B.C. urges swift Senate approval of Bill C-12 amid concerns over extortion cases

The British Columbia government is calling on federal lawmakers to move quickly on proposed legislation aimed at preventing organized crime groups from exploiting Canada’s immigration system while involved in extortion and other serious offences.

Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger has written to federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and to the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, urging the Senate to advance Bill C-12 without delay. The province says the proposed reforms would address legal gaps that have been used by some individuals linked to organized crime.

In a statement, Krieger said extortion has created fear among families and business owners across B.C., particularly in urban centres where police have reported a rise in cases targeting members of the South Asian community. She noted that some suspects have attempted to use refugee claims or temporary visa status to delay removal from Canada.

According to the province, law enforcement agencies have encountered cases in which individuals connected to extortion investigations held expired visas, were non compliant with study permits, or had pending refugee applications while allegedly participating in violent criminal activity. If passed, Bill C-12 would allow federal authorities to accelerate inadmissibility decisions and removals for foreign nationals found to have established ties to organized criminal networks.

The B.C. government argues that the changes would strengthen coordination between provincial police services and federal immigration officials, while reinforcing public confidence in the integrity of the immigration system. The bill remains under consideration in the Senate.