Ottawa, ON – After nearly eleven years of Liberal government, soft-on-crime policies have let violent criminals like extortionists wreak havoc on our streets.

On May 24, just two days after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre visited Surrey to discuss his plan to address extortion, the Surrey Police Service responded to shots fired at a local residence in an incident “believed to be extortion related”. 

Last week, local police also charged a 22-year-old with arson and extortion after allegedly targeting Surrey businesses in December 2025.

Unfortunately, these incidents are part of a larger trend that saw incidents of extortion rise by 330 per cent across Canada and 481 per cent in BC alone in the decade after the Liberals took power, while violent crime overall was up 55 per cent.

This happened as Liberal laws like C-5 reduced sentences for serious crimes like extortion with a firearm, while C-75 made it easier for extortionists to get out after arrest.

While the Liberals claim that their flagship crime legislation will bring lasting change, Bill C-16, as written, would allow judges to ignore mandatory minimum sentences for almost all crimes; a measure that does nothing to keep dangerous offenders off our streets.

That’s why His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition is calling on the government to:

  • Remove the get-out-of-jail-free card clause in Bill C-16 so that mandatory minimums are respected;
  • Bring forward a bill to impose mandatory minimums of 10 years for extortion when tied to organized crime or if an illegal firearm is used;
  • Find and deport all visiting criminals, gangsters and extortionists, including members of the Bishnoi Gang, which was only listed as a terrorist organization after major Conservative pressure; and
  • Pass the ‘Stand on Guard’ principle into law, amending Section 34 of the Criminal Code so that force is presumed to be justified if used against an illegal intruder.

Conservatives will always fight to make Canada the safest country on earth, where law-abiding citizens can raise their families and grow their businesses without fear or intimidation from terrorist gangs.