QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Public Safety
National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft
September 19, 2024
I will follow up on car theft. Auto theft continues to be a huge problem in Canada. Theft claims in Ontario have risen over 524% since 2018, surpassing $1 billion in 2023. The government has announced a significant investment and an action plan to combat this issue. Have any of the earmarked funds been spent, and do you have any data on the plan’s success to date? Has it been making an impact? Is further action planned?
Senator, the good news is that it is having a positive impact. We will be making an announcement about it in the upcoming weeks. I spoke to Ontario’s Solicitor General and Premier Ford 10 days ago about this issue. Those funds have been and are being used. I met with Thomas Carrique, Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, who is also the president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. He talked to me about the enhanced work they’re doing because the Government of Canada has transferred tens of millions of dollars.
Équité Association and other groups will be making public encouraging statistics regarding this issue, but there is more work to be done and we’ll continue to do it.
