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A sharp rise in extortion threats and transnational organized crime has pushed civic authorities in several Canadian cities — particularly those with large Punjabi immigrant populations — to seek urgent intervention from provincial and federal governments, warning that municipal resources are being stretched beyond capacity.

After British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta were rocked by a growing wave of extortion-related crime, cities and towns across Canada have begun appealing for coordinated action to protect their communities.

City councils have held town hall meetings with victims, law enforcement officials and intelligence agencies, but the problem has continued to escalate. Despite repeated debates in the House of Commons, residents and business owners report ongoing threats, including extortion calls and incidents of gunfire targeting homes and commercial properties.

The Punjabi community — and Sikhs in particular — has been disproportionately affected, community leaders say.

The latest appeal came from the City of Brampton, one of Canada’s largest hubs for Indian immigrants. Mayor Patrick Brown wrote this week to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, citing an emergency motion unanimously adopted by Brampton City Council.

“I am writing further to a motion adopted by Brampton City Council concerning the escalating threat of extortion and transnational organized crime affecting the City of Brampton and the broader Region of Peel,” Brown wrote.

He said the motion was also shared with the premier of Ontario and the province’s solicitor general “to underscore the seriousness and urgency of this matter.”

“Extortion driven by transnational criminal networks has increased at an alarming rate in Peel Region, with small businesses and vulnerable community members being disproportionately targeted through threats of violence, arson and intimidation,” Brown wrote. “The scale, sophistication and cross-border nature of these crimes place them well beyond what municipal resources alone can sustainably address.”

Brown acknowledged recent federal action in British Columbia, where Ottawa has funded integrated enforcement teams and victim support programs to combat organized crime.

“These measures recognize that extortion and organized crime are national public safety issues requiring federal leadership, coordination and resources,” he said.

He argued that Peel Region now faces extortion levels comparable to those that prompted federal intervention in British Columbia and called for similar support.

“Without comparable federal investment, communities such as Brampton are left exposed to criminal networks that operate internationally, exploit digital platforms and rely on intimidation to silence victims,” Brown wrote.

Following a motion introduced by Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh, Brown urged Ottawa to extend dedicated funding for extortion and organized-crime task forces to Peel Region; provide targeted funding for victim support and culturally informed outreach; and establish formal intelligence-sharing frameworks among federal, provincial and municipal agencies.

“These actions would significantly strengthen public safety, protect vulnerable communities and ensure a coordinated national response to a threat that is neither local nor isolated,” he wrote.

In a separate letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Brown made a similar appeal, stressing the human and economic toll of extortion-related crime.

“Extortion-related crimes have increased significantly in Peel Region, with small businesses, families and community members facing threats of violence, property damage and intimidation,” Brown wrote. “These crimes often go underreported due to fear and lack of access to culturally appropriate and adequately resourced victim support services.”

He pointed to the joint federal-provincial model used in British Columbia, where victims receive safety planning, outreach and trauma-informed care, and called for Ontario to establish a dedicated victim support fund in partnership with Ottawa.

“A provincial commitment to victim support would complement law enforcement efforts, reduce long-term social and economic costs and demonstrate Ontario’s leadership in protecting communities from organized criminal activity that transcends municipal boundaries,” Brown wrote.

He said Brampton is ready to work with provincial and federal partners to develop solutions reflecting the severity of the challenge and the needs of affected communities.