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CTV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
B.C. public safety critic calls for provincial task force on fentanyl trafficking, transnational crime
Fentanyl is pictured in evidence bags during an RCMP news conference in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, April 10, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns B.C.'s public safety critic is urging the NDP government to intensify its enforcement efforts regarding fentanyl trafficking and transnational crime. Elenore Sturko, a member of the B.C. Conservatives, said the NDP continues to dismiss concerns raised by the United States, referring to them as 'trade war rhetoric.' 'The NDP have allowed B.C. to become a hub for foreign-backed drug traffickers entering the global market,' Sturko said. 'British Columbians urgently need decisive action and accountability.' Sturko referenced comments made by FBI Director Kash Patel on the widely popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast last week, in which Patel stated that B.C. has become a central hub for the fentanyl trafficking trade. Read more: Trump's FBI director discusses Vancouver, fentanyl in Joe Rogan interview In response to Patel's remarks, B.C. Public Safety Minister Garry Begg issued a statement to CTV News, pointing to U.S. government statistics that show 'less than one per cent' of fentanyl seized at U.S. borders last year came from Canada. 'It's no surprise that Trump's appointee would use his position to continue the president's narrative to justify his tariffs,' Begg said. 'Their Drug Enforcement Agency's National Drug Threat Assessment report in 2023 and 2024 didn't even mention Canada.' However, the 2025 report did highlight B.C., specifically referencing a major drug bust in Falkland. Read more: Mounties in B.C. raid 'largest and most sophisticated' drug lab in Canadian history Court documents from B.C.'s Civil Forfeiture Director also show links between Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and the owner of a Surrey home that was raided by authorities last year. Read more: B.C. drug dealers linked to prominent Mexican cartel, lawsuit claims While the NDP points to the ongoing trade war with the U.S., another B.C. politician argues that American concerns about Canada's lack of enforcement on drug trafficking and organized crime have been longstanding. Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West shared with CTV News a letter from former U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken, which was sent after a meeting between the two at a summit in Colorado in May 2023. West says Blinken expressed concerns shared by high-ranking U.S. officials about Canada—and B.C. specifically—being a hub for traffickers. West also highlighted the U.S.'s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), which has been used to successfully convict major figures in organized crime. Canada, however, lacks such a law. 'It is a fact that Canada has not been able to successfully criminally prosecute people involved in industrial-scale drug trafficking,' West said. 'If you're involved in a criminal activity on an international scale, and there's a jurisdiction with deficient laws and a track record of failure to prosecute those involved, you're going to say, 'That's the place to be.'' While the federal government has appointed a 'Fentanyl Czar,' Sturko says the NDP need to create a bipartisan provincial task force to address fentanyl trafficking, transnational crime, and drug production in B.C. 'We need a government that is first and foremost going to come out strong on these issues, acknowledging that they exist as dangerous to our province, and then coming up with a real plan,' she said. In a statement to CTV News responding to Sturko's comments, Begg said: 'What MLA Sturko refers to as 'curated data' is data from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol about fentanyl seizures at the Canada/US border. The reality is, less than one per cent of fentanyl in the USA comes from here. That's a small fraction – but it doesn't mean we don't take it seriously.' He continued, 'B.C. is a leader in Canada in cracking down on transnational criminals. We're the first province to implement unexplained wealth orders, and we've pushed Ottawa for a national anti-racketeering law. Police in B.C. are actively investigating and enforcing illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking in our province.'
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
$90K granted to projects in Williams Lake to enhance public safety
B.C.'s Civil Forfeiture Office is granting $90,000 towards projects in Williams Lake which aim to prevent crime and domestic violence. The province announced on Thursday, June 5 a total of $7.5 million in grants to go towards initiatives across the province expected to help with crime prevention, healing and public safety. In Williams Lake, grants will fund projects proposed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Williams Lake (BBBS), the Cariboo-Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society (CCPL) and the Canadian Mental Health Association Cariboo Chilcotin (CMHA). The first two organizations are receiving grants through the crime prevention stream of funding, the latter through the domestic violence prevention/intervention stream. 'Community safety is one of our top priorities,' said Garry Begg, minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. 'A key part of that is ensuring organizations working in our communities have the resources they need to effect change.' $40,000 will fund the BBBS' In-School Mentoring Program which provides stable, supportive relationships for early adolescents to help prevent antisocial and gang related behaviours. $17,000 will go towards the CCPL's Just-in-Time Tutoring for Youth at Risk project which will offers one-on-one or small group after-school tutoring with the goal of supporting high risk youth to successfully complete high school. $33,000 will fund the CMHA's 'Become the Change' project. 'This project will deliver a voluntary program for individuals 18+ at low to moderate risk of or who have perpetrated domestic violence, promoting awareness, changes harmful behaviours, teaches healthy boundaries, fosters support, and enhances community responsiveness to domestic violence.' These three projects are among a total of 166 community-led projects in B.C. to be granted funding in the Civil Forfeiture Office 's 2024-2025 round of grants. Along with the prevention of crime and domestic violence, the Civil Forfeiture Grants are going towards initiatives focused on child and youth advocacy, gender-based violence, Indigenous healing and restorative justice. 'Whether it's helping youth, preventing gender-based violence or supporting Indigenous healing, these investments are empowering communities to implement community-based initiatives that enhance safety,' said Begg. Another 118 projects in B.C. are receiving funding through a one-time grant, amounting to a total of $900,000 to support specialized police equipment and training. A full list of recipients can be found on B.C.'s Community Crime Prevention webpage . If you are the victim of a crime, Victim Services can help you navigate supports available to you. Call the toll-free, 24/7, confidential service line VictimLinkBC at 1-800-563-0808 or or email VictimLinkBC@ for assistance. Learn more by visiting B.C.'s Victim Help and Support webpage . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
26-03-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
New round of ICBC rebates going out to eligible British Columbians
Eligible ICBC customers will soon find themselves with an extra $110 as a new round of rebates is sent out, the auto insurer announced Wednesday. ICBC said in a release that most customers who had an active Basic insurance policy in January 2025 will be eligible for the rebates, which total $410 million. It added this was the fifth rebate for ICBC customers since February 2021. "When ICBC is financially strong and stable, we all benefit," said ICBC President and CEO David Wong. "We're able to provide this rebate back to our customers thanks to strong investment returns. We've also been able to hold Basic insurance rates steady with no increases for six years while maintaining healthy capital reserves." Eligible drivers will receive a letter, which includes the rebate amount and payment method. Drivers who paid for their insurance by credit card will see the rebate refunded to the card, ICBC said. Those who paid by cash, cheque or debit will see it refunded by cheque or direct deposit, the insurer added. Additionally, in light of U.S. trade actions, ICBC said it will be working exclusively with Canadian vendors to deliver the rebates. "This rebate is just one small way for ICBC to give back to its customers as we all navigate global economic uncertainty and increased costs in the face of unjustified tariffs," said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Garry Begg.
