Thank you, Chair.
I have been waiting patiently to discuss this very important motion. This has been impacting the residents of my community in the Lower Mainland. As stated in the motion itself, we see that numbers have spiked like we've never seen before. We've seen these numbers jump 400% in our Lower Mainland communities. We see the number as high as 500% in B.C. as well. What we're seeing is extraordinary, and that's why it's so important to me, because I'm a B.C. resident.
Members of my community have been asking me, “Hey, what do we do? We currently feel like our public safety is vulnerable.” That's what my residents have been saying to me. We hear stories from families because, when you live on the ground, people.... A member from the Bloc the other day said that there's no way there are people living in Canada who are afraid for their lives every single day. One of our Bloc colleagues said this. I encourage him to come to my riding, come to Surrey, where they say it's ground zero.
Just recently, the mayor of Surrey came down to Ottawa. She has called for a national state of emergency. That's how bad it's gotten in Canada. That's how bad it's gotten in our community, for my residents of Abbotsford—South Langley, for Surrey and for Lower Mainland residents. They are calling on the government to bring precaution, to bring justice to the ones who have been repeat offenders on our streets and to tighten up security. They're asking for a castle law to be passed.
Members of my community are so terrified. They're sleeping, and they don't know if a bullet is going to come flying into their bedroom window. They're choosing to sleep in their basements nowadays with their kids. The kids and the wives of these men are telling them not to go to work, because they're scared that if Papa goes to work, they don't know if he's going to return back home that night. Businesses are being shot at. Family members are feeling this pressure now more than ever. It's due to these extortion cases ramping up.
The thing is, we've identified this problem. Way back, over a year ago, our deputy leader Tim Uppal brought forth a bill. It was called the protection against extortion act. The bill had “extortion” in the writing of it. This is stuff that we tabled for tougher sentencing, for real consequences. Just last year, in the fall season, we had the jail not bail bill brought forward, which we encouraged our colleagues to adopt in the House as well. Sadly, that was voted out.
Around seven to 10 days ago, we had a motion on extortion that was brought forward to the House. It was to close the loophole of these fake asylum cases that are being brought up after these criminals cause chaos and terrorize our streets. They're using and abusing the loophole in the justice system to seek asylum and to stay in Canada. We encourage that, but we don't want them to be on our streets. We want them to be sentenced. We want them not to have the bail that they are currently receiving. They should feel the full thrash of justice in Canada, and they should not be out on our streets.
We want to make sure that we bring this motion forward, because our citizens and members of our nation are terrified. They're looking for answers.
I seek unanimous consent throughout our committee here and to engage with the members and their opinions. As well, my colleagues on my side from B.C. are very concerned.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I'm looking forward to having unanimous consent on this motion.
