Latest news with #Eby
Global News
13 hours ago
- Business
- Global News
B.C. Premier David Eby says it will be a busy summer as he reflects on past 8 months
B.C. Premier David Eby says it has been an 'eventful' period for British Columbians since he was re-elected in October. 'What we set out during the election campaign, which was in advance of the (Donald) Trump election, has shifted quite dramatically in terms of where we have to be,' Eby told Global News in a one-on-one interview. 'And so the focus has been on ensuring that B.C. can assume the role that we have assumed now, which is to be the economic engine for the country.' Eby said that while his government did not provide a $1,000 grocery rebate to residents, they did remove the carbon tax, as promised. 'The focus of our government has been ensuring that we're bringing the most vulnerable along, but the group of people that really feels pressure has expanded,' Eby added. Story continues below advertisement 'It includes the middle class, concerns around housing and health care and safe communities, which are the focus of our government.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Eby also said the province is working to diversify trading partners, especially in the Asia Pacific, including Malaysia, Korea and Japan. One of the big issues still facing Eby's government is housing. 'Rents are unacceptably high, which is why we continue to push on housing, why we're buying land around transit stations to build more rental housing, why we are giving direct support to more seniors through the Safer Programme so they can afford rent,' he said. 'The work needs to continue. The good news is we're finally pointing in the right direction. Rents are coming down. We've had eight months of decreases overall, we're the only province that's seen that. But we have to continue doing the work because they are too high.' 2:02 B.C. premier wants Ottawa to declare Indian gang a terrorist organization As summer gets underway, Eby said there is still a lot of work to be done. Story continues below advertisement 'First of all, it's advancing the economic work with the federal government, with the other provinces, whether it's corridors, internal trade, building major projects, ensuring that British Columbians have access to good jobs, as we see the direct attack on sectors like our forest sector here in British Columbia,' he said. 'The second is, I am hopeful we won't, but I am worried that we might see a significant wildfire season again, so supporting British Columbians through that, if we have to have large-scale evacuations like Manitoba and Ontario have had to do. 'The third, and I think a critical piece, is we have to continue to advance the work on a variety of other fronts, ensuring that our health-care system is strong.'
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Why B.C. wants India's Bishnoi gang classified as a terrorist group
A day after Premier David Eby called on the federal government to classify India's Bishnoi gang as a terrorist group, it's unclear how that might help police investigating a series of extortions targeting B.C.'s South Asian community. The announcement, made Tuesday, caught some by surprise, as police have been reluctant to comment on a link between the extortions and the gang, whose founder, Lawrence Bishnoi, has been locked in an Indian prison since 2014. B.C. Opposition public safety critic Elenore Sturko said she was unaware police had 'definitively' linked the Bishnoi gang to any extortion cases and questioned the timing of the premier's comments. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'The police haven't come out and told my community that this gang is responsible for these incidents,' she said, calling the announcement 'dramatic' and 'headline-grabbing.' Former B.C. solicitor general Kash Heed accused Eby of 'raising Bishnoi's profile' by linking him to terrorism: 'It's a political response when what is needed is an operational response.' He said that while Bishnoi's name has certainly been mentioned by extortionists in their threats, it's unclear if the gang is behind the extortions, or if it's simply being invoked as an intimidation tactic. Here's what we know about the Bishnoi gang and its links to B.C.: The Bishnoi gang is an organized crime group in northern India that appears to have extended its influence to North America in recent years. Indian media have reported that extortion is a significant source of the gang's income. While founder Bishnoi has been incarcerated for the last decade, he appears to have been able to maintain communication with his associates. In 2022, Bishnoi's associate Goldy Brar, who was based in Canada, claimed responsibility for the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, who was shot in India but also had ties to Canada. Brar remains at large. B.C. police have been hesitant to reveal any evidence tying the Bishnoi gang to the extortions happening in Surrey. While police have received dozens of extortion reports since early 2023, there seems to be a recent uptick in the number of people who have received letters, phone calls and social-media messages demanding money under threat of violence. Several houses and businesses in Surrey have also been shot up in recent weeks in cases linked to extortion efforts. In his announcement Tuesday, Eby said the gang had been linked to some extortions and other crimes against South Asian community members in B.C., Alberta and Ontario, but didn't provide specific details. In December 2023, police in Abbotsford said they were investigating extortions targeting affluent members of the South Asian community. A leaked police information bulletin suggested they may be linked to the Bishnoi gang, but police later said that hadn't been confirmed. Heed suggested the extortion attempts in Abbotsford at that time, which involved a flyer filled with spelling mistakes, were distributed by a 'copycat' opportunist. Other extortion attempts, some of which have successfully netted millions of dollars, are more sophisticated and seem to be originating from outside Canada, he said. The extortionists have information about victim's family members in India, as well as their lives and businesses. They often ask for money to be wired to banks in India. Even so, Heed said he firmly believes Bishnoi is little more than a 'thug' and calling him a terrorist only serves to amplify his reputation and increase fear. Eby said he plans to write to the federal government this week to request the terrorist listing for the Bishnoi gang. 