CBC Radio Transcript
Program: The Early Edition
Host: Stephen Quinn
Guest: Rob Dhanu, Criminal Defence Lawyer, Founding Partner at Dhanu Dhaliwal Law Group, King’s Counsel (KC)
Date: January 27, 2026
Stephen Quinn:
According to Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski, there have been at least 35 suspected extortion cases in Surrey so far this year. And keep in mind, we are only 27 days into the new year.
Over the weekend, anti-extortion protests took place at the intersection of King George Boulevard and 88th Avenue. One of the things protesters were calling for was so-called “stand your ground” gun laws, similar to what we hear about in the United States.
Gary Purewal was one of the organizers of the rally.
Gary Purewal:
That’s why we’re requesting the government to provide stand-your-ground or castle laws, so people can protect themselves with gun licences and have proper protection at home.
If someone is shooting at your house or on your property, how are you going to protect yourself? What else can people do? Your home is your sanctuary. This is where you live. When that’s violated, how do you go forward?
Stephen Quinn:
That was Gary Purewal, one of the organizers of the anti-extortion rally that took place in Surrey on Sunday.
Our next guest can give us some context on gun laws in this country. Rob Dhanu is a criminal defence lawyer, a founding partner at Dhanu Dhaliwal Law Group, and a member of British Columbia’s King’s Counsel.
Good morning, Rob.
Rob Dhanu:
Good morning. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Stephen Quinn:
Thanks for being with us. First, as someone who works in Surrey, how are you feeling about the numbers we’ve just heard — 35 suspected extortion cases in just 27 days?
Rob Dhanu:
I think we’re in a crisis, contrary to what Assistant Commissioner Brewer initially said before later walking those statements back. This is really unprecedented territory. To have this type of extortion threat so early in the year is alarming.
Stephen Quinn:
Do you personally know anyone who’s been targeted?
Rob Dhanu:
Yes. We practise in this area, and we do have clients here. There’s a lot of fear on the streets right now.
Stephen Quinn:
If someone comes to you and says they’re being targeted by extortion and need your help as a lawyer, what can you do? Where do you point them?
Rob Dhanu:
It’s really tough. You’re balancing legal advice with life-and-safety advice. On the one hand, we have a police force that’s having difficulty dealing with this issue, as we’ve seen with many of these shootings remaining unsolved.
On the other hand, you have to consider the safety interests of your clients. You’re left wondering whether directing them to police will help or potentially make things worse. But ultimately, we still have to advise people to engage law enforcement and see what can be done.
Stephen Quinn:
What do you make of protesters advocating for stand-your-ground or castle doctrine laws in Canada?
Rob Dhanu:
It’s a very normal and understandable reaction. People are afraid, and I completely understand why individuals would feel this way.
That said, what we’re seeing is a fear-based reaction driven by a perceived gap in public safety. Statistically, stand-your-ground and castle doctrine laws have not been effective in reducing violence. In fact, they tend to increase safety risks.
Stephen Quinn:
Why are Canadian gun laws so different from those in the United States? Could anything like stand-your-ground even be possible here?
Rob Dhanu:
It’s highly unlikely, politically. Canada has a very different gun culture. Stand-your-ground laws in the U.S. emerged from a political expansion of gun rights, beginning in Florida in 2005, and now more than 35 states have these laws.
These policies weren’t based on expert analysis of what actually makes people safer. They were political decisions tied to gun culture, which is very different from what we have in Canada.
Stephen Quinn:
Who can legally possess a firearm in this country?
Rob Dhanu:
There’s a very stringent process. Background checks, criminal record checks, and oversight by the Chief Firearms Officer. Even without a criminal record, prior police involvement — such as domestic disturbance calls — can raise red flags.
We also now have a national handgun freeze. Individuals can no longer purchase handguns. Only those who already owned handguns prior to the freeze may retain them, under strict conditions.
Stephen Quinn:
If someone does have a handgun, what is it legally used for?
Rob Dhanu:
There are only two permitted purposes: collecting or target shooting. There are also strict transport laws, usually allowing transport only between a residence and a shooting range.
You’re not allowed to have a loaded handgun in your home. Storage laws are very strict, specifically to reduce the safety risks associated with firearms.
Stephen Quinn:
From a legal standpoint, does that make stand-your-ground or castle doctrine laws incompatible with Canada’s system?
Rob Dhanu:
Yes. Even if there were political will — which there isn’t — the data shows that having a firearm in the home increases the likelihood of escalation.
Most people who enter a home unlawfully are looking for property, not people. Introducing a firearm into that situation can quickly escalate matters and increase the risk of serious harm to the homeowner.
Stephen Quinn:
These extortionists have been shooting at businesses, homes, and vehicles. Where are those firearms coming from?
Rob Dhanu:
Police chiefs across the country have been very clear on this. More than 90 percent of the firearms used in these incidents are smuggled into Canada from the United States. They’re not coming from law-abiding Canadian gun owners.
Stephen Quinn:
So why aren’t we stopping them at the border?
Rob Dhanu:
That’s the key question. We’re currently spending enormous political and financial capital on a gun buyback program that will likely cost over a billion dollars and be largely ineffective.
If that same level of investment were directed toward border enforcement and anti-smuggling efforts, we would likely be in a much better position to address this problem.
Stephen Quinn:
You’re seeing what’s happening on the ground in Surrey firsthand. What needs to happen next?
Rob Dhanu:
We need resources, intelligence, and time. The United States has far greater investigative capacity. If Canada wants to tackle this seriously, we need sustained investment in intelligence-led policing.
That includes undercover operations, surveillance, wiretaps, and other investigative techniques to identify these groups and disrupt them before violence occurs.
Stephen Quinn:
Do you think Surrey would be in a stronger position if the RCMP had remained the police force of jurisdiction?
Rob Dhanu:
It’s difficult to say. The RCMP does have national reach, and this is clearly a national issue. One challenge with municipal police forces is siloed investigations and limited coordination across jurisdictions.
Improved information-sharing and coordination would certainly help, regardless of which force is in charge.
Stephen Quinn:
Rob, thank you very much for joining us this morning.
Rob Dhanu:
My pleasure.
