Surrey, British Columbia, is urging the Canadian government to announce a federal state of emergency due to the surge in extortion cases, with 35 suspected incidents reported in the city this month. The city council approved a motion put forth by Mayor Brenda Locke during a public hearing on Monday evening.
Locke, while reading the motion, highlighted that Surrey is facing a critical and escalating crisis of organized extortion, intimidation, and targeted shootings, causing fear, trauma, and economic losses to residents and businesses. Extortion has become a growing concern in several Lower Mainland cities, including Surrey, Abbotsford, and Delta, with individuals in predominantly South Asian communities receiving threats and extortion demands.
In 2025, there were 132 extortion incidents in Surrey, including 49 cases involving shots fired at homes and businesses. Similar cases were also reported in Abbotsford and Delta. The motion passed on Monday directs the mayor’s office to formally request the Canadian government to declare a federal state of emergency or implement equivalent extraordinary measures to address the organized extortion crisis.
Among the requests outlined in the motion is the appointment of an extortion commissioner to lead the response to extortion crimes nationwide, deploying additional RCMP federal organized crime units to Surrey, and expediting the deportation of non-citizens charged or convicted of extortion, firearm offenses, or participation in extortion activities.
Furthermore, Surrey city council is seeking changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to prevent refugee claims related to extortion-related criminal investigations. They are also asking for assistance from Ottawa in identifying individuals charged, deported, or wanted for extortion-related offenses to enhance public awareness and deterrence.
The motion also calls for the federal government to provide quarterly reports to Canadians on the severity of extortion-related activities and the progress made in resolving the crisis. The unanimous support received from the council highlighted the frustration felt by councillors in combating extortion and the impact it has on residents.
Federal Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree stated that the government is actively engaging with the British Columbia provincial government, mayors of affected municipalities, the RCMP, and local police forces to address extortion and transnational crime. Anandasangaree mentioned that the federal government has allocated funds for victim support and investigations into extortion cases outside the provincial task force’s scope. Additionally, Ottawa’s proposed Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, aims to strengthen measures against extortion by making bail conditions stricter and imposing harsher sentences for extortion-related offenses.