Mr. Speaker, last week in Surrey, federal, provincial and local leaders, along with law enforcement agencies, came together for an anti-extortion summit to address the growing threat extortion crimes bring to our communities. Extortion, often tied to organized crime, puts families and small businesses at risk.
Our government, led by our Prime Minister, is taking strong and coordinated action. We are strengthening enforcement through the B.C. extortion task force and creating a new regional integrated drug enforcement team. We are also expanding support for victim services and investing in prevention through a new youth engagement hub in Surrey.
We are taking real steps to keep our communities safe and to stop organized crime from harming families across the Lower Mainland.