Justice Minister Andrew Swan congratulated the Government of Canada for passing Bill S-9 (the Tackling Auto Theft and Property Crime Act).
“We welcome this important step in the fight against auto theft and are pleased the federal government has made this significant contribution towards addressing the long-standing concerns of the Government of Manitoba and Manitoba citizens,” said Swan. “Auto theft puts people and communities at risk. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Government of Canada in our continuing efforts to tackle this dangerous criminal activity and look forward to the new law coming into effect in short order.”
Bill S-9 creates a separate offence of theft of a motor vehicle, with a mandatory prison sentence of six months for conviction of a third or subsequent indictment.
The Government of Manitoba launched the Winnipeg Auto Theft Suppression Strategy in August 2005 in partnership with the Winnipeg Police Service and Manitoba Public Insurance. The strategy includes intensive supervision of offenders by probation workers, strict enforcement by the Winnipeg Police Service, specialized prosecutors, compulsory vehicle immobilizers and programming for youth offenders.
Auto theft in Winnipeg is at its lowest point in 17 years and is down 75 per cent since 2004. According to Manitoba Public
Insurance, there were 6,706 fewer auto theft claims in 2009 than in 2004.
