Life-threatening letters, emails, and phone calls for ransom have emerged as a new dimension in the rising crime scenario in Canada, casting scrutiny on the Justin Trudeau government’s lenient laws and their impact on public safety.
Reports of ransom calls targeting influential individuals in British Columbia’s lower mainland are deeply troubling. Moreover, a recent shooting incident at the bustling Payal Business Centre in Surrey, allegedly stemming from the failure to meet a ransom demand, has left many in fear. A confidential source disclosed that a young entrepreneur had recently paid a ransom of $200,000 to secure his life, choosing not to report the matter to the police. This incident may just be the tip of the iceberg, as many ransom cases are suspected to go unreported.
The question arises: why have ransom cases begun to surface in this otherwise peaceful country? How will law enforcement agencies address this challenge, especially when constrained by legal limitations? Discussions on this topic are expected to intensify until a foolproof law enforcement mechanism is established.
A growing sense of insecurity is backed by statistical data revealing a continuous increase in crime since 2014. Cases of homicide, largely attributable to gang violence, gun crimes, fraud, and other offenses, have been on the rise over the past four years.
According to senior journalist Lorrie Goldstein, Canada is now grappling with the consequences of a soft-on-crime policy toward violent offenders, initially implemented in the 1970s by then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, father of Justin Trudeau. Goldstein commented in a Toronto Sun article, “Five decades later, Canadians continue to bear the brunt of those decisions, with hardened criminals being arrested, charged, and then released on bail to commit further crimes, or, upon conviction, receiving early parole, undermining the credibility of court sentences.”
Departing from its history of mistreatment towards indigenous people, Canada has made significant strides in establishing a track record of safeguarding human rights. However, the protection of civil laws for law-abiding and peace-loving communities can only be guaranteed if brazen lawbreakers and criminals face exemplary punishments.
In some cases, law enforcement finds itself powerless to extract information from hardcore criminals about the masked culprits behind crimes. For instance, the RCMP arrested and charged two contract killers in the 2022 murder of the controversial businessman Ripudaman Singh Malik in Surrey, but the identity of those who ordered the killing remains unknown. This raises the question of whether the police need special powers to apprehend hardcore criminals involved in cases of homicide, terrorism, drug and weapon smuggling, rape, child abduction, and ransom.
India has recently declared two gangsters, Lakhbir Singh Landa and Goldy Brar, as terrorists. Accusing Canada of harboring criminals responsible for crimes in India, the Indian government asserts that Landa and Goldy Brar are hiding in Canada.
Communities are left wondering when Mr. Trudeau will take serious measures to alleviate the prevailing atmosphere of insecurity by implementing stringent law enforcement mechanisms, all while dispelling the notion that Canada serves as a safe haven for foreign criminals.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Khalsa Vox or its members.
