Ottawa wants to try to curb the epidemic of car theft in the country.

The Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc, announced on Sunday the holding of a national summit in Ottawa on February 8th to combat car theft. This crime, which has become a plague across the country, has implications not only for Canadians but also strengthens criminal organizations by fueling their illegal activities, Minister LeBlanc emphasized during a press conference alongside four of his colleagues.

The announcement comes on the first day of a three-day federal cabinet retreat in Montreal (a major hub for car theft in Canada), focused on preparing for the parliamentary session. Topics discussed include the housing crisis, the rising cost of living, immigration policies, and the implications of the presidential election on Canada-US relations.

According to a report published last June, a car is stolen every six minutes in Canada. Auto theft rates have significantly increased in 2022, with a 50% increase in Quebec and a 48.3% increase in Ontario compared to the previous year, according to estimates from the automotive industry.

The Port of Montreal has become a hub for the export of stolen vehicles, most of which are destined for Africa and the Middle East. Criminals use various schemes to evade law enforcement, registering businesses as fronts to simulate shipments of goods.

Even elected officials are not spared by this scourge. Former Minister of Justice David Lametti had his official vehicle stolen twice. At the provincial level, Minister of International Relations and Francophonie Martine Biron was also a victim of car theft.

The summit proposed by Ottawa aims to identify short, medium, and long-term solutions to counter car theft. Minister LeBlanc emphasizes the importance of collaboration between local, provincial, and national jurisdictions to better coordinate collective efforts.

Minister LeBlanc expresses concern about the increasing violence associated with these car thefts. His Quebec counterpart, Minister François Bonnardel, welcomes the announcement and emphasizes that combating car theft is a priority for Quebec. Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez highlights the significant impact of the proliferation of these crimes.