Canadian Automotive Industry Applauds Ford Government's Commitment to Combat Auto Theft

Representatives from each association are available for media interviews

May 04, 2023 12:18 PM EDT | Source: Canadian Automotive Industry

Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 4, 2023) - The Canadian automotive industry stands united with the Ford government’s commitment to combat the alarming rise of auto theft in Ontario. The significant investment of $51 million to identify and dismantle organized crime networks demonstrates this government’s commitment to reducing increasingly violent auto theft crimes that are making Ontarians feel less safe in their own communities.

Startling statistics reveal that vehicle thefts in Toronto alone have increased by 81 percent from 2014 to 2021, while violent carjackings have surged by 78 percent from 2021 to 2022. In response, Canada’s leading automotive associations—the Motor Vehicle Retailers of Ontario (MVRO), the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), the Global Automakers of Canada (GAC), the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (CVMA), and the Canadian Financing and Leasing Association (CFLA)—have been working with the Canadian Automobile Association, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, and police forces across Ontario and Quebec to call for the type of intervention announced by the Ford government.

We collectively call on the federal government to join us in a collaborative dialogue to ensure the levers at their disposal are also deployed to combat vehicle theft. Collaboration between the government, law enforcement, and the automotive industry is vital in addressing this issue. Federal engagement is now needed to stop the export of stolen vehicles. The Canadian Border Service Agency must use its existing power to search shipment containers before they leave The Port of Montreal, and better, collaborative ways of intercepting stolen vehicles before they reach the ports need to be pursued.

MVRO, CADA, GAC, CVMA, and CFLA express their thanks to the Ford government for recognizing the gravity of the situation and making a significant investment of $51 million to combat auto theft both in Ontario and beyond. This investment aims to fight auto theft and address the funding of organized crime and terrorist activities beyond our borders.

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