Government of Canada Introduces Legislation Targeting Auto Theft and Property Crime

April 21, 2009 -- Ottawa, Ontario -- MP Rob Moore today welcomed the introduction in Parliament today of legislation that targets auto theft and property crime.

"The best way to fight gangs and organized crime is to disrupt the criminal enterprises they depend on," said Mr. Moore. "With this legislation, our government is tackling organized crime at the source."

Trafficking in stolen property, along with other for-profit criminal activities such as drug trafficking and fraud, has been identified as a primary activity for organized crime. Auto theft, one form of property crime, impacts more individual Canadians and businesses than any other. The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates that auto theft costs more than $1 billion each year, taking into account health care, court, policing, legal and out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles.

"Our government is committed to protecting Canadians against organized crime of all types," said Mr. Moore. "This proposed legislation will give law enforcement authorities and the courts better tools to fight this kind of crime along with the entire range of activities involved in the trafficking of stolen or fraudulently-obtained property."

The legislation is aimed at tackling property crime in general, but in particular the crime of auto theft. The proposed legislation would:

  • create a separate offence of "theft of a motor vehicle", which would carry a mandatory prison sentence of 6 months for conviction of a third or subsequent indictable offence;
  • establish a new offence for altering, destroying or removing a vehicle identification number (VIN).
  • make it an offence to traffic in property obtained by crime; and
  • make the possession of such property for the purpose of trafficking an offence.
In addition, these amendments would provide for the application of customs powers to allow the Canada Border Services Agency to identify and prevent stolen property from leaving the country, thus providing a means to address the problem of the exportation of stolen vehicles from Canada by organized crime. "I encourage all opposition parties to support the passage of this important legislation," added Mr. Moore.

For More Information: Backgrounder


Rob Moore is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and the MP for Fundy Royal.

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William van Geest
Special Assistant - Communications
Office of Rob Moore, M.P. Fundy Royal
(613) 996-2316