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Extortion-plagued B.C. city calls for national state of emergency

On Tuesday night, City of Surrey directed Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke's office to ask the Government of Canada to declare a federal state of emergency, passing the motion unanimously with calls for an extortion commissioner and more RCMP federal organized crime units.
This month police say Surrey logged 35 suspected extortion incidents amid shootings; 2025 saw 132 attempts, 49 involving shots fired, mostly targeting South Asian communities.
Since Sept. 17, 2025, the provincial task force obtained 100 judicial authorizations and approved charges for seven people, while officers on proactive patrols stopped a vehicle, seized a loaded handgun and charged two men, both foreign nationals.
Council is urging immigration-law changes plus quarterly reporting and public identification of those charged, while requesting an extortion commissioner, RCMP deployments, and expedited removal of non-citizens; Ottawa has proposed Bill C-14 and provided $500,000 over two years and $200,000 for investigations.
Some residents at rallies urged 'castle' and 'stand-your-ground' laws and arming themselves as police can't always respond quickly, while criminologist Wade Deisman and Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko warned that vigilantism risks more violence under Section 34 of the Criminal Code.

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Radio-Canada

Lean Left

Extortions: Surrey Asks for a Federal Emergency From the Local Population

The City of Surrey adopted a motion on Monday night in the face of a resurgence of extortion.

8 hours ago·Montreal, Canada

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CTV News

Center

Extortion-plagued B.C. city calls for national state of emergency

Following a sharp increase in extortion-related incidents in Surrey, B.C., city councillors have called on the federal government to declare a national state of emergency over the crimes.

8 hours ago·Canada

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CBC News

Lean Left

Surrey city council urges Ottawa to declare extortion crimes a federal emergency

Surrey city council is calling on Ottawa to declare a federal state of emergency over the rise of extortion, with 35 suspected incidents of the crime recorded in the city this month alone.

10 hours ago·Canada

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