OTTAWA, ON: Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative party has announced that his government will introduce harsh rules to deal with those convicted of extortion including minimum prison sentences for those convicted of extortion.
He said that the extortion has risen by 218%. The reckless policies of the current government have resulted in a 39% rise in violent crime. “Towns and suburbs, which used to be safe and peaceful, are now being terrorized by foreign gangs that threaten our neighbours with violence and arson.”
The rate of police-reported extortion increased for the third consecutive year in 2022. The rate of extortion was five times higher in 2022 than a decade prior. Extortion is a particular problem in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, where it has risen 263%, 284%, and 386% respectively since 2015. In the GTA, there has been a 155% increase since 2015, and in Vancouver, it’s up 228%.
“The Criminal Code that allows these criminals to operate freely is federal. The RCMP, which is responsible for catching these organized criminals, is federal. Justin Trudeau passed the federal Bill C-5, which eliminated mandatory jail time for committing extortion with a firearm. On top of this, he brought in catch-and-release bail in Bill C-75, which makes it easier for offenders to get back on our streets,” he said.
He said he would stop the extortions by establishing a mandatory prison sentence of three years for any criminal convicted of extortion.
“We will bring in a mandatory five-year prison sentence for any criminal convicted of extortion who is acting on behalf of gangs and organized crime.”
Tim Uppal, Deputy Leader of the Conservative party of Canada, later introduced Private Member’s Bill C-381, the Protection Against Extortion Act, that aims to protect Canadians from becoming victims of extortion.
“Bill C-381 enforces a three-year mandatory minimum penalty for extortion and restores a four-year minimum penalty for extortion involving a non-restricted firearm, which was repealed by the Liberal government in Bill C-5. Bill C-381 sets a mandatory minimum penalty of five years for extortion linked to a criminal organization and recognizes arson as an aggravating factor in extortion charges,” Uppal said.
