Remarks by the Deputy Prime Minister on combatting auto theft

May 20, 2024 - Brampton, Ontario

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We are all here today because this is an issue that is touching the lives of far too many Canadians.  It’s an issue we take incredibly seriously.  It’s an issue that the federal government is working on closely with all levels of government—that we are really, really committed to acting on.

Our budget is about ensuring fairness for every generation, especially younger Canadians. Ensuring Canadians feel safe wherever they choose to live, work and raise their families is an integral part of our plan.

In recent years, we have seen an overwhelming, and frankly unacceptable, increase in auto theft across the country—and especially right here in Ontario, in the GTA.

Every single one of us as an MP has heard about this from our constituents and it is not acceptable.

Auto theft hurts Canadians. It creates unnecessary costs by burdening people with higher insurance rates on top of the stress—the trauma—of having their vehicle stolen, of having to replace it, and it makes Canadians feel unsafe in their communities. That is not ok. That is not fair.

No one should have to worry about their means of getting to work, school, or the grocery store, and having their car stolen from them.  And that is why, in the budget, we have put in place a robust plan to crack down on auto theft and to protect Canadians and to protect the people here in Brampton.

Our Budget Implementation Act includes measures such as providing law enforcement and prosecutors with the tools they need to protect Canadians from having their cars stolen. Specifically, this includes more robust criminal offences relating to auto theft and new restrictions on the possession and distribution of devices used to steal vehicles. This is about taking the tools away from people who are committing these crimes, making us unsafe.

This budget measure builds on actions our government has already taken this year to combat auto theft. These include strengthening collaboration between levels of government and police services, and testing new technologies to detect and search containers for stolen vehicles.

Our government is acting now—and acting with purpose—to ensure Canadians feel safe and protected in their communities, on the road, in their neighbourhoods, in their homes. Because safer communities—communities where families want to live, where entrepreneurs want to set up shop, and where people are investing with confidence in their future—these are the keys to ensuring fairness for every generation. 

Thank you.