sentencing. These common-sense measures are the same ones blocked by this Liberal government in the Conservative Protection Against Extortion plan.
  3. Jail not Bail – Repeal Liberal catch-and-release laws C-5 and C-75, keep violent offenders locked behind bars and end the revolving door justice system.

Catch-and-release bail laws like Liberal Bill C-75 force judges to apply a “principle of restraint” that puts repeat violent offenders back on the streets. The result? Criminals with long rap sheets are free to reoffend while awaiting trial. Liberal Bill C-5 repealed mandatory jail time for serious gun crimes, including extortion with a firearm.

Conservatives have long fought to protect Canadians from illegal intimidation and threats. That is why, over a year ago, Deputy Leader Tim Uppal introduced Bill C-381, the Protection Against Extortion Act. The Bill would have delivered stricter mandatory minimums for extortion – up to five years if the crime was linked to a criminal organization – and treated arson as an aggravating factor. Shamefully, the Liberals voted it down and left Canadians stranded, without the protection they desperately need.

“The cause of this crime wave is clear: a government that sides with criminals instead of communities,” said Poilievre. “This Liberal government dismantled tough laws, gutted jail sentences, and let gangs and extortionists rule our streets.”

“Together with my colleagues, we stand ready to help the Prime Minister to build a Canada that is safe, strong, secure and self-reliant,” said Poilievre. “That’s why I am calling on the government to adopt our Conservative plan to stop crime, end extortion, and protect our families and businesses.”