Muhammad Amanullah | July 18, 2026
The True Post | Web News
Victoria: British Columbia Premier David Eby has announced plans to urge the federal government to introduce RICO-style legislation aimed at strengthening Canada’s fight against organized crime and extortion.
Eby said he will present the proposal during next week’s Council of the Federation meetings and at the First Ministers’ Meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, arguing that Canada needs stronger legal tools to dismantle criminal organizations and the networks that support them.
Eby Points to Recent U.S. Investigation
The premier said a recent investigation in the United States, which resulted in criminal charges against three British Columbia residents, highlights the need for tougher laws in Canada.
According to Eby, the case demonstrates how organized crime operates across borders and why Canadian authorities require expanded legal powers to investigate and prosecute criminal enterprises more effectively.
Proposal Inspired by U.S. RICO Law
Eby said Canada should consider legislation similar to the United States’ Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, which allows law enforcement agencies to target not only individual offenders but also the criminal organizations and financial networks behind illegal activities.
He argued that a comparable federal framework would enable authorities to pursue individuals and businesses that knowingly facilitate organized crime, even if they appear to be engaged in legitimate operations.
Balancing Public Safety and Civil Liberties
The British Columbia premier acknowledged that civil liberties advocates may raise concerns about expanding police powers.
However, he stressed that any new legislation should strike a careful balance between protecting Canadians’ constitutional rights and ensuring public safety.
“Our goal is to protect communities while respecting fundamental freedoms,” Eby said, adding that stronger legal tools are necessary to address increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
Canada Needs Stronger Legal Powers, Says Eby
Eby argued that Canada’s current legal framework does not provide sufficient authority to effectively combat organized crime, particularly as criminal groups become more complex and internationally connected.
He said adopting RICO-style measures would strengthen investigations into extortion, money laundering, and other organized criminal activities that threaten communities across the country.
U.S. Crackdown Adds Momentum
The proposal comes shortly after the U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of 24 suspects as part of an international operation targeting organized crime groups allegedly linked to India.
Among those arrested were three British Columbia residents, who are now facing extradition to the United States and a range of criminal charges.
The recent cross-border investigation has intensified discussions about whether Canada should adopt stronger federal legislation to tackle organized crime more effectively.