'This is a serious step,' he said. 'It gives police significant investigative tools. We don't make this recommendation lightly, but this activity strikes at public confidence in the justice system, in our democracy and in the safety of community, and it erodes public confidence in the rule of law.' A terrorist listing means the federal government can freeze any property of that group in Canada. It also gives police more tools to prosecute terrorist offences, including those related to financing, travel and recruitment. In February, Canada classified seven cartels linked to fentanyl production as terrorist groups. At that time, there were 86 terrorist entities listed under the Criminal Code. Heed was skeptical that the terrorist designation would have any impact on the ground. 'They designated the cartels. What difference has that made on supply and drug use in B.C.?' he asked. He wants to see a task force independent of both Surrey police and the RCMP with members seconded from across Metro Vancouver to conduct the investigation. He suggested housing the task force under Vancouver police jurisdiction with resources provided by the province. Heed pointed to a successful operation called Project Gaslight by police in Edmonton, which resulted in the arrest of six people, including two Indian nationals, after a series of extortions, drive-by shootings and arsons targeting South Asian homebuilders. Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, 35, is believed to be the leader of the criminal group responsible for the extortions. Police had previously said he was affiliated with the Brothers Keepers gang. Earlier this year he was arrested on unrelated charges in the United Arab Emirates. Canada has applied to extradite him to face charges in the extortion scheme. The arrest of four Indian nationals in the murder of Surrey Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2024 renewed interest in the Bishnoi gang's links to Canada. All four — three Edmonton residents and a fourth arrested in Ontario — allegedly had some association with the group. At the time, Sgt. Brenda Winpenny of B.C.'s anti-gang Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit said the agency was 'aware of individuals operating under this name Bishnoi and we are working with our partners to share any kind of intelligence or information.' Balpreet Singh of the World Sikh Organization of Canada said he supported Eby's request, claiming the Indian government has been using the gang as a proxy to commit violent acts. In 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said 'Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India' and Nijjar's killing. With files from The Canadian Press gluymes@
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
British Columbia Premier urges terrorist label for Lawrence Bishnoi Gang
British Columbia Premier David Eby has asked the Canadian government to take action against the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, saying he wants the India-based gang declared a terrorist organisation in Canada. Eby stated that the initiative is intended to provide law enforcement with stronger tools to tackle the gang's expanding extortion premier said the Lawrence Bishnoi gang had been linked to extortions and other crimes against South Asian community members in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, according to The Canadian said on Tuesday that he plans to send a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, requesting that the gang be officially designated as a terrorist organisation to enable police to be able to use the necessary tools to investigate. He sought action against the gang following a public safety forum which was held over the weekend in Surrey to address crimes being faced by South Asian businesses."This is a serious step. It gives police significant investigative tools. We don't make this recommendation lightly, but this activity strikes at public confidence in the justice system, in our democracy and in the safety of the community, and it erodes public confidence in the rule of law," CTV News quoted Eby as noted that these extortion threats – which have been accompanied by shootings and arsons in some cases – are occurring in cities across the country, including Edmonton and Brampton, CTV News Lawrence Bishnoi gang, named after its jailed gangster in India, has been linked to a series of high-profile criminal cases, including extortion threats to Indian celebrities and businessmen, with alleged overseas operatives playing a key role, according to a report in gangster Bishnoi is presently incarcerated at Sabarmati Central Jail in LAWS NOT ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH LAWRENCE BISHNOI GANG: EBYEby pointed out that while an RCMP task force is already active in addressing the extortion threats, conventional policing methods might not be adequate to tackle the issue effectively."They need additional tools to respond to the fact that this is transnational organised crime. This is more in the nature of terrorism than it is traditional crime," he mentioned that the federal government had previously implemented comparable measures against a Mexican drug cartel."We don't make this recommendation lightly, but this activity strikes at public confidence in the justice system, in our democracy," he December 2023, police in Abbotsford, British Columbia, said they were investigating extortions targeting affluent members of the South Asian community and the crimes had ties to the Bishnoi gang, The Canadian Press Reel
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
‘This Is Serious…': British Columbia Premier Urges Terror Tag For Lawrence Bishnoi Gang
