York Region – Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario, and Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario, announced a federal investment of $121 million to help prevent gun and gang violence in Ontario, including auto theft through the Initiative to take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV).
During the announcement, federal and provincial officials spoke to their joint efforts to combat auto theft. This crime is growing in scope in Ontario, and increasingly involves organized crime groups. The proceeds of these thefts are also used to fund other illegal activities.
To combat this issue, the Government of Canada is convening a National Summit on Combatting Auto Theft on February 8. It will bring together all orders of government, industry and law enforcement partners to collaborate on a coordinated response and build on joint initiatives that are already underway.
The Government of Canada is committed to combatting serious and organized crime, reducing gun and gang violence and keeping communities safe.
“Too many families in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and across the country have been impacted by auto theft. By working together, we can make our communities safer through greater enforcement, collaboration, and prevention. I look forward to continuing the discussion with the Government of Ontario and other partners on further actions we can take to combat auto theft at next week’s National Summit.” – Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
“Our Government recognizes the significant rise in rates of car thefts and is acting immediately to take a broad, multi-faceted approach to reverse this concerning trend. People in Canada need to know that their governments, border security and law enforcement agencies are working together and using every tool available to combat this crime and keep our communities safe.” – Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
“Today’s announcement will support Ontario’s ongoing efforts to support our police officers and tackle auto theft, gun crime, and gang violence across the province. Our government is stepping up with new investments to keep our communities safe and I particularly look forward to working with the federal government through next week’s auto theft prevention summit.” – Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
“Gun crime and auto theft are urgent and interconnected issues in Ontario. It is imperative that police and prosecutors have the tools they need to keep communities safe. The federal funding announced today builds on a combination of recent provincial investments to support strong enforcement and prosecution of crime, in addition to addressing key risk factors associated with crime, violence, and victimization.” – Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario