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Oakville deputy proposes plan to stop thieves from recovering stolen cars
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Oakville deputy proposes plan to stop thieves from recovering stolen cars

Oakville MP and new federal transport minister Anita Anand is writing an open letter, hoping to get support from all 13 provinces and territories to work together on re-vinning to combat the growing threat of car theft.

An open letter written by Oakville MP and newly appointed national transportation minister Anita Anand seeks to encourage cooperation across Canada to combat the growing threat of car theft, both here in Oakville and nationally.

With this move, Anand is moving full speed ahead in her mission to combat constituents’ growing concerns about stolen vehicle threats.

Over the weekend, she published an open letter to Canada’s 13 provincial transport ministers asking for their help, encouraging cooperation between all provinces and territories — especially when it comes to, as Anand writes in his letter, “concrete action to to approach re-vinning”.

Anand says national cooperation is needed to close loopholes that criminals can use to resell stolen cars.

“Given the importance of addressing the recovery issue,” she wrote in the letter sent yesterday, October 27, 2024, “I am asking all provinces and territories to prioritize this issue to further deter and prevent car theft in Canada.”

The process of “reclaiming” a vehicle typically involves altering the vehicle identification number (VIN) of a stolen vehicle, then replacing it with a new, different VIN to create a false appearance of legitimacy on a stolen vehicle.

Usually, the reason why thieves do re-vinning is to facilitate the resale of cars and the export of stolen vehicles abroad. But not all stolen vehicles find their way abroad; some remain here in Canada, sold to unsuspecting members of the public.

To mask the theft, criminals can apply a “new” VIN to the stolen vehicle, either belonging to another real vehicle or simply a fake VIN.

Anand continues in her letter: “While the longstanding interprovincial record exchange can help detect vehicle resale, all provinces and territories must participate fully in this system to close the loophole that is being exploited by criminals to resell stolen. vehicles in Canada”.

Anita Anand was recently sworn in as the new national transport minister following the resignation of Pablo Rodriguez last month.

Read more here: Oakville MP Anita Anand sworn in as Minister of Transport

Anand and her office argue that the long-standing Interprovincial Record Exchange can help detect re-winning — but to be fully effective, all 13 provinces and territories must agree to participate.

She also says provinces and territories need to make sure the records exchange technology they use is up to date. This will help communicate with police across the country and deter criminals from working on the records.

According to the Équité Association, an anti-crime organization funded by insurance companies, more than 70,000 private vehicles were stolen in Canada in 2023, including more than 30,000 taken in Ontario. Anand says these numbers are down 19% in the first half of 2024.

A full copy of Anand’s open letter, sent to provincial ministers in all 13 provinces and territories, is copied below:

As the newly appointed Transport Minister, I look forward to working closely with you to advance our shared priorities. I am writing to you today to request a meeting regarding such a priority.

Car theft is a national crisis affecting thousands of Canadian households each year. As our government has reiterated, all relevant parties must be at the table to combat this problem.

The federal government has taken several steps in response to this crisis, as outlined in the National Car Theft Action Plan. We have amended the Criminal Code to introduce tougher penalties, implemented bail reform and increased surveillance to clamp down on the export of stolen vehicles to our ports and shipyards.

As a result of our collective efforts, car theft decreased by 19% in the first half of 2024. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) intercepted more than 1,900 stolen vehicles this year, including 620 in the Greater Toronto Area. We have seen positive results, but we must continue to be vigilant and take strong action together to keep Canadians safe and protect our communities.

Law enforcement agencies across the country report that recovery records and fraud, ubiquitous problems that facilitate the sale and distribution of stolen vehicles, are on the rise. I understand that my predecessor, the Honorable Pablo Rodriguez, sent a letter in May 2024 asking the provincial and territorial governments to make efforts to address car theft issues in their respective jurisdictions. Specifically, he called on each province and territory to take concrete steps to address re-selling.

Given the importance of addressing the issue of re-winning, I am asking all provinces and territories to prioritize this issue to further deter and prevent car theft in Canada. While the longstanding Interprovincial Record Exchange can help detect the resale of vehicles, all provinces and territories must fully participate in this system to close the loophole that is being exploited by criminals to resell stolen vehicles in Canada.

I appreciate your response to my predecessor, who committed to working together on this issue. I would like to discuss this important issue with you and hear what your province is doing in more detail.

My team will contact yours to coordinate a date and time for our meeting. I look forward to discussing how we will work together to make significant progress on car theft.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.