Union of Quebec bar owners calls for tougher crackdown on organized crime and extortion

The president of the union of Quebec bar owners is demanding the province do more to combat extortion and organized crime.

Peter Sergakis penned a letter to Premier Francois Legault, Minister of Public Security Francois Bonnardel, and Montreal Chief of Police Fady Dagher to this effect on Monday.

“For almost two years now, tenants and other Quebec entrepreneurs have been victims of intimidation, extortion, firebombings and shootings,” he wrote.

He said after a “brief lull,” there has recently been a spike in “serious criminal acts” – including an attack on someone’s personal home while their children were asleep.

Sergakis admitted extortion is nothing new, but he said it’s reached a new level and is pushing against Montreal police (SPVM)’s claims that crime is going down and the situation is under control.

He said a business owner was attacked at home and some bars have been targeted while customers were inside.

Sergakis pointed to media reports that organized crime operates within prisons “as if these inmates were on the loose.”

He said serious action must be taken, “even if this means depriving aggressors of some of their fundamental rights.”

Police open to discussing

Bonnardel’s office said it received Sergakis’s letter and he “understands the concerns of bar owners” and has “also made similar observations.”

Sergakis was highly critical of the SPVM in his letter, saying it cracks down harder on business owners over regulation than they do organized crime.

“The SPVM has to enforce its regulatory quotas but doesn’t have the time or manpower to respond to merchants’ legitimate requests for protection,” he said. “You’re not running a business, you’re responsible for the lives of our members.”

Charles Landry owns four bars in Montreal and says he’s never had issues with organized crime, though he’s heard horror stories from other owners who have been extorted.

He agreed with Sergakis that owners are under scrutiny but “when it comes to security and gangs in Montreal, it’s hard to be heard.”

The SPVM said it is willing to meet with Sergakis to discuss the situation and “reiterates the importance for business owners to file a police report if they are victims of threats.”

Former police detective Pietro Poletti told CTV News police has to act fast.

He said bar owners know who is asking them for money and must cooperate with police, but “if the police can’t solve the problem, merchants and, bar owners, you name it, they’re going to knock on other people’s doors, and it’s going to be organized crime or the bikers.”