January 22,2026
RED FM News Desk
British Columbia is investing $600,000 to expand the province’s forensic firearms lab, a move officials say is aimed at addressing the recent surge in extortion-related violence.
The announcement comes a day after Premier David Eby criticized the head of B.C.’s anti-extortion task force for not labeling the recent wave of violence as a crisis—a remark for which RCMP Assistant Commissioner John Brewer has since apologized.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Public Safety, the new funding will boost the lab’s capacity and efficiency in processing forensic evidence related to gun crimes. The expansion is expected to allow investigators to prioritize testing on “crucial investigative files,” accelerate approvals for extortion-related charges, and provide key data to support coordinated policing strategies.
According to a report by The Canadian Press ,the lab, established in 2021, processed nearly 870 exhibits in 2024, up from 625 the previous year. In recent weeks, Metro Vancouver’s Surrey alone has seen 34 shootings and other acts of extortion violence, prompting Mayor Brenda Locke to write to Ottawa calling for the creation of a national extortion commissioner.
B.C. Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger said the lab expansion is intended to be part of a broader effort to tackle extortion. “We are ensuring that police have the tools, resources and intelligence support they need to hold these offenders accountable,” she said.
Brewer had apologized a day earlier for his comments, acknowledging they may have “impacted public confidence” after he declined to describe the situation as a crisis. Eby criticized Brewer, suggesting he should “step aside” if he did not recognize the urgency of the issue.
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