Conservatives accuse Liberals of blocking emergency debate on national extortion crisis

November 18, 2025

Prabh Sandhu

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused the federal Liberal government Tuesday of refusing to confront what he called a rapidly escalating extortion crisis affecting communities across the country.

Poilievre rose in the House of Commons requesting an emergency debate, arguing that extortion incidents have grown sharply in recent years and are now leaving families and business owners in fear for their safety. The request required unanimous consent, but Liberal MPs blocked it, preventing the debate from moving forward.

In the House, Poilievre cited federal statistics showing extortion reports rising 330 percent nationally since the Liberals formed government.

He pointed to even steeper increases in British Columbia and the Lower Mainland, where police have been dealing with organized-crime-linked threats targeting small business owners, often involving demands for money and warnings of arson or gun violence.

Poilievre blamed the rise on federal policies, including what he described as “open-door immigration practices,” the issuing of visitor visas without adequate background checks, and Bill C-5 legislation passed in 2022 that eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for several offenses, including extortion with a firearm.

He also accused the Liberals of moving too slowly to ban the Bishnoi gang, which was recently added to Canada’s list of terrorist entities.

Families and business owners in Surrey, Calgary, Edmonton, Brampton, and Windsor have increasingly reported threats, Poilievre said, adding that some fear for their children’s safety or for their employees’ lives.

The Conservative leader outlined his party’s proposed response: restoring mandatory jail terms for extortion, tightening border and visa controls, and clarifying self-defense laws for Canadians facing violent threats.

Government members did not respond in detail during the exchange. With the request denied, no emergency debate will be scheduled.

Poilievre said Conservatives will continue pressing the issue, arguing the government is failing to protect Canadians from organized criminal networks.