RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme recently met with a major auto manufacturer in Canada to discuss strategies to combat the rise in vehicle thefts. The company, along with others in the industry, is working on improving security measures to protect their products from thieves. Auto theft insurance claims in Canada reached $1.5 billion in 2023, a 254 percent increase since 2018. The Équité Association reported that a vehicle is stolen in Canada every five minutes.
The government unveiled a national action plan to address auto theft, which includes funding and measures announced since a national summit on the issue in February. Changes to the Criminal Code, such as increased penalties and new offenses targeting car thieves and their technology, have been included in the plan. The plan does not mandate specific requirements for automakers, who have been criticized for not adequately addressing security gaps in vehicle technology that have been exploited by thieves.
The federal budget includes proposals to crack down on auto theft, including a new offence for possessing and distributing devices used in theft, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Other proposed amendments aim to target violent car thefts and the laundering of proceeds from auto thefts, with maximum penalties of up to 14 years behind bars. The plan also includes provisions to regulate radio devices used to intercept communications in auto theft.
The action plan also includes commitments from Transport Canada to modernize Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations to prevent auto theft using technological advancements. The plan highlights funding for the Canada Border Services Agency to enhance its ability to detect and search shipping containers used to transport stolen vehicles overseas. There is also funding allocated to Public Safety Canada to support police forces across the country in combating auto theft.
The government has faced criticism from the opposition Conservatives for what they perceive as a failure to address the increase in auto thefts adequately. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has proposed mandatory minimum prison sentences of three years for vehicle theft offences, as well as the implementation of rapid scanning and interception technology at Canada’s ports. Law enforcement agencies have reported successes in combating auto theft, such as an operation that recovered 598 stolen vehicles destined for export at the Port of Montreal.
Overall, the government is taking the issue of auto theft seriously, as evidenced by the unveiling of a national action plan to combat the rise in vehicle thefts. Measures in the plan include changes to the Criminal Code, commitments from Transport Canada to modernize safety regulations, and funding for the CBSA and police forces. While challenges remain, the government is working to address gaps in security measures and prevent auto theft across the country.
