The Canadian government has announced a series of new measures aimed at tackling the growing threat of extortion and organized crime, with a renewed focus on tracing illicit financial flows and strengthening coordination among enforcement agencies.

At the center of the plan is a strategy to “detect and disrupt” financial crime by following the “movement of the ill-got money.” The initiative, branded as “Follow the Money,” seeks to enhance cooperation between law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and border authorities to track and dismantle criminal networks.

Finance and National Revenue Minister François-Philippe Champagne was joined in Mississauga by Rechie Valdez, Maninder Sidhu, and Shafqat Ali to announce the measures, declaring “enough is enough.”

The ministers emphasized that extortion has become an alarming reality for many individuals and businesses across Canada, particularly in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. They said improved financial intelligence collection and information sharing would help authorities trace criminal networks, support investigations, and hold offenders accountable.

According to officials, extortion crimes are often carried out by organized networks operating across borders and using digital platforms. Last year, Surrey police reported 133 extortion threats and 49 shootings. In Ontario, authorities recently charged 27 individuals, including seven Toronto police officers, in a corruption probe linked to an alleged plot to assassinate a corrections officer.

Mayors in several cities have raised concerns about rising cases of attempted extortion, shootings, and arsons targeting members of the South Asian community, particularly those of Punjabi origin. Some have urged Ottawa to declare the situation a national emergency.

Following a visit to India, British Columbia Premier David Eby met Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa and offered to host a national policing summit in Vancouver to address the issue collaboratively.

Champagne said, “Extortion is a serious crime that harms Canadians, businesses, and communities. Our government is strengthening financial intelligence and working closely with law enforcement and financial institutions to better detect and disrupt extortion, support investigations, and help protect Canadians.”

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree added, “Communities across Canada are feeling the impact of extortion. Our government is taking action by investing in prevention, strengthening enforcement, improving intelligence sharing, deepening collaboration at home and abroad, and bringing in tougher laws for extortion-related offences,” adding “Working with provincial, territorial, and municipal partners and law enforcement agencies across the country, we are taking a coordinated approach to combat this threat. The new measures announced today give police even more tools to target extortion and cut off the illicit money that fuels it.”

Valdez said, “Small businesses are the backbone of Peel Region’s economy. When organized crime targets businesses in our neighborhoods, it puts entrepreneurs, employees, and entire communities at risk. Today’s measures reinforce that we will protect the hardworking business owners who power our local economies and ensure they can operate in safety and stability.”

Sidhu noted, “In Brampton, I’ve heard from families and business owners about the real fear that extortion creates in our community. No one should feel unsafe in their own neighborhood or workplace. Our new government is strengthening the work of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada and coordinating with partners such as the RCMP and other law enforcement agencies. We are following the money, targeting criminal networks, and protecting our communities.”

Ali said: “By strengthening cooperation between governments, law enforcement and financial institutions, we are taking action to disrupt criminal networks, protect livelihoods and ensure Canadians, including families and businesses in Brampton, can live and work without fear.”

Key Measures Announced

The government is mobilizing the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada to support enforcement efforts. Key steps include:

• Surging financial intelligence resources: FINTRAC will prioritize extortion-related investigations to provide more timely and relevant intelligence to police.
• Launching a counter-extortion partnership: FINTRAC will collaborate with banks, credit unions, virtual asset service providers, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and other agencies to improve information sharing.
• Deploying liaison officers: Dedicated financial intelligence experts will work directly with local law enforcement in heavily affected provinces.
• Issuing targeted guidance: A Targeted Indicator Profile will help financial institutions identify patterns commonly associated with extortion and report suspicious transactions promptly.
• Publishing strategic intelligence: FINTRAC will release reports detailing how criminals launder extortion proceeds to improve detection capabilities.

These measures build on broader federal initiatives, including the creation of a new Canada Financial Crimes Agency and expanded investments in policing.

Budget and Legislative Measures

Budget 2025 allocates $1.7 billion to strengthen the response of the RCMP to transnational organized crime, financial crimes, and money laundering. The funding supports enhanced intelligence capacity and fulfills a commitment to hire 1,000 additional RCMP personnel, including 150 dedicated to financial crime investigations.

The proposed Financial Crimes Agency will serve as Canada’s lead enforcement body against complex financial crimes, uniting law enforcement and civilian expertise to investigate money laundering, organized crime, and online fraud, and to recover illicit assets. Legislation to establish the agency is expected by spring 2026.

Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, proposes reforms to enhance anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing oversight. The bill would significantly increase civil and criminal penalties for violations.

Since 2019, the federal government has invested nearly $379 million to combat financial crimes, strengthening financial intelligence operations and investigative capacity nationwide.

Officials said the latest measures are designed to reinforce collaboration across federal, provincial, and municipal levels to disrupt criminal extortion networks and restore public confidence in community safety.

Related posts:

Extortion Fears Mount Across Canada as Community Leaders and Parliament Press for Federal Action Brampton Seeks Federal Action as Extortion and Transnational Crime Target Punjabi Community in Canada Canadian Leaders Urge Terrorist Designation for Lawrence Bishnoi Gang Amid Threats to South Asian Community B.C. Premier Calls for National Police Meeting as Surrey Arrests Mark Possible Breakthrough in Extortion Cases