CONSERVATIVE Leader Pierre Poilievre on Friday announced his plan to stop extortion.

He slammed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, saying that after eight years of his government extortion has risen by 218%. “Trudeau’s reckless policies 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, he added.

Poilievre said that 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 victims of the extortions are South Asian businesses.

He said: “This wasn’t the case before Justin Trudeau made it easier for gangsters and extortionists to get out of jail and re-offend. Mayors in provinces like British Columbia and Ontario have written to the Prime Minister’s top government officials, asking them to reverse the chaos the federal government has caused. Canadians have lost faith in our justice system to actually deliver justice for victims.”

Poilievre added: “Despite Trudeau’s inaction, extortion is a federal problem. 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.”

Poilievre said the Conservatives have a plan to reverse Trudeau’s damage and stop extortion:

* They will establish a mandatory prison sentence of three years for any criminal convicted of extortion.
* They 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. Not only does this mean that the criminals who carry out these crimes will go to prison, but it also means that prosecutors and cops will have another tool to go after the ringleaders of these criminal organizations.
* They will restore mandatory four-year prison sentences for the offence of extortion with a firearm.
* They will make arson an aggravating factor for the charge of extortion.
* They will reverse the damage done by Bill C-75 and restore jail, not bail, for repeat offenders.
Poilievre said: “Common sense Conservatives will fix the damage Trudeau has caused by making sure that the extortionists who scare and intimidate our neighbours stay in jail for longer. We will go after the leaders of these organized crime rings to make sure they get shut down once and for all. Extortion has no place in Canada. Conservatives will bring home safe streets for all Canadians.”