Surrey, B.C.: The BC Conservatives are calling on the federal and provincial governments to support Surrey’s call for additional support and to act decisively against a fast-escalating wave of criminal extortion that has shaken families and neighbourhoods across British Columbia and beyond.

“People are frightened right now. The brazen and targeted violence happening almost daily in B.C. is not normal, and it is not acceptable,” said Steve Kooner, Critic for the Attorney General, and MLA for Richmond-Queensborough. “Communities need to see more from all levels of government to address this growing crisis. They need our provincial and federal governments to work together and provide them with the resources they’re demanding to combat these criminals.”

The call comes amid intensifying public concern and debate over the pace and posture of both the provincial and federal governments. Recently, Surrey Mayor, Brenda Locke called on the federal government to “take immediate action and implement a full-scale national initiative” against extortion violence in Canada as shootings linked to extortion attempts escalate rapidly throughout Surrey and the lower mainland.

Liberal Member of Parliament for Surrey-Newton, Sukh Dhaliwal’s recent comments underscored that the Province is clearly not doing enough to ask for federal support, even though communities have been asking for more for months.

B.C. Conservatives have been supporting communities’ pleas for help and calling for federal engagement for nearly a year. the Province must obtain assistance from the federal government on this extortion crisis immediately.

In the first three weeks of 2026, there have been dozens of instances of extortion related violence and threats against families. However, the Eby government has only managed to announce funding to expand the firearm forensics laboratory.

“Families throughout B.C. want proactive action. Communities are on the frontlines of this crisis, they know what they need, and they need more from the provincial and federal government, and they need it now,” said Kooner.

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Media Contact:
Francesca Guetchev, Press Secretary
Francesca.Guetchev@leg.bc.ca
+1 (672) 922-0948