Manitoba to fund hotline amid rise in extortion targeting South Asian community

Manitoba will provide $100,000 to the Punjabi Chamber of Commerce to run a hotline after officials reported a rise in extortion affecting some South Asian communities; an extortion summit in Winnipeg was also announced.

Manitoba is helping set up a hotline in response to what officials described as a rise in extortion affecting some South Asian communities. Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said the Punjabi Chamber of Commerce will receive $100,000 to run the hotline and encourage community and business owners to report threats or exploitation. The announcement coincided with an "extortion summit" in Winnipeg that included business owners, police and federal, provincial and municipal officials. Federal representatives said financial intelligence resources will be expanded to support local law enforcement. Key points: - $100,000 grant to the Punjabi Chamber of Commerce to operate a hotline for those affected by extortion. - Officials reported an increase in extortion targeting South Asian communities and noted recent related arrests in Winnipeg. - An extortion summit was announced in Winnipeg, and federal agencies including Fintrac were said to be working more closely with local police to track suspicious financial activity. Summary: The funding and the summit were presented by officials as coordinated steps to encourage reporting and to expand financial-tracking efforts against extortion. Details about how the hotline will operate will be determined by the Punjabi Chamber of Commerce, and more information about the summit was said to be released later.