NATIONAL STORIES

Loose Student Visa Screening Allowed Notorious Foreign Gang to Root in Canada, Secret Intelligence Reveals

A classified CBSA report reveals how India’s Bishnoi gang exploited Canada’s foreign student visa system to build a violent extortion network.

Published

2 months ago

August 7, 2026

Current News Room

Classified Intelligence Highlights Immigration Gaps

A December 2025 classified intelligence report from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reveals that the Bishnoi crime group, an Indian syndicate recently listed by Ottawa as a terrorist organization, has systematically used Canada’s international student visa system to expand its footprint. The document highlights how lenient immigration screening permitted gang leaders and recruits to establish operations inside the country, fueling a surge in violent extortions across Canadian cities.

The gang’s senior figure in Canada, Goldy Brar, initially entered the country in 2017 on a permit to study at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C. Brar later applied for refugee status before absconding, ultimately managing local extortion rings and orchestrating high-profile violence, including the June 2023 murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey.

Soaring Crime Rates Linked to Permit Holders

Data within the CBSA’s “Tactical Guide” indicates that while national extortion rates fell 10 percent in 2024, extortion charges against Indian nationals jumped 47 percent. Between 2016 and 2024, criminal charges among Indian student permit holders increased by 8,800 percent. The report details that 4,000 Indian citizens on study permits were charged with 17,929 offences between 2019 and 2023, with nearly a third tied to serious or organized crime. In 2024 alone, over 13,040 criminal charges were laid against Indian study visa holders, though officials noted the 2,418 individuals charged comprised just over one percent of the 188,125 Indian students that year.

Former CBSA officer and criminologist Kelly Sundberg criticized the federal government’s “wide-open, honour-based” approach to foreign student admissions, stating it created a recruitment pool of vulnerable youth for overseas criminal networks. Although federal immigration officials capped foreign student visas in late 2024 citing housing constraints, immigration representatives confirmed overall international student permits have dropped 83 percent over two years, with Indian nationals now making up 25 percent of visas compared to a previous 41 percent.

Community Impact and State Connections

The Bishnoi gang’s extortion operations have terrorized South Asian business owners and residents in communities such as Surrey, Edmonton, and Brampton. Gunmen frequently record drive-by shootings of homes and businesses to publish on social media alongside financial demands. Criminology experts note that the strategy seeks to force entire communities into paying a systemic “taxation scheme.” Recently, these extortions expanded beyond Punjabi Sikhs to target broader Indo-Canadian groups.

Canadian authorities also allege links between the crime group and Indian government officials, suggesting diplomats passed details about Canadian critics to the gang to carry out state-linked objectives. Furthermore, federal intelligence notes the gang has begun to fracture following a rift between Brar and jailed leader Lawrence Bishnoi. Despite stepped-up enforcement under the RCMP-led Project SEVA task force, experts warn that many victims remain hesitant to report threats, choosing instead to comply in silence.

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LOCAL

Where Provincial Jobless Rates Stood in September

Canada’s national unemployment rate reached 6.5 per cent in September. Explore the full provincial breakdown and regional employment figures from Statistics Canada.

Published

9 hours ago

October 9, 2026

Current Editor

National and Provincial Jobless Figures

Canada recorded a national unemployment rate of 6.5 per cent in September, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Oct. 9, 2026.

Across Western Canada, British Columbia’s jobless rate shifted to 6.4 per cent from 6.5 per cent in August. Alberta recorded a rate of 6.4 per cent, down from 6.8 per cent the previous month, while Saskatchewan dropped to 5.4 per cent from 6.0 per cent. Manitoba’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.0 per cent.

In Central Canada, Ontario’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 7.0 per cent from 6.9 per cent in August, while Quebec’s rate reached 6.0 per cent, up from 5.6 per cent.