Last Updated: British Columbia Premier David Eby has alleged that gang has been linked to extortion and other crimes against South Asian community members in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario. British Columbia Premier David Eby has mulled to ask Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to officially declare the Lawrence Bishnoi gang a 'terrorist organisation" in the country, adding that it had been linked to many crimes. Days after the Indian community members held a public safety forum against extortion, Eby said he would write to Carney to formally designate the gang as a terrorist organisation amid a surge in violent extortion cases linked to the group across multiple Canadian provinces. On Tuesday, the premier said he will write to about it 'to enable police to be able to use the necessary tools to investigate." 'This is a serious step," Eby said. 'We don't make this recommendation lightly, but this activity strikes at public confidence in the justice system, in our democracy." He alleged that the gang had been linked to extortion and other crimes against South Asian community members in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Citing a pattern of transnational organised crime, he said that existing law enforcement powers may fall short, and a terrorist designation would allow police to use enhanced legal tools. 'They need additional tools to respond to the fact that this is transnational organised crime," he said. 'This is more in the nature of terrorism than it is traditional crime. The community is terrified, and action needs to be taken." As Eby stressed his demand, Balpreet Singh from World Sikh Organisation said he supported his request. Eby pointed out that the federal government had previously added Mexican drug cartels to Canada's list of terrorist entities, an approach he believed is now warranted in this case. Canada's police had earlier reported that South Asian community members are being extorted under threat of violence or death. Adding that Lawrence Bishnoi gang has been linked to some of those threats. One victim, Satish Kumar who was the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Temple and owner of Reflections Banquet Halls, told the Vancouver Sun that he received a threat after refusing to pay $2 million to an extortionist. Abbotsford police had earlier confirmed that some extortion cases targeting wealthy South Asians in the region were linked to the Bishnoi network. National Investigation Agency (NIA) has described Lawrence Bishnoi as running a 'terror syndicate" from Indian jails, with operations extending to Canada through local associates. The Bishnoi gang has been under increased scrutiny since the killing of singer Sidhu Moosewala in 2022, which was allegedly orchestrated by its members. Meanwhile, Elenore Sturko, B C Opposition public safety critic, opposed Eby's demand, saying that other issues need addressing. Sturko asserted that she is unaware that police 'definitively" linked Bishnoi gang to extortion cases, further questioning the timing of Eby's comment. 'The police haven't come out and told my community that this gang is responsible for these incidents," she said. 'This is a very dramatic and headline-grabbing thing that the premier's done today, but I hope it doesn't distract from the fact that there are other issues at play here that need addressing," she added. (With inputs from agencies)
Scroll.in
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Canadian provincial chief calls for Lawrence Bishnoi gang to be designated as ‘terrorists'
The premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia, David Eby, on Tuesday urged the federal government to designate jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's group as a terrorist organisation, reported CBC News. The move is aimed at tackling extortion cases linked to the group in several provinces of the North American country. This came after a public safety forum was held over the weekend in Surrey to address crimes being faced by South Asian business owners. Police have said that members of the community were being extorted after being threatened with death or violence. Bishnoi's gang is allegedly linked to such cases. Bishnoi, a gangster from Punjab, is currently lodged at Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Central Jail. He has been linked to multiple crimes, including the Canadian government's allegations that agents of the Indian government were working with his gang to plan and execute violence in North America. 'There are allegations that gangs in India are operating here in our province, and in other provinces, to intimidate and extort business owners,' The Globe and Mail quoted Eby as having told reporters in Victoria on Tuesday. The provincial chief said that he would be writing to Prime Minister Mark Carney 'to ask that one of the gangs that is self-identified as being involved in some of these activities, the Lawrence Bishnoi group, be listed as a terrorist organisation in Canada'. The alleged operations of the gang extended across British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, Eby said. He further noted that existing law enforcement powers may fall short due to a pattern of transnational organised crime, adding that a terrorist designation would allow police to use enhanced legal tools, The Indian Express reported. 'They need additional tools to respond to the fact that this is transnational organised crime,' the newspaper quoted Eby as having said. 'This is more in the nature of terrorism than it is traditional crime. The community is terrified, and action needs to be taken.' On June 13, the Surrey Police Service said that it had formed an extortion investigations team after receiving ten reports of such cases over the past six months, The Globe and Mail reported. The cases involved persons or businesses from the South Asian community being contacted through a letter, phone calls or social media, the police said. They faced demands for money made under threats of violence. 'We discourage anyone from responding to such demands,' Chief Superintendent Wendy Mehat, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police liaison for Surrey, had stated. 'Officers are working to prevent these traumatising situations and to holding those responsible to account.' In India, the National Investigation Agency had earlier claimed that Bishnoi was running a 'terror syndicate' from jails in the country, with operations extending to Canada through local associates, The Indian Express reported. The Mumbai Police suspect his involvement in the killing of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique in October. Bishnoi has also been accused of masterminding the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala on May 29, 2022.
