As the late autumn chill settled over Ottawa last week, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre took a hardline stance that could reshape Canada’s approach to organized crime. Standing before reporters on Parliament Hill, Poilievre called for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to be officially designated as a terrorist organization – a move that would give authorities expanded powers to freeze assets and criminalize membership.
“Today, I’m calling on the Trudeau government to list the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity,” Poilievre declared, his voice carrying across the press gallery. “This gang has been linked to extortion, murder, and violence in Canada, targeting Indo-Canadian businesses and communities.”
The push comes amid growing concerns about transnational crime organizations establishing footholds in Canadian communities. The Bishnoi gang, which originated in India, has reportedly expanded operations into Canada in recent years, with authorities linking it to several high-profile incidents.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc responded cautiously to Poilievre’s demands, noting that terrorist designations follow a specific legal process. “These designations aren’t made for political convenience,” LeBlanc told reporters. “They require evidence and careful consideration by national security experts.”
For residents in communities like Brampton and Surrey, where Indo-Canadian populations are substantial, the issue transcends politics. Ravi Sharma, who owns a small business in Brampton, expressed growing anxiety about protection demands affecting local entrepreneurs.
“People are afraid to speak openly about what’s happening,” Sharma told me during a community meeting last month. “When businesses receive threats, many don’t report them because they fear repercussions for their families, both here and back in India.”
RCMP intelligence reports, portions of which were made public this summer, suggest the Bishnoi network has established connections in at least four Canadian provinces. The gang gained international notoriety following its alleged involvement in the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, though Canadian authorities have not directly linked that case to activities here.
Criminal intelligence analyst Samantha Chen from the Canadian Association for Security Studies points out the complications in Poilievre’s proposal. “Terrorist designation is typically reserved for ideologically motivated groups,” Chen explained during our phone conversation. “The Bishnoi gang, while violent, operates more like a traditional organized crime network focused on profit rather than political objectives.”
Currently, Canada lists 77 organizations as terrorist entities, including groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and certain neo-Nazi organizations. Adding a criminal gang would mark a significant shift in how the government applies anti-terrorism laws.
Statistics Canada reported a 38% increase in extortion cases between 2020 and 2023, with metropolitan areas seeing the sharpest rise. While not all cases connect to transnational gangs, police departments in Vancouver and Toronto have established specialized units to address what they describe as “an evolving threat landscape.”
Poilievre’s tough-on-crime approach represents a cornerstone of his opposition strategy. Last month in Winnipeg, he unveiled a comprehensive public safety platform that includes mandatory minimum sentences for certain violent offenses and restrictions on bail – policies the Liberal government has largely moved away from during their tenure.
“Canadians deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods again,” Poilievre insisted during his announcement. “Under Trudeau, violent criminals are released while victims suffer.”
The proposal has garnered support from some unexpected quarters. Bal Gosal, a former Conservative MP and Minister of State for Sport, believes the designation would reassure vulnerable communities. “Many people who came to Canada for safety now feel the same threats have followed them here,” Gosal remarked after a community safety forum in Mississauga.
However, civil liberties advocates express reservations about expanding terrorism laws to target criminal organizations. Carmen Rodriguez from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association warns about potential overreach. “These designations carry severe consequences, including the ability to freeze assets without traditional due process protections,” Rodriguez pointed out in a recent policy brief. “We must ensure security measures don’t undermine fundamental rights.”
The debate unfolds against the backdrop of increasing political tensions between Canada and India. Diplomatic relations have deteriorated following allegations of Indian government involvement in the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia last year – accusations India has strongly denied.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appeared reluctant to directly address Poilievre’s proposal, focusing instead on the government’s broader community safety initiatives. During Question Period, Trudeau emphasized investments in border security and community policing, suggesting the Conservative approach oversimplifies complex problems.
For communities caught in the middle, practical solutions matter more than political positioning. Gurpreet Kaur, who organizes neighborhood watch programs in Surrey, expressed frustration with the partisan nature of the debate.
“While politicians argue about designations and laws, families here are living with real fear,” Kaur told me during a community center meeting. “We need immediate protection, better coordination between agencies, and support for those afraid to come forward.”
Law enforcement officials acknowledge the challenges in combating transnational criminal networks. A senior RCMP officer, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of ongoing investigations, described the situation as “increasingly complex.”
“These groups operate across jurisdictions and borders,” the officer explained. “Traditional approaches that target street-level activity often fail to disrupt the leadership structures that direct operations from abroad.”
As Parliament approaches its winter break, Poilievre’s proposal joins a growing list of security-related initiatives that have gained little traction in the Liberal-controlled House. However, with public safety consistently ranking among voters’ top concerns in recent polls, the debate will likely intensify as Canada moves closer to the next federal election.
For Daniel Samson, whose family grocery store in east Vancouver received threatening calls last spring, the political wrangling offers little comfort. “I don’t care what they call these gangs – terrorist, criminal, whatever,” Samson said while checking inventory. “I just want my family to feel safe again.”
