Parliamentary Committee Notes: National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft

Auto theft is a complex problem that requires manufacturers, insurance companies, shippers, law enforcement agencies and governments to work together to identify solutions. Each partner has a role in making it harder to steal vehicles, recover stolen vehicles, prevent their exportation, and apprehend the perpetrators of these crimes.

Canada is not alone is experiencing a rise in vehicle theft. It is an increasingly transnational criminal phenomenon that requires international and cross-jurisdictional collaboration.

The National Summit on Combatting Auto Theft, held on February 8, 2024, brought together senior officials from federal, provincial and territorial governments, law enforcement and industry representatives. Following the conclusion of the Summit, participants endorsed a Statement of Intent, committing to work together to combat auto theft and to finalizing an action plan. 

The National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft outlines actions focused on disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting the organized criminal groups behind auto theft. The action plan identifies various measures and initiatives that will be carried out by the federal government in cooperation with provincial and territorial governments and their partners, in accordance with their respective roles, priorities and responsibilities. It will be continuously reviewed and updated to be responsive to the evolving tactics employed by criminal networks.

Concerted efforts undertaken to combat auto theft since the beginning of 2024 are yielding results.

In January 2024, RCMP liaison officers posted in Italy collaborated with local authorities at an Italian port on the seizure of 251 cars stolen in Canada. In April 2024, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), in collaboration with police forces across Ontario and Quebec, announced the recovery of nearly 600 stolen vehicles from the Port of Montreal. As of May 4, 2024, CBSA has intercepted 1,205 stolen vehicles in railyards and ports in 2024, which is a 105% increase compared to the same period in 2023. In addition, in the first six weeks of the integration of stolen motor vehicle records from the RCMP’s Canadian Police Information Centre with INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle Database, there were more than 1,000 international partner queries that matched to Canadian stolen motor vehicle records.

Building on these results, the measures outlined in the National Action Plan will further support the efforts deployed by Canada’s law enforcement to crack down on auto theft.

Contents

Intelligence or information sharing

Lead: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Lead: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Lead: Joint RCMP and CBSA

Lead: Public Safety Canada

Lead: Joint CBSA, RCMP and local police

Lead: Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)

Lead: Transport Canada

Intervention

Lead: CBSA

Lead: CBSA, local police and RCMP

Lead: RCMP

Lead: Public Safety Canada

Lead: Transport Canada

Lead: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Legislation, regulations, and governance

Lead: Department of Justice

Lead: ISED

Lead: CBSA

Lead: Transport Canada

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