Poilievre demands terrorist listing for Bishnoi gang, harsher extortion penalties

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre revealed a plan Wednesday to tackle the rise in extortion and shootings affecting Canadian cities, businesses, and families.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre revealed a plan Wednesday to tackle the rise in extortion and shootings affecting Canadian cities, businesses, and families.

Speaking in Surrey, B.C., Poilievre argued crime has flourished under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government, pointing to recent incidents of gunfire and arson in Brampton, Vancouver, Calgary and locally.

“Here we are today at a location that was the victim of one of those very crimes,” Poilievre said, referencing a July shooting at a Surrey banquet hall. “This is just one of the many examples of the 330 per cent increase in extortion-related crimes since Liberals lowered the penalty” .

The Conservative plan includes three major steps: designating the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity, reinstating mandatory jail terms for extortion-related offences, and repealing Liberal laws that reduced mandatory minimums and required bail restraint.

Poilievre said listing the Bishnoi gang would give police and prosecutors “stronger tools to dismantle this violent, transnational extortion network threatening Canadians” by making it illegal to raise money, organize, or recruit on its behalf .

He promised tougher sentences, including minimum prison terms of three years for extortion, four years if a firearm is used, and five years if tied to organized crime.

“Liberals passed Bill C-5, which lowered the penalty for extortion with a gun. What do you know? Now we have more extortion with guns,” Poilievre said.

“Then they brought in Bill C-75, catch-and-release bail. So the same extortionists who get caught are released within hours to go and do extortion all over again.”

The Conservative leader tied the issue to broader themes of affordability and safety, pledging a fall agenda focused on “safer streets with criminals behind bars, secure borders with immigration that is under control, and a self-reliant Canada.”

“The cause of this crime wave is clear: a government that sides with criminals instead of communities,” he said.

“Together with my colleagues, we stand ready to help the prime minister build a Canada that is safe, strong, secure and self-reliant.”Ontario Premier Doug Ford notably did not congratulate Poilievre for winning a seat to renter the house of commons, but has previously called on the Conservative leader to back Carney’s efforts on US trade talks while speaking to reporters on Monday.