Four provinces to meet in Surrey as to discuss extortion wave

January 29, 2026

RED FM News Desk

British Columbia Premier David Eby has announced that officials from four provinces impacted by a surge in extortion will convene in Surrey for an urgent summit. The meeting aims to dismantle a violent extortion wave that has seen numerous homes and local businesses targeted by gunfire.

The summit will bring together officials from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. They are set to coordinate directly with the head of the RCMP’s national team, which was specifically formed to investigate these high-stakes cases. While a firm date has not yet been set, the meeting is expected to take place in Surrey within the next two weeks.

According to Premier Eby, the primary goal of the gathering is to ensure seamless information-sharing across provincial borders. By aligning resources and intelligence, authorities hope to close existing gaps in investigations to ensure that those behind the criminal networks are arrested and successfully prosecuted.

The announcement follows a high-level meeting in Ottawa between Premier Eby and Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Prime Minister has pledged significant federal resources and funding for the RCMP in B.C., specifically to bolster anti-gang units tasked with tackling extortion files.

Further details were provided by Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, who confirmed that 20 additional RCMP officers will be deployed to Surrey to provide boots-on-the-ground support. Additionally, the federal government will provide helicopter resources to enhance police surveillance of criminal activity. Minister Anandasangaree emphasized that dismantling these organized crime networks is a top priority for the government.

The federal intervention comes after Surrey City Council passed a motion earlier this week urging Ottawa to declare a national state of emergency over the crisis. While a state of emergency has not been declared, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke continues to push for further action, including the appointment of a “National Extortion Commissioner.” She is scheduled to meet with Minister Anandasangaree in Ottawa next week to discuss the proposal.

The situation in Surrey remains critical, with 37 extortion-related cases reported to date, nine of which involved incidents of gunfire.