Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to speak about Abbotsford, where last week there were three shootings in three days. It is devastating to have another member of our community, Mr. Darshan Sasi, killed. I want to thank the Abbotsford Police Department and our first responders for their quick action, but this should not be the norm. The pressures they face to protect our crime-ridden communities are evident.
In September, the Abbotsford police launched a dedicated task force to combat a troubling rise in extortion, with 38 reports since 2023. It is not just Abbotsford; across Canada, violent crime is up nearly 50%, homicides nearly 28% and extortion 357%. The bail and sentencing reform act before Parliament must take these devastating numbers seriously. Public safety should not be a partisan issue.
I have heard everyone who has reached out to me. They should know that the Conservative Party is fighting for the change they want to see in their communities.