Doug Ford's Challenge to Prevent Auto Theft in Ontario

Doug Ford's government is asking for more inspections and agents at Ontario ports in addition to revising the Criminal Code ahead of the federal government's national auto theft summit this week.

In a February 6 letter, Ontario's attorney general wrote that the nation's ports have become a “hot spot for organized crime.”

Michael Kerzner wrote to Public Safety Secretary Dominique LeBlanc: “Stolen cars are passing them at an alarming rate.”

“That is why we are asking your government to invest in increased external inspections at ports and rail yards. This is especially important at the Port of Montreal and at various rail yards in Ontario.”

In addition, Kerzner calls for investment in technology used to scan border agents and officers as well as shipping containers at these ports.

“Every 14 minutes, a car is stolen in Ontario,” he wrote. “This problem has become a crisis and all levels of government must work together to solve it.”

The requests in Kerzner's letter are not new. For nearly a year, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called for federal changes, saying he wants tougher sentences and penalties for people accused of auto theft and other violent crimes.

Last week, he told reporters at a press conference that he wanted to keep the accused in jail “as long as possible.”

At the time, Canada's attorney general said he was open to reviewing the Criminal Code and amending it to include tougher sentences if necessary.

Enough.

We need more inspections at our ports to ensure that vehicles are not being sold but are being recovered.

We need to give border agents the right tools to do their jobs.

And to get it, you have to work together #car theft seriously.

Please read my open letter @DLeBlancNB. pic.twitter.com/zj5wShp3b8

— Michael Kerzner (@MPKPerzner) February 7, 2024

Federal officials will meet with industry leaders, police officials and members of the Canada Border Services Agency on Thursday to develop a plan to combat the rise in car thefts across the country. The government has promised that new measures will be announced later.

Pierre Polievre points the finger at Justin Trudeau on the rise in car theft

In a press release issued Monday, Conservative Leader Pierre Polievre blamed the prime minister for the rise in violent car thefts in Canada.

He reiterated his four-point plan to combat car theft, which he announced earlier this month in a campaign-style announcement in Brampton, Ont.

Among the ideas is increasing the mandatory prison term for repeat carjackers from six months to three years.

He also wants to end some house arrests, end the so-called “catch and release” policy to ensure repeat offenders are not released on bail, and allow car theft to be considered an “aggravating factor” if committed in the name of car theft. organized crime.

The federal government says car thefts in Quebec will nearly double in 2022 compared to the previous year. The numbers in Ontario are similar.

Data from the Toronto Police Service's public dashboard shows a slight decrease in car thefts last month. The data showed 844 vehicles were stolen in the first few weeks of January, compared to 963 vehicles stolen in the same period a year earlier. However, the same data shows that more than 12,000 vehicles were stolen in Toronto in 2023, a five-year high for the city.

Ontario Provincial Police also confirmed a “slowing increase” in car thefts late last month; however, officials say the drop is not enough to allay concerns about violent vehicle crime.