Surrey council wants feds to issue state of emergency due to extortion violence

Surrey city council approved a motion on Monday night aimed at ramping up efforts to tackle the ongoing extortion-related violence in the city.

“Therefore, be resolved and moved that the city of Surrey recognizes that it is in a state of emergency due to the extortion and extortion-related violence which have plagued our city,” Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said at the meeting.

Locke is also requesting that Ottawa declare a federal state of emergency and reiterated the need for a national extortion commissioner to oversee a coordinated response.

With unanimous support from the council, Locke will now put the requests in writing to senior levels of government and police agencies.

The declaration would give the City of Surrey additional temporary powers to tackle the extortion crisis.

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Locke’s motion also reiterated her call to appoint a commissioner for extortion violence against Canadians to oversee the implementation of key measures, including:

• Immediate deployment of additional RCMP, federal organized crime units, and intelligence resources to Surrey
• Federal RCMP leadership of a joint federal-provincial-municipal task force with authority to act rapidly on extortion-related violence
• Expedited removal of non-citizens charged or convicted of extortion, firearms offences, or participation in extortion-related criminal activity
• Review of legislative gaps and recommendations to strengthen police capacity for arresting, charging and prosecuting offenders
• Quarterly public reporting on the severity of extortion-related activity and progress in addressing the crisis.

“We are in a crisis, there is no doubt about that,” Coun. Harry Bains said.

“This is an issue that can only be resolved through collaboration and co-operation by all levels of government and not through finger-pointing.”

Coun. Pardeep Kooner said she feels like the federal laws have held the city hostage.

“It is hard to move through life always looking over your shoulder,” she said.

2:03 Anti-extortion protest in Surrey

City staff have now been instructed to report any developments to the council within 30 days.

Locke is scheduled to discuss her recommendations at an upcoming federal meeting in Ottawa.