Carney meets B.C. extortion task force leaders in Surrey<\/p>\n
Published 10:50 am Thursday, February 19, 2026<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister was in Surrey Thursday morning (Feb. 19) to meet with senior law enforcement leaders of the B.C. extortion task force.<\/p>\n
The meeting was held to discuss what is working, what needs to be done, and where improvements can be made in tackling the ongoing extortion crisis impacting cities across the Lower Mainland.<\/p>\n
\u201cA huge amount of resources and effort is now being put to bear on this. I\u2019m confident that it is beginning to have an impact, and it will have an impact,\u201d Carney said.<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s meeting at B.C. RCMP headquarters in Surrey was with police chiefs from Surrey, Abbotsford and Delta Police, the regional director general of Canada Border Services Agency, several senior leaders from the RCMP, and Delta and Surrey MPs.<\/p>\n
Carney said the government is creating a financial crimes agency that will \u201cfollow the money in extortion.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), which already exists to track activities such as money laundering and terrorist financing, will help.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bunch of people, very expert people, a bunch of algorithms with the right authorities can track the behaviours of people who do extortion,\u201d Carney said. \u201cThese are often quite modest payments relative to the size of the financial system, but there is a pattern we need our financial institutions to recognize. The pattern of all the money provides law enforcement and prosecutors with the information.\u201d<\/p>\n
At a press conference in Mississauga, ON, the Minister of Finance, Fran\u00e7ois-Philippe Champagne, announced the new measures.<\/p>\n
In addition to adding more resources to FINTAC to tackle the extortion crisis, it will also publish information on how the criminals are moving and hiding the extortion money.<\/p>\n
FINTAC will also have \u201cdedicated liaison officers\u201d that will work with local law enforcement in the areas most impacted by the extortion crisis, such as B.C., Ontario and Alberta.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese officers will provide specialized financial intelligence expertise, strengthen information sharing, and ensure financial intelligence is supporting enforcement efforts, investigations, and prosecutions,\u201d read a Department of Finance press release Thursday (Feb. 29).<\/p>\n
FINTAC will also work with Canadian banks and financial institutions to share information and \u201cshare best practices to fight extortion.\u201d<\/p>\n
FINTAC will also provide financial institutions with clear guidance on detecting extortion transactions.<\/p>\n
Champagne said, \u201cExtortion is a serious crime that harms Canadians, businesses, and communities. Our government is strengthening financial intelligence and working closely with law enforcement and financial institutions to better detect and disrupt extortion, support investigations, and help protect Canadians.\u201d<\/p>\n
He reiterated the federal government\u2019s commitment to tackling the ongoing extortion crisis. This included putting forward Bill C-14, which, if passed, will \u201ctoughen bail and sentencing laws.\u201d<\/p>\n
This bill has gone through Parliament and is in the Senate.<\/p>\n
He also spoke about the work the government is doing to strengthen Canada\u2019s immigration system.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically ending the fraudulent use of asylum seeking by criminals to drag out processes and to avoid justice, a series of those measures are now in the Senate again,\u201d Carney said.<\/p>\n
About the Author: Anna Burns<\/p>\n
I cover breaking news, health care, court, Vancouver Rise FC, Vancouver Goldeneyes and social issues-related topics for the Surrey Now-Leader.\u00a0anna.burns@surreynowleader.com<\/a>\u00a0Follow Anna on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n