Canada’s public safety minister told the House of Commons on Wednesday (Jan. 28) that two helicopters have been deployed in Surrey to help tackle the ongoing rise in extortion – but there’s confusion surrounding the specifics about those helicopters.
“The rise in extortion in Surrey and the Lower Mainland is unacceptable, and I extend my support to the victims of extortion everywhere,” Minister Gary Anandasangaree said in the House of Commons on Wednesday, noting the commitment to deploying up to 20 RCMP members to support law enforcement efforts.
Anandasangaree continued: “We deployed two helicopters in the Surrey area.”
The Now-Leader reached out to Anandasangaree’s office on Thursday (Jan. 29) for clarity, and our questions were directed back to the BC RCMP.
BC media relations officer Cpl. Brett Urano replied with a statement: “As a result of requests for air assistance from police jurisdictions, as well as the BC Extortion Task Force, helicopters from within the BC RCMP Air Services rotary fleet have been and will continue to be deployed to support ongoing operations. Aerial deployments may occur during either daytime or nighttime hours as operational needs dictate. Helicopter deployments will include, but are not limited to, Air 1, 2 and 5.”
The BC RCMP operates the Lower Mainland urban patrol, which includes Air 1 and 2 and provides regular support to local RCMP detachments and municipal police departments in the area.
The comments followed an earlier statement posted by Anandasangaree on X on Wednesday, which noted that the RCMP would be providing “helicopter resources” to Surrey.
Following up on that statement, the Now-Leader reached out to both Surrey Police and the RCMP.
On Wednesday, BC RCMP media relations officer Sgt. Vanessa Munn also replied with a statement: “As a result of requests for air assistance from police jurisdictions as well as the BC Extortion Task Force, helicopters have been and will continue to be deployed to support ongoing operations. Aerial deployments of helicopters from within the RCMP Air Services fleet based in B.C. will occur as operational needs dictate.”
On Wednesday, Surrey Police media relations spokesperson Ian MacDonald said that while they were aware of Anandasangaree’s statement, they had yet to receive specific details.
Surrey Police Chief Const. Norm Lipinski had recently requested more Air 1 deployments to Surrey.
“Chief Lipinski’s recent request for Air Services in relation to the extortion crisis is for a more dedicated, consistent deployment of a helicopter on specific days to support our proactive efforts to deter gun violence associated with extortions,” MacDonald said Wednesday. “We have not yet received a response to this specific request.”
In a followup statement on Thursday, MacDonald said: “Discussions are ongoing regarding various elements of the very recent public announcements.”
“I would suggest that more of the specifics will be worked out at, or after, the upcoming National Summit on Extortion,” he said.
Top cops from B.C., Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario are slated to meet in Surrey within the next couple of weeks to discuss the ongoing extortion crisis, Premier David Eby announced on Wednesday.