Feds' new bill targets costly crimes

Tragedies like the death of Halifax's Theresa McEvoy, who was killed when a teen driving a stolen car slammed into her vehicle, may happen less often if a new federal bill targeting auto theft and property crime is passed, says the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Rick Dublin, vice-president of the bureau's investigative services, said too many innocent people are being killed by someone behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle.

"We've seen this happen repeatedly throughout Canada," Dublin said. "Auto theft in Canada is a safety and security issue for all communities."

On Oct. 14, 2004, Archie Billard, then 16, was driving a stolen car when he rammed a station wagon being driven by McEvoy.

The mother of three was killed. In January 2006, Billard was sentenced as an adult for charges related to the fatal crash.

After McEvoy's death, the bureau pushed for stronger legislation that would see auto theft as a serious offence with harsher penalties to act as a deterrