SURREY, B.C. — Senior police leaders from four provinces will meet in Surrey within the next two weeks to coordinate a national response to the growing extortion crisis affecting South Asian businesses and communities, Premier David Eby announced Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Eby said the meeting will take place at the B.C. RCMP headquarters in Green Timbers and will bring together top officers from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario.
The goal, Eby said, is to strengthen intelligence-sharing, close operational gaps, and ensure police forces have the resources needed to respond to what he described as a national public safety issue.
“This is about getting everyone in the same room so there are no gaps in communication, no missing pieces, and a clear understanding of the scale of the threat,” Eby said.
Extortion cases have surged not only in Surrey, but in cities across Western and Central Canada. In Calgary, police have reported more than a dozen extortion cases since July, many targeting South Asian business owners.
Calgary Police Deputy Chief Asif Rashid told a recent police commission meeting that authorities in Alberta are closely watching developments in Surrey, calling the situation there a crisis.
“There have been legislative discussions and policy responses emerging in that jurisdiction,” Rashid said. “We continue to monitor those developments very carefully.”
Eby confirmed he held extended discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, focusing on calls from municipal leaders for a federal emergency declaration.
“Our shared priority is ensuring police are working closely with affected communities and that people understand the seriousness of this situation,” Eby said.
Earlier this week, Surrey city council approved a motion from Mayor Brenda Locke formally requesting the federal government declare a state of emergency tied to extortion-related violence and intimidation. Locke said she expects further discussions on the issue when she travels to Ottawa next week.
In addition to the upcoming police summit, the federal government has committed to deploying up to 20 additional RCMP officers from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) to support enforcement efforts.
Meanwhile, the BC Conservative Party criticized the provincial government’s handling of the issue. Surrey North MLA Mandeep Dhaliwal said residents and business owners are feeling abandoned.
“Families are scared and exhausted,” Dhaliwal said. “This crisis is out of control, and the Premier has failed to contain it.”
