Onus On Automakers to Address Auto Theft, Says Liberal MP

New cars are parked in rows after arriving by ship at Annacis Island in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, on July 31, 2023. Reuters/Chris Helgren

Automakers should shoulder the responsibility for curbing auto theft, according to Liberal MP Peter Schiefke.

“The onus is on the people making that car,” Peter Schiefke said during a recent meeting of the Commons public safety committee as covered by Blacklock’s Reporter.

He identified owning a vehicle as Canadians’ second largest investment behind home-ownership, adding that there is a lack of effort by auto manufacturers to invest in necessary protections for vehicles.

Witnesses at the Feb. 29 meeting said auto-theft costs $1.2 billion annually in insurance payouts, with approximately 70,000 vehicles stolen each year.

The federal government has committed $43 million since Feb. 7 to combat the rise in vehicle thefts nationwide.

Mr. Schiefke, a former parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and to the minister of border security, expressed frustration at the meeting over the industry’s response to auto theft.

He argued that Canadians are indifferent to the fate of their stolen cars, whether they end up overseas or in chop shops; their primary concern is preventing the theft in the first place.

“For me, the onus is on the people making that car and ensuring [stealing] it is as difficult as humanly possible,” Mr. Schiefke stated.

“It is [automakers] versus organized crime,” he added.

Global Automakers of Canada CEO David Adams defended the industry, saying manufacturers are continually enhancing vehicle security to counteract organized theft rings. Mr. Adams acknowledged the evolving challenge, attributing the issue to sophisticated international organized crime groups targeting Canada.

Conservative MP Damien Kurek criticized the government for shifting blame onto automakers.

“Liberals seem desperate to blame anybody for their inaction,” said Mr. Kurek. “Maybe we need real action.”

Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique testified that current Criminal Code penalties for auto theft are insufficient. He advocated for increased minimum penalties to deter repeat offenders, noting about half of the auto thieves apprehended are habitual criminals. He suggested longer incarcerations could prevent further victimization of Canadians.

Huw Williams, representing the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association, echoed the call for stricter criminal sanctions against auto theft, which he described as a lucrative, “low-risk” activity for organized crime.

“Thieves are being paid a handsome reward for stealing the vehicles with a low risk of getting caught and low risk of severe punishment,” said Mr. Williams.

Attorney General Arif Virani expressed in late January an openness to revisiting the Criminal Code to address this issue, signalling a potential shift toward more stringent enforcement against auto theft. The current maximum penalty for auto-theft in Canada is 10 years behind bars.