Civic authorities raise hands in helplessness amidst escalating threat of extortions and transnational organized crime
BRAMPTON (TIP): Rapid escalation in threats of extortion and transnational organized crime have been forcing city councils with large and substantial populations of Punjabi immigrants to raise their hands in despair while seeking help from both provincial and federal governments to stem the rot. After provinces like British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta were rocked by the growing incidence of extortions, now many major regions, cities, and towns in various parts of Canada have started looking out for help “to keep their communities safe.”
As a wave of extortion-related crime is sweeping Canada, city councils, too, have started joining the bandwagon of protestors. There have been townhall brainstorming sessions with victims, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies with the elected representatives, but the menace refuses to abate.
The issue has been debated numerous times in the House of Commons but without any respite to those getting threatening telephone calls or their premises, both residential and business, becoming targets of gunfire. Intriguingly, the worst hit by this wave of extortions and transnational crime is the Punjabi community in general and Sikhs in particular.
The latest to raise a hue and cry is the City of Brampton, one of the most populated cities of Indian immigrants. Its mayor, Patrick Brown, on Tuesday sent out a scathing letter to both the prime minister, Mark Carney, and the federal minister for public safety, Gary Ananadasangaree, saying, “I am writing to you further to a motion adopted by Brampton City Council concerning the escalating threat of extortion and transnational organized crime affecting the City of Brampton and the broader Region of Peel.
“A copy of this motion has been shared with your offices, as well as with the Premier of Ontario and the Ontario Solicitor General, to underscore the seriousness and urgency of this matter. “Extortion driven by transnational criminal networks has increased at an alarming rate in Peel Region, with small businesses and vulnerable community members being disproportionately targeted through threats of violence, arson, and intimidation. The scale, sophistication, and cross-border nature of these crimes place them well beyond what municipal resources alone can sustainably address.
“We acknowledge and commend the Government of Canada’s recent actions in British Columbia, including dedicated federal funding for integrated enforcement teams targeting organized crime, as well as investments in victim support, outreach, and safety planning. These measures recognize that extortion and organized crime
are national public safety issues requiring federal leadership, coordination, and resources.
“Peel Region’s extortion rates now meet or exceed those that justified federal intervention in British Columbia. As such, equitable treatment demands that federal support follow crime severity rather than geography.
“Without comparable federal investment, communities such as Brampton are left exposed to criminal networks that operate internationally, exploit digital platforms, and rely on intimidation to silence victims.
“Following Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh’s motion, unanimously approved by our Council, we respectfully request that the Government of Canada take the following actions: Extend dedicated extortion and organized-crime task-force funding to the Region of Peel, mirroring the federal funding and operational model established in British Columbia; provide targeted funding for victim support and community outreach, including culturally informed services, safety planning, and initiatives that encourage reporting and protect those who come forward; establish formal intelligence-sharing and coordination frameworks between federal, provincial, and municipal law enforcement agencies to enable the effective disruption of transnational criminal networks operating across borders and jurisdictions.
“These actions would significantly strengthen public safety, protect vulnerable communities, and ensure a coordinated national response to a threat that is neither local nor isolated. Brampton and Peel Region stand ready to work collaboratively with the federal government and our provincial partners to implement solutions that reflect the seriousness of this challenge,” the mayor said.
In a similar missive sent to Premier of Ontario Doug Ford, Patrick Brown said, “I am writing further to a motion adopted by Brampton City Council addressing the growing impact of extortion and transnational organized crime on the City of Brampton and the broader Region of Peel.
“Extortion-related crimes have increased significantly in Peel Region, with small businesses, families, and community members facing threats of violence, property damage, and intimidation. These crimes often go underreported due to fear and lack of access to culturally appropriate and adequately resourced victim support services.
“The human and economic toll on our communities continues to grow.
The Government of Canada’s recent collaboration with the Province of British Columbia provides a strong and effective model. In British Columbia, dedicated provincial and federal investments have supported victims of extortion through safety planning, outreach, protective measures, and trauma-informed services. This approach recognizes that victim support is a critical component of any successful strategy to combat organized crime.
“Given the severity and scale of extortion affecting Peel Region and following Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh’s motion, unanimously approved by our Council, we respectfully request that the Province of Ontario work in partnership with the Government of Canada to establish a dedicated victim support fund, mirroring the funding model implemented in British Columbia. Such a fund would ensure timely, coordinated, and culturally responsive support for victims, while reinforcing public confidence and encouraging reporting of these crimes.
“A provincial commitment to victim support would complement law enforcement efforts, reduce long-term social and economic costs, and demonstrate Ontario’s leadership in protecting communities from organized criminal activity that transcends municipal boundaries.
“The City of Brampton stands ready to collaborate with the Province of Ontario and federal partners to design and implement a funding framework that reflects local needs and delivers meaningful support to those most affected,” he added.
