Eby says head of extortion task force needs to demonstrate urgency or step aside

British Columbia Premier David Eby says the head of a police anti-extortion task force needs to step aside if he cannot demonstrate a sense of urgency in the fight.

Eby’s comments about RCMP Assistant Commissioner John Brewer come after Brewer repeatedly declined to characterize a wave of extortion-related shootings in the Lower Mainland as a crisis.

“I think Mr. Brewer has the opportunity to clarify that he feels this sense of urgency. I would urge him to do so,” Eby said.

“If he doesn’t feel the sense of emergency, then we do need someone else to do this. This is an urgent and serious situation for the people of Surrey, for people south of Fraser, and the head of the task force needs to reflect that urgency in the work.”

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Eby said that, up until Brewer’s comments on Tuesday, he thought that Brewer had demonstrated the sense of agency and had been doing constructive work.

“It’s possible in this world to misspeak, certainly I’m well aware of that, I’m human too,” Eby added.

“The comments, though, really do cut at public confidence in the head of the task force’s work and he needs to either clarify and if he doesn’t feel the urgency, then he needs to step aside.”

In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, Brewer said he wanted to apologize for challenging the term “crisis” as it has now become the focus of the issue and has called into question the RCMP’s commitment to addressing extortions in the province.

He said that was not his intention.

“The opportunity to provide an update and reassure the public has instead impacted public confidence,” he said.

“The task force’s commitment to addressing the ongoing threats and violence has not wavered.  Our efforts have never been limited because of a term.  Extortions remain one of our highest priorities.”

Surrey’s Mayor Brenda Locke is urging the federal government to “take immediate action and implement a full-scale national initiative” against extortion violence in Canada.

7:36 BC RCMP says Extortion Task Force making progress in their investigations

More coming.