Patrick Brown: Parliament must pass Bill C-2 now to address Canada’s extortion epidemic

As the mayor of Brampton, I’ve seen the extortion crisis hit our communities hard. Last month, I wrote an op-ed that detailed how Peel Region has become a major extortion hotspot, with over 41 incidents involving transnational networks like the Bishnoi gang that occurred between January 2024 and November 2025. These were not mere threats — they involved violence against families and businesses, including shootings and arsons that shattered lives and eroded public safety. I urged greater federal support then, specifically calling for representatives from the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to join local extortion task forces. Local police can’t afford to wait for responses from these agencies which are critical to their investigations.

We need to be working on the ground together. This would improve intelligence sharing and help disrupt the cross-border money flows that fuel these crimes. Law enforcement in this country can’t operate in silos — federal, provincial, and municipal agencies must work together seamlessly to address these interconnected threats. Those steps are still essential, but today I want to highlight one critical tool that could make an immediate difference: the lawful access provisions in Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act.

Transnational organized crime is a growing problem in Canada, exploiting our borders and global links to target communities nationwide. Gangs operating from outside our borders coordinate sophisticated extortion schemes, often using encrypted apps like WhatsApp to issue threats, launder money internationally, and escalate to violence when demands aren’t met.

In Peel Region, we’ve seen a sharp rise in related incidents, from drive-by shootings to targeted arsons, largely tied to foreign-based syndicates. This isn’t isolated — extortion has surged in multiple cities, costing our economy dearly and instilling widespread fear. Without better ways to trace these communications quickly, local police are severely hampered, chasing leads that go cold while criminals act with near impunity from abroad. This is a national security issue that requires federal leadership to protect all Canadians.

Bill C-2, introduced in June 2025, includes important measures in Parts 14 and 15 that would modernize lawful access to electronic data for law enforcement in transnational crime investigations. These provisions would allow police to obtain subscriber information and transmission data more swiftly from service providers, including access to messages on platforms like WhatsApp, without the lengthy delays of current international mutual legal assistance processes. Right now, requests can take 45 days or more, by which time evidence disappears and investigations stall. In extortion cases, where threats can turn deadly overnight, this delay is a serious barrier — it ties officers’ hands and gives criminals the upper hand.

While I recognize the broader elements of Bill C-2 and ongoing debates around privacy and Charter rights, these specific lawful access changes are vital for combating extortion and many other crimes effectively. They would equip police with the tools needed to more effectively trace communications, identify perpetrators and prevent escalation.

Peel Regional Police, leading the fight through their Extortion Investigative Task Force since 2023, have emphasized to me how crucial these provisions would be. As they’ve shared, faster access to electronic data would help trace threats and stop crimes before they worsen. With modest federal funding already directed — up to $1 million for victim support and task force efforts in Peel — the federal government has shown they want to help, but we need the tools to win this public safety battle. A hockey team can’t win a game without hockey sticks, no matter how sound their game plan is. Similarly, local police need the tools to win this fight against transnational crime. Extortion isn’t a local problem; it’s a national one driven by organized networks exploiting borders.

Other mayors across Canada echo this urgency. Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, responding to recent extortion arrests in his city, said: “Let me be blunt and direct to anyone thinking that they can target our businesses. You will not intimidate this city. If you prey on our community, you will be caught, and you will be held accountable.”

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has described her community as “under siege,” saying the extortion crisis has “devastated families, shaken businesses, and put communities across the country on edge.” She’s called for a national state of emergency to address the surge.

Today, extortions are a serious problem in the Lower Mainland of B.C., Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and the GTA. But if we don’t act now — by adopting stronger tools like the lawful access provisions in Bill C-2 and fully supporting local extortion task forces with CBSA and FINTRAC collaboration — this will spread to every city in Canada, turning isolated hotspots into a nationwide epidemic of fear and violence

Parliament must act swiftly to pass these critical measures, and the public safety minister must direct real collaboration of law enforcement agencies in our country. Our communities deserve protection before it’s too late.

Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton.

National Post