Atlantic Canada and Regional City Data

In Atlantic Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador reported the highest provincial figure at 9.1 per cent, up from 8.6 per cent in August. New Brunswick saw a minor increase to 7.4 per cent from 7.3 per cent, and Nova Scotia rose to 6.3 per cent from 6.1 per cent. Prince Edward Island experienced a decline, moving to 7.3 per cent from 7.9 per cent.

Statistics Canada also tracked seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average rates for major urban areas. However, the agency cautioned that these municipal figures are subject to wide fluctuations due to smaller statistical sample sizes.

NATIONAL STORIES

What New Brunswick’s Latest Unemployment Figures Mean for Your Community

Statistics Canada reports New Brunswick’s unemployment rate reached 7.4% in September, as Canada lost 68,000 jobs nationally, raising the national rate to 6.5%.

Published

9 hours ago

October 9, 2026

Current Editor

Provincial Labor Market Holds Steady Overall

New Brunswick’s unemployment rate stood at 7.4 per cent in September, up slightly from 7.3 per cent in August, according to the latest figures from Statistics Canada. The provincial labor pool decreased by 200 people during the month, while overall employment dropped by 700 positions, including a loss of 400 full-time jobs. These monthly shifts remain within the agency’s margin of error.

On a year-over-year basis, the province’s economy continues to tread water. Although the current unemployment rate is lower than the 7.9 per cent reported last September, the total labor force remains virtually unchanged. Year-over-year employment shows a modest gain of 2,100 jobs, driven by an addition of 3,900 positions that was partially offset by a decline of 1,800 part-time roles.

National Employment Drops for Second Straight Month

Across Canada, the national economy shed 68,000 jobs in September, pushing the countrywide unemployment rate up to 6.5 per cent from 6.4 per cent in August. The contraction included declines of 35,000 full-time positions and 33,000 part-time jobs. September marked the second consecutive month of national employment losses, following a decrease of 42,000 jobs in August. These downturns come after a stretch of net growth from April to July, which had added 181,000 positions. Over the past year, national employment remains up by 95,000 jobs.

Regional Trends and Sector Shifts

Job losses across the country were led by Quebec, which lost 49,000 jobs, alongside British Columbia, down 20,000, and Manitoba, down 4,400. Conversely, gains were recorded in Alberta, up 23,000, Newfoundland and Labrador, up 1,800, and Prince Edward Island, up 1,000 positions.

Nationally, job declines were concentrated in educational services, manufacturing, as well as health care and social assistance. Growth was observed in repair and maintenance alongside personal or household services. Across the provinces, September unemployment rates ranged from a low of 5.0 per cent in Manitoba to a high of 9.1 per cent in Newfoundland and Labrador.

NATIONAL STORIES

Search Continues After Ontario-Based Medical Flight Vanishes Near Massachusetts Coast

U.S. Coast Guard crews are searching near Nantucket for a missing Latitude Air Ambulance jet carrying four Canadians and two passengers from Bermuda.

Published

5 days ago

October 5, 2026

Current Editor

Emergency Search Underway Off Nantucket

Air and ground search teams are scanning waters approximately 150 kilometres southeast of Boston after a medical transport aircraft vanished early Saturday morning. Contact with the Gulfstream G100 jet was lost around 1:30 a.m. as it made its approach toward Boston from Bermuda, prompting a response from the U.S. Coast Guard following notification by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Flight Carrying Crew and Patients

The aircraft is operated by Hamilton-based Latitude Air Ambulance. According to Clarence Togeretz, operations manager for the company, six individuals were aboard the flight. The crew consists of two Canadian pilots and two Canadian medical staff members. They were transporting two Bermuda nationals, identified as a patient and a family member.

Response and Ongoing Inquiries

Togeretz confirmed that the company contacted American authorities after the plane failed to land on the tarmac as scheduled. He noted that this marks the first instance where the operator has lost contact with one of its aircraft, adding that the team is holding onto optimism while praying for a safe resolution. Latitude Air Ambulance has reached out to Transport Canada regarding the incident. Meanwhile, provincial air ambulance provider Ornge expressed support via social media, stating it hopes the aircraft and everyone on board are located safely and quickly.