MP Rob Moore Addresses Insurance Brokers on Auto Theft Legislation

June 3, 2008 -- Ottawa, Ontario -- MP Rob Moore today addressed the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada on the government’s new auto theft legislation.

“Auto theft significantly impacts individual Canadians and businesses, with an estimated cost of more than $1 billion each year,” said Mr. Moore. “Car theft is big business for organized crime. While Canadians suffer the financial and emotional impacts of this crime, organized crime profits. We are aiming to put these criminals out of business.”

Bill C-53, the Auto Theft and Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Act, will give police and prosecutors better tools to fight car thieves, particularly organized crime rings that steal vehicles, alter the Vehicle Identification Number, and re-sell them in Canada or abroad, or dismantle stolen vehicles in so-called “chop shops” and re-sell the parts.

“To crack down on those who tamper with the VIN, we propose under this legislation that a convicted offender would face jail time of up to 5 years,” said Mr. Moore. “The legislation also makes it a crime to sell, give, transport or deliver any type of goods through crime, or even offering to do so. If convicted under this legislation, an offender could face jail time of up to 14 years.”

In addition, the new legislation grants the Canada Border Services Agency the authority to identify and prevent stolen property from leaving the country.

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

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For more information, please contact:
Sean Phelan
Special Assistant - Communications
Office of Rob Moore, M.P. Fundy Royal
(613) 996-2316