GOVERNMENT OF CANADA JOINS FORCES WITH THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO REDUCE AUTO THEFT

WINNIPEG, June 14, 2001 -- Ms. Anita Neville, MP for Winnipeg South Center, on behalf of the Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Solicitor General of Canada, along with Marlene Viau, Chairperson of the National Committee to Reduce Auto Theft, today launched Project 6116, an initiative to lower the incidence of auto theft in Canada. Through the National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention, the Government will award $137,998 to the National Committee for Project 6116.

"Auto theft is a crime with many consequences, from loss of property to higher insurance premiums to the injuries and deaths that can occur in the commission of these crimes," said Ms. Neville. "It requires a determined response, and together with the National Committee to Reduce Auto Theft, we are taking an important step in making Canadians aware of the extent of the problem and how they can work to prevent it."

The impact of the crime of auto theft is more widespread and dangerous than the act of taking one's property. Auto theft not only robs a person of a physical object, but the act of stealing a vehicle can result in something more destructive than a lost material possession. Auto thefts result in a number of deaths and injuries each year. A reduction in the number of auto thefts would reduce the number of police pursuits.

"Innocent people like my brother, a Sudbury police officer killed as a result of a high-speed chase, lose their lives or are seriously injured each day as a result of this crime. Public perception is that this type of youth-related crime is merely an unfortunate "joyriding" incident. This perception must change. It is my opinion that it is time to re-think the term "joyriding" because it minimizes the seriousness of the offence and defiles the loss of life sustained as a result of this crime. Furthermore, this criminal activity can have a devastating impact on the youth that are involved in it," said Ms. Viau.

The National Committee to Reduce Auto Theft, established in May 2000, is a multi-stakeholder group representing key players such as the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the police community and governments, each of which has committed to work together to reduce auto theft in Canada. The Committee has raised $800,000 in in-kind contributions.

The Committee is committed to addressing the underlying root causes of auto theft by finding out why individuals and youth in particular become involved in such a crime. The Committee will focus on youth involvement in auto theft, organized vehicle-theft rings, and the creation of national and international vehicle-information exchange and communications.

Funding for this project is being provided under the Business Action Program (BAP) of the National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention. Complementary activities are currently funded by the Program are: a public awareness campaign by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, Groupement des assureurs automobiles (an organization representing automobile insurance companies in Quebec), to create an action plan to reduce auto theft in Quebec through prevention and collaboration among automobile insurance companies; and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) applied research and awareness programming relating to the involvement of youth in auto theft.

The National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention is aimed at developing community-based responses to crime, with a particular emphasis on children and youth, Aboriginal communities and women. It takes an early-intervention approach and supports innovative, grass-roots responses to the problems of crime and victimization.

The BAP reinforces the National Strategy by focusing on specific crime problems that have a direct impact on the private sector -- such as auto theft, vandalism and shoplifting. It is administered by the Business Network on Crime Prevention which consists of representatives of six national business associations and the National Strategy. For more information on this project, the BAP, and the National Strategy, please visit http://www.prevention.gc.ca/.

Phase II of the National Strategy, announced on June 2, 1998, by the Department of Justice and Solicitor General Canada, includes $32 million per year of federal funding to help Canadians undertake crime prevention initiatives in their communities. It was provided for in the February 2000 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.

Since its launch, the National Strategy has supported more than 1,600 projects across Canada.

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Ref.:

Farah Mohamed
Minister McLellan's Office
(613) 992-4621

France Huneault
Minister MacAulay's Office
(613) 991-2863

Mark Stokes
National Crime Prevention Center
(613) 954-1721