CHRYSTIA Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, along with other federal ministers on Monday announced the release of the National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft.

The Action Plan is focused on disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting the organized crime groups involved in auto theft. It identifies various measures and initiatives that can be implemented by the federal, provincial and territorial governments and their partners, in keeping with their respective roles, priorities and responsibilities.

It builds on the National Summit on Combatting Auto Theft, convened by the Government of Canada in February, and recent enforcement actions that have led to the seizure of hundreds of stolen vehicles.

The government said that auto theft is a complex problem that requires manufacturers, insurance companies, shippers, law enforcement agencies and governments to work together on solutions. Each partner has a to role play. Recognizing the impact of auto theft, it is moving forward with immediate actions that fall within federal authority:

1. Legislative and regulatory changes, including proposed amendments to the Criminal Code, to institute tougher penalties for auto theft with ties to violence, organized crime and money laundering, new offences targeting the possession and distribution of devices that facilitate auto theft, a new aggravating factor applicable at sentencing where there is evidence that an offender involved a person under the age of 18 in the commission of an offence, as well as changes to the Radiocommunication Act to regulate devices used to steal cars, as committed in Budget 2024. The government has launched a consultation to gather information relating to the use of wireless devices in auto theft. In addition, Transport Canada will review and modernize the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations related to theft prevention, to ensure they consider technological advancements to deter and prevent auto theft.
2. Intelligence/information sharing enhancements between municipal, provincial, federal and international police and customs officials in support of criminal investigations, charges, and prosecutions, building on joint efforts that are already underway. This includes the federal government taking a leadership role through the establishment of a National Intergovernmental Working Group on Auto Theft to coordinate actions, monitor progress and explore new initiatives. Maintaining strong relationships to share information will allow the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to continue acting on 100% of referrals from the police while also conducting searches based on its own intelligence.
3. Intervention improvements that will allow more shipping containers to be examined, through increased capacity at the CBSA and the integration of new targeting tools. Increasing the capacity to target and search shipping containers will contribute to intercepting stolen vehicles before they leave the country.

The National Action Plan will be continuously reviewed and updated to be responsive to this evolving criminal trend.

The government said it will continue to work with its partners to make it harder to steal cars; make it harder to move stolen cars to a port; target and prosecute the criminals stealing cars; and recover stolen vehicles in ports and rail yards.

“Our communities must be places where people feel safe—where they want to live, work, and raise a family. We are taking action because communities where families are safe, where entrepreneurs want to set up shop, and where people want to invest in their future, are key to unlocking a fairer future for Canadians,” said Freeland.

“As was highlighted during the National Summit to Combat Auto Theft in February, auto theft is a complex issue that requires everybody to come to the table with solutions. The National Action Plan we’re releasing today sends a clear message – our government, as well as our national law enforcement agencies, will use all tools at their disposal to crack down on auto theft,” said Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs.

“Auto theft not only hits the pocketbook, it makes people feel unsafe. We know that auto thefts are increasing, and in some areas these crimes are becoming more violent. We are committed to ensuring that the penalties for these crimes reflect their severity. This is why we have advanced changes to the Criminal Code that would provide new, stronger tools for enforcement and prosecutors,” said Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

“As Mayor of Brampton, I am acutely aware of the profound negative impact auto theft has on our community. The CBSA’s work to deploy a scanner in the GTA, combined with increased container examinations at the CN intermodal hub in Brampton, marks a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to combat this pervasive issue. By enhancing our ability to detect and prevent the illegal export of stolen vehicles, we are not only protecting the property of our residents but also disrupting the revenue streams of organized crime. This initiative reflects our commitment to multi-jurisdictional collaboration and the safety of our city. I extend my gratitude to our federal partners for recognizing the urgency of this matter and providing the necessary resources to address it,” said Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown.