Conservative Leader visits Surrey to denounce Carney Liberals for 2,400% increase in extortion, and demand laws to lock up and kick out extortionists.

Surrey, BC – Today, the Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and the Conservative Party of Canada, continued his visit to the Lower Mainland and called out the weak Liberal laws that let extortionists and other violent criminals run free, and proposed a four-point plan to lock up and kick out extortionists.

“After 11 years of Liberal soft-on-crime policies, violent repeat offenders have been released back onto Canada’s streets, and communities across our country are paying the price,” Poilievre said. “Mark Carney is trying to claim that his government is getting tough on crime. Yet his flagship crime legislation, C-16, contains a clause enabling judges to ignore almost any mandatory minimums the Liberals haven’t gotten around to repealing yet.” 

“There are many parts of this bill that Conservatives would support, but this get out of jail free card is one giant poison pill,” Poilievre continued. “More crime, more chaos, more of the same. Mark Carney is just another Liberal.”

In just the first three months of 2026, Surrey police reported a staggering 2,400 per cent increase in extortion and 300 per cent increase in shots fired compared to last year. This week, another home in Newton was targeted in a shooting believed to be connected to extortion. It follows two teenagers being killed in a gang-related attack, and a man who was shot at a local business earlier this month.

All of this is part of a 55 per cent increase in violent crime and 330 per cent surge in extortion across Canada since 2015. In British Columbia alone, violent crime is up nearly 50 per cent, with sexual assaults increasing 95 per cent and extortion surging a staggering 481 per cent in the last decade. 

“This is the direct result of Liberal catch-and-release laws,” Poilievre added. “Liberal Bill C-75 weakened bail by telling police and judges to release accused criminals at the earliest opportunity and under the least restrictive conditions, while Liberal Bill C-5 reduced sentences for serious crimes, including drug trafficking, extortion with a firearm, and robbery with a firearm.”

Now, this get out of jail free card would allow judges to bypass practically all mandatory minimum sentences in the Criminal Code except for treason and murder. That includes sentences potentially under five years for those convicted of extortion with a restricted or prohibited firearm. Officials from the Department of Justice also confirmed it would allow judges to ignore mandatory minimums if they jeopardize a criminal’s immigration status.

While Canadians see crime, chaos and disorder getting worse, and families worry about being targeted next, Poilievre called on the Liberal government to take immediate action to stop extortion and crack down on crime by:

  • 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, visitors, and extortionists. The Liberal government must fire the Liberal-appointed IRB members and immediately deport all visiting criminals and gangsters, including members of the Bishnoi Gang, only listed as a terrorist organization after major Conservative pressure;
  • 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.

Together with police chiefs and provincial premiers, Conservatives have long called for stricter bail laws and tougher penalties for violent and repeat offenders. Yet, the Liberal government has blocked Conservative bills and amendments at committee that would restore mandatory minimums for violent crimes. 

“While Mark Carney talks tough, too often, when it’s time to act, he sides with the same Liberal policies that caused this crisis in the first place,” Poilievre added.

Mark Carney’s Liberals voted against Conservative Bill C-381, which would have restored mandatory minimums for extortion. They voted against Conservative Bill C-220 that would have prevented judges from using immigration status to reduce a sentence, and against Bill C-246, which required criminals convicted of multiple sexual offences to serve consecutive sentences.

“It’s clear that only Conservatives will repeal the Liberals’ failed soft-on-crime laws, restore mandatory minimum sentences for serious crimes, strengthen bail rules for repeat violent offenders and make criminals serve the time their crimes demand,” the Conservative Leader continued.

“Canadians deserve safe streets for families, not softer sentences for criminals,” concluded Poilievre. “Conservatives will put the rights of victims first and put violent criminals behind bars, where they belong.”