Canadian Intelligence to Address Extortion Crime, Says Federal Minister

The federal finance minister, François-Philippe Champagne, announced the deployment of financial intelligence experts in Mississauga, Ont., to combat rising extortion threats targeting Canadian businesses, especially in South Asian communities. This initiative follows calls from Brampton and Caledon mayors for a multi-jurisdictional strategy, and it aims to enhance cooperation between the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and local law enforcement. With 476 extortion crimes reported in Peel Region last year, the government seeks to improve information sharing among financial institutions to better identify and investigate criminal networks. Champagne emphasized that the message to criminals is clear: “Enough is enough.”