SECU Committee Report

Bloc Québécois supplementary report on the study on the growing problem of vehicle theft in Canada

The theft of vehicles and their export is a growing problem in Canada, and the Port of Montreal has become a hub for this activity over the years. With vehicle theft doubling in Quebec in recent years and profits from this criminal activity filling the coffers of organized crime, it became urgent to look at how the actors involved can combat this issue. On 23 October 2023 the Bloc Québécois secured the unanimous adoption of a motion calling on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security to undertake a study on the growing problem of car theft in Canada and on the measures the federal government has taken to combat this criminal activity.

Throughout this study, the Bloc Québécois has called for particular attention to be paid to port security, as stolen vehicles are shipped overseas every week. There is every reason to believe that the proceeds from these criminal activities benefit organized crime and enable them to fund illegal guns, drugs and other criminal activities, contributing to an increase in crime in our communities.

The Bloc Québécois wishes to thank all the witnesses who participated in this important study and hopes that the recommendations in this report will be implemented by the federal government in order to bring about real change that will ensure the safety of our communities. It is important to us that concrete measures be taken so that everyone can live in a society where they feel safe. While the Bloc Québécois agrees with the recommendations put forward in this report, we would like to refine some. With this supplementary report, we urge the federal government to respect the jurisdictions of Quebec and the provinces and to encourage and fund their efforts rather than compete with them.

The Bloc Québécois believes that recommendation 25 should read as follows:

• -   That the Government of Canada unconditionally transfer funds to provincial and municipal governments to develop awareness campaigns focused on vehicle security best practices, aimed at educating the public on preventative measures to reduce the risk of vehicle theft.

The Bloc Québécois believes that recommendation 26 should read as follows:

• -   That the Government of Canada transfer funds to provincial and municipal governments to support research initiatives to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based policing strategies in reducing car theft, with a focus on fostering partnerships between law enforcement and local communities.