A 10-person task force is being established by the federal government to deal with the ongoing problem of Indo-Canadian gang violence in the Lower Mainland.

Federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh and Multiculturalism Minister Raymond Chan made the announcement on the weekend.

More than 80 Indo-Canadian young men have been killed in gang-related violence in the past decade. And Dosanjh hopes the task force will identify what needs to be done to address the issue.

"The group will consult with the community, with people on the front line doing work on these issues, consult with the police, look at reports that have been already prepared and then determine what are some steps the community can take to fill the gaps in terms of services, counselling, education, and awareness."

Dosanjh says Chan will then go after money from Ottawa to address the issues identified by the task force. "Once those action-oriented recommendations are in hand we would then be hoping that we would go across government and seek resources."

Amar Randhawa, who works with a group that mentors high-risk Indo-Canadian youths, says he's encouraged by the federal commitment. But he worries a federal election could kill the task force.

"Regardless of the current situation in Ottawa, you know this is something that's important for our community and this is something that transcends political views," he says.

Dosanjh says the task force members will be appointed by September, and that their recommendations will be ready by the end of the year.