Ali Ehsassi

Budget 2024 | Keeping communities safe

We all deserve safe communities to raise our children, create a home, and build a better future. Yet, an estimated 90,000 vehicles are reported stolen annually in Canada and, in some regions, organized crime groups are increasingly turning to violence to commit these crimes, like car jackings and home invasions with the proceeds of crime being used to find other illegal activities like money laundering and drug trafficking.

Auto theft is a problem that requires manufacturers, insurance companies, law enforcement agencies, and governments to work together on solutions. Recognizing the impact of auto theft, our government is moving forward with immediate actions that fall within federal authority:

Legislative and regulatory changes, including proposed amendments to the Criminal Code, to institute tougher penalties for auto theft with ties to violence, organized crime and money laundering
Intelligence/information sharing enhancements between municipal, provincial, federal and international police and customs officials in support of criminal investigations, charges, and prosecutions
Intervention improvements that will allow more shipping containers to be examined, through increased capacity at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the integration of new targeting tools.

Furthermore, earlier this year on January 31st, 2024, our government announced a federal investment of $121 million to help prevent gun and gang violence in Ontario, including auto theft through the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV). It has been used by provinces for an array of important efforts to combat gun and gang violence. This begins with strong borders, where our government has invested nearly half a billion dollars in border security and deepened cooperation with the United States to fight gun smuggling.