People in eastern Canada who have difficulties with society go west in search of the promised land. A lot of people discover it, like those from the east coast who live in Ontario. In the past, the west coast has had high salaries, as in BC and, more recently, Alberta. People who struggle to find work in the east often move westward instead. They can't go any farther west or south when they get to Vancouver, so they all end up there.
First Nations people also have the same story: they can't do well where they were born, so they relocate to Vancouver. They also have a lot of underprivileged folks living nearby. The Port of Vancouver has always been a place where people can smuggle things, and a lot of narcotics come from Latin America or Asia. Drugs are appealing to those who don't have a lot of money; therefore, they have more of them there than in other parts of Canada.
The term "Indian gangs" primarily refers to groups that originate from the South Asian community, particularly those of Punjabi heritage, who are frequently active in British Columbia and other regions across Canada. These groups engage in systematic criminal enterprises, encompassing drug distribution, acts of violence, and various illicit activities. Notable organizations encompass the Brothers Keepers, Dhak-Duhre factions, and a range of criminal families. Furthermore, "Indigenous gangs" represent a distinct classification of gangs, such as the Indian Posse, originating from Indigenous communities and participating in organized crime activities.
The Bishnoi gang, which is the largest of these organizations, is believed to be responsible for threats and killings targeting prominent Indian figures.
The murder of a prominent Punjabi rapper, ongoing death threats directed at a Bollywood star, and the assassination of a Mumbai-based politician are all reportedly linked to one of India's most notorious gangsters, Lawrence Bishnoi.
The most recent entry in that list is the RCMP's assertion that the Bishnoi gang is focusing on individuals associated with the pro-Khalistan movement within Canada, purportedly at the request of the Indian government.
There are Punjabi gangs in British Columbia, as well as some in Ontario. They hold no importance. The Mexican cartels are influential organized crime groups with a significant global presence. The criminal gangs you refer to are loosely organized entities that typically operate under the auspices of more established organizations, and they possess limited influence within Canada. It is advisable to inquire about the presence of influential Sikh gangsters in Canada. The response would confirm that there are a few, though they are associated with other organizations. They tend to avoid drawing attention to themselves and operate discreetly, making it unlikely for one to suspect their involvement in criminal activities.
While Punjabi crime groups frequently emerge and seek attention, they are closely monitored by law enforcement due to the fact that their desire for power and recognition often leads to significant vulnerabilities. Typically, they are utilized to engage truck drivers in assisting with cargo and shipments. No group has maintained operations for an extended period, as Punjabi crime organizations are typically dismantled or eliminated by law enforcement, particularly in British Columbia.
In Canada, other groups have existed for decades. I cannot speak for the USA; however, I believe it is similar to Canada, where significant Punjabi groups are quite rare to find. There are influential Sikhs in Canada, a select few, who are not engaged in criminal activities and could potentially confront the cartels. Such a confrontation would likely result in significant violence, as both factions are well-funded and possess a warrior-like mentality. However, they would never engage in conflict, as their lifestyles do not align.
Because of that, Vancouver has become full of crime and drug users, just like any other city. Places with a lot of violence and drug users are typically off the beaten path. Hastings, for example, is a little neighbourhood of the city that is renowned for being a popular site for homeless people.
The city of Surrey, which is on the fringe of Metro Vancouver, has been becoming a lot worse. Crime rates and drug usage have gone up. Indeed! Surrey has a poor name because of how the media shows it, but the crime is still there.
Most of the time, however, it's just low-level "gang" activity. That is the only thing I've heard about the area that has made crime rates go up a lot.
Due to abandonment concerns, many homeless individuals become entirely dependent on other homeless individuals for drugs, emotional and financial support, or simply for companionship.
Many of the homeless people wanted to leave because they were sick of the lifestyle and working hard to leave. Some homeless people require a symbiotic connection to host others. Quite parasitic. Similarly, there are many homeless individuals in GTA Toronto and Brampton, and panhandlers can be seen begging for money at every streetlight and intersection.
While Some drug dealers go to considerable measures to keep their clients from leaving, sending a message to others that the mafia's “bread & butter” is vulnerable community members. Unfortunately, drug users provide huge revenues for groups, not only organized crime. Homelessness is a business; thus, many businesses are suspect. Narcotics distribution via recovery facilities has occurred, with profits on both sides. Some think this or that homeless group is a cover for drug trafficking.
The homeless situation is complex. It's impossible to solve all problems since people are the most complicated thing on Earth. Not for want of homes, resources, or one-liners. There is plenty of housing, but if you don't make money, you can't afford it. Most of the shelters had low-income/zero-income housing links. Welfare-like zero income will pay for it. The reason few individuals utilize the resources fully is unknown. The BC government provides homeless individuals with free food, clothes, addiction services, and shelter funded by taxpayers.
While the Ontario government doesn't provide free food to all homeless people, it does pay for and support a number of initiatives and groups that do. These are places like shelters, food banks, and community meal programs. The Ontario Works program may also provide people with money that they can use to buy food.
According to a joint statement from the country's chief medical officers of health, chief coroners, and chief medical examiners, 7,146 people died from opioid-related overdoses in 2024.
This figure examines the polysubstance use patterns over the past 12 months among various student subgroups during the 2023-2024 academic year. A total of 18% of students indicated that they had engaged in polysubstance use within the past year. The percentage of individuals reporting polysubstance use rose with each grade level, starting at 7% in Grade 7 and escalating to 33% by Grade 12. The percentage was notably elevated among students in rural regions, reaching 24%, in contrast to 17% for their urban counterparts. The usage over the past year showed no significant differences between genders.
While individuals in the 15-24 age range are at a higher risk of facing mental health challenges and substance use disorders compared to other age demographics. A significant 60% of individuals engaging in illicit drug use in Canada fall within the age range of 15 to 24 years. In the past year, 23% of students in Ontario have indicated that they were offered, sold, or given a drug while at school.
Surjit Singh Flora is a freelance writer and journalist who lives in Brampton, Canada. He is the author of the book "The Challenge and The Opportunity."
