Canada Unveils National Action Plan to Combat Rising Auto Thefts with Tougher Penalties

The federal government has unveiled its “national action plan” to tackle the rising problem of auto theft, introducing harsher penalties for thieves and enhancing information sharing among police agencies, government officials, and border enforcement.

The plan was announced during a Monday morning news conference in Brampton, Ontario, by several cabinet members. It includes previously disclosed strategies such as increased funding for border security and police agencies, along with proposed amendments to the Criminal Code.

In 2022, industry estimates revealed a significant increase in auto theft across several provinces. Quebec experienced a 50% rise, while Ontario saw a 34.5% increase. In the Greater Toronto Area, police services reported a staggering 104% uptick.

“We are adding new offences targeting auto theft and its links to violence and to organized crime,” said Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani. He elaborated that the government aims to introduce new offences targeting leaders of carjacking gangs and those involved in laundering money through organized crime. While Monday’s news conference highlighted the national action plan, several of its proposals were initially introduced in the federal Liberals’ Budget Implementation Act, 2024 (C-69), which is still pending approval, and in the fall economic statement.

Many stolen vehicles are sold overseas, especially in Africa and the Middle East. According to Virani, the proceeds from these sales fund criminal activities in Canada. “Those measures will help in the fight not just against organized crime, but against terrorist organizations as well,” he stated.

“This is largely about financial crimes and using the vehicle as a commodity to profit from,” explained Bryan Gast of the investigative firm Equite during an interview with CTV News Channel. “Being able to choke that financing off will have a downstream positive effect.”

The plan also includes measures allowing courts to order individuals to keep their bank accounts open to aid police investigations and prevent financial institutions from closing accounts suspected of being linked to criminal activity. “Investigations need to follow the money path. That is what we are doing with these changes,” Virani said.

A new “aggravated factor” in sentencing is also proposed, targeting adult offenders who involve minors in their crimes. Virani hopes this will enable police to better pursue criminal gang leaders rather than their younger accomplices. “Who is directing those youngsters? Who is directing that teenager? Who is orchestrating and providing the resources for that teenager?” he asked. “The root cause is not the actual teenager doing the theft. The root cause is the adult criminal who is leading them, or in fact forcing them, to do that crime.”

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc noted that police have seized nearly 1,200 stolen vehicles this year. He emphasized that most carjackings are executed by violent street gangs.

In parallel, the federal Conservatives have proposed their own anti-theft legislation under Bill C-379: the Combating Motor Vehicle Theft Act. Currently in its second reading in the House, this bill seeks to increase prison sentences for repeat offenders of gang-related car thefts from six months to three years. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre outlined this as part of a broader strategy to combat theft earlier this year.

Critics have urged car manufacturers to enhance vehicle security against increasingly sophisticated theft devices. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme mentioned ongoing discussions with manufacturers to address this issue. “They brought a couple devices you can buy [online],” Duheme said, referring to a recent meeting where the technological battle between carmakers and thieves was discussed. He indicated that manufacturers are keen to bolster their prevention efforts, with further details expected soon. “If you look at a company whose car is regularly stolen, nobody is going to buy that car,” he added.