NATIONAL STORIES

Public Safety Transparency Highlights Extortion Gang Investigations Across Canada

Immigration records reveal the deportation of Sahibjot Singh as Canadian authorities address Bishnoi-linked extortion networks in Alberta and B.C.

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Transparency Prioritized in Extortion Network Removal Proceedings

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) proceedings have led to 188 removal orders against suspected extortionists as of September, revealing details about networks targeting South Asian business owners. Among those affected is Sahibjot Singh, a 21-year-old student who was removed from Canada in July after admitting to possessing and discharging unauthorized firearms linked to criminal activities spanning Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.

During immigration proceedings, Singh sought a private hearing, citing fears of retaliation from the Bishnoi gang. Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) member Trent Cook denied the request, emphasizing the necessity of public openness. Cook noted that because these matters involve significant public safety implications, the Canadian public is entitled to transparency regarding law enforcement responses and legal consequences.

Police Investigation and Evidence Seized

Law enforcement scrutiny of Singh began after authorities recovered his contact number from a phone belonging to Arshdeep Singh, an alleged mid-level ringleader under investigation. Subsequent social media searches by Edmonton police uncovered media showing Singh holding firearms in public spaces, vehicles, and a parking lot at Campbell College. A subsequent residence search revealed an unlocked Mossberg Maverick pump shotgun stored improperly in an open closet.

A subsequent download of Singh’s cellphone revealed further footage, including Singh posing with multiple shotguns and handguns, posing before a burning Edmonton home from July 2024, and depicting illegal drug activity. A CBSA report noted that the gang network involves South Asians targeting local business owners for extortion through threats of arson and shootings, with roles extending from planning and providing weapons to executing acts on scene.

Legal Arguments and Administrative Findings

Singh arrived in Canada on a study permit in September 2023 to attend Portage College in Lac La Biche before moving to Edmonton. At a detention hearing prior to his deportation, his legal counsel argued that Singh was never directly charged with gang activities or extortion, describing his actions as a young man attempting to show off.

Though Singh initially claimed to border officers that he had never seen a handgun, IRB records indicate he ultimately conceded at his admissibility hearing that he was “wilfully blind to the nature of the organization” whose criminal operations he had participated in. The CBSA confirmed this week that 111 individuals have been removed from Canada in connection with the ongoing extortion investigations.

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.

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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.

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NATIONAL STORIES

Why Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre Questions Mark Carney’s New Pipeline Stance

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticizes Mark Carney’s pipeline proposal, calling him an illusion and questioning his shift on oil and gas.

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Poilievre Dismisses Carney’s Fast-Track Pipeline Proposal

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has expressed strong skepticism regarding Mark Carney, describing him as an “illusion” ahead of an upcoming major announcement. Poilievre questioned Carney’s recent backing of a proposal to fast-track and construct a West Coast pipeline project.

Contrasting Past Record with Recent Statements

Poilievre highlighted Carney’s history over the past decade, pointing out that the former banker worked to defund oil and gas, established an alliance aimed at shutting down the sector, opposed a Pacific pipeline, and advocated for higher carbon taxes.

“I don’t know how you can go in three years from believing oil and gas is going to end the world to believing you support oil and gas,” Poilievre stated. “I guess miracles are possible. He claims to have changed his mind but he hasn’t really changed the results. There’s been a lot of talk.”

Comparisons to Foreign Project Delivery

In assessing the situation, the Conservative leader observed that large-scale infrastructure projects are completed rapidly in nations like Germany and the United States.

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NATIONAL STORIES

Michael J. Fox Earns Canada’s Highest Civilian Distinction for Parkinson’s Work

Michael J. Fox was elevated to companion of the Order of Canada alongside 50 other honourees, including UBC engineering professor Yusuf Altintas.

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National Honours Presented at Rideau Hall

During an investiture ceremony on Friday morning at Rideau Hall, Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour formally elevated celebrated actor and advocate Michael J. Fox to the companion level of the Order of Canada, drawing a standing ovation from attendees. Rideau Hall cited his unflinching honesty and powerful global advocacy concerning Parkinson’s disease for the elevation. Fox, who publicly disclosed his diagnosis in 1998, has helped generate $2.5 billion for research into the progressive nervous system disorder, which causes tremors, slowness, stiffness, memory difficulties, and depression.

Distinguished Inductees Recognized Across Fields

A total of 51 individuals joined or advanced within the Order of Canada during the Friday event. Arbour praised the group in French for directing their skills, influence, and effort toward the public good rather than personal gain alone, noting that Fox serves as a shining example of using courage, imagination, and determination to foster lasting progress.

The newly honoured members and officers include noteworthy figures across various disciplines. University of British Columbia mechanical engineering professor Yusuf Altintas was inducted as an officer alongside McGill University professor Nada Jabado, who was recognized for her contributions to pediatric neuro-oncology. Former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz became an officer for his efforts supporting international trade and economic stability. Sculptor Ruth Elsie Abernethy entered as a member for her worldwide bronze statues exploring heritage, gender, and nation-building, while Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Susanne Craig was named a member for her impactful reporting across major American and Canadian news outlets.

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