Canada needs ‘auto czar’ to combat car theft problem, MPs hear

Canada needs an “auto czar,” among other measures, to combat the problem of ongoing car thefts, industry officials say.

Representatives from Canadian automotive groups made those suggestions Thursday to MPs on the House of Commons’ public safety committee, which has begun a study into the problem of auto thefts.

“We need to ensure that, while funding announcements are appreciated, that action takes place quickly on this as cars are still being stolen every day,” said Huw Williams, national spokesperson with the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association.

“The violent crime that’s associated with them is taking place every day. We need a senior official appointed, almost like an auto czar, to make sure that CBSA and some of the other departments are brought together to do things differently. Doing it the same old way is not going to get it done. We need a new way of addressing organized crime.”

Experts have warned that Canada is quickly becoming a “source nation” for vehicle theft and resales, often with the involvement of organized crime groups.

In Quebec and Ontario, reported vehicle thefts increased by roughly 50 per cent in 2022, alongside a 35 per cent increase reported in Atlantic Canada.

The issue was the subject of a summit in Ottawa this month, bringing together politicians, law enforcement and industry representatives to figure out a unified response.

The federal government recently announced an additional $28 million for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to improve the agency’s ability to detect and search shipping containers used to transport stolen vehicles overseas.

Ottawa also pledged an additional $15 million over three years to fight the issue, with $9 million going towards police services to increase their