February 16, 2026
RED FM News Desk
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown is calling on the federal government to toughen border legislation and modernize digital surveillance laws, warning that a growing extortion crisis could expand “to every city in Canada” without urgent action.
In recent public comments and an opinion piece, Brown said organized criminals are exploiting encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp to threaten business owners with demands for protection money. While many incidents begin with messages or phone calls, some have escalated into violence. Brown has previously said he was among those targeted with alleged threats.
Peel Region has seen a sharp rise in extortion complaints since 2020. Police reported 490 incidents in 2024. Although overall cases dipped slightly in 2025, business-targeted extortions continue to increase, with 172 reported so far this year.
Brown argues police need quicker access to subscriber and transmission data to identify suspects and prevent attacks. He has pointed to reforms previously included in the federal government’s reworked Bill C-2, which aimed to streamline lawful access to electronic records.
He also voiced support for Bill C-12, which would expand powers for border agencies to intercept smuggled weapons, drugs and stolen vehicles, and introduce tighter immigration controls.
Without stronger federal tools, Brown said, the organized networks behind the threats will continue to grow beyond the regions already affected.
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