News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PRIME MINISTER HARPER ANNOUNCES NEW LEGISLATION THAT TARGETS AUTO THEFT AND PROPERTY CRIME

April 14, 2008
WINNIPEG

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today unveiled details of new amendments to the Criminal Code that will target auto theft and property crime. The Prime Minister, accompanied by Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and Treasury Board President Vic Toews, made the announcement at a stolen car impound lot in Winnipeg.

"Car theft is big business for organized crime but with this legislation, we're aiming to put them out of business," said Prime Minister Harper. "We're also going to make life much more difficult for anybody who knowingly trafficks in any kind of stolen property."

Auto theft costs Canadians an estimated $1 billion a year, not including the $600 million it costs car insurers, which is largely passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums. The new legislation will give police and prosecutors better tools to fight car thieves, particularly organized crime rings that steal vehicles, alter the Vehicle Identification Number, and re-sell them in Canada or abroad, or dismantle stolen vehicles in so-called "chop shops" and re-sell the parts.

The new legislation will make it a crime to:

Alter, destroy or remove a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Knowingly, sell, give, transfer, transport, send or deliver goods that have been acquired criminally.

Possess property known to be obtained through crime for the purpose of trafficking.

In addition, the new legislation grants the Canada Border Services Agency the authority to identify and prevent stolen property from leaving the country.

"We're closing some of the legal loopholes that organized crime has been driving stolen vehicles through for decades", said Prime Minister Harper. "As a result of these actions, Canadians will experience fewer car thefts and fewer break-ins."

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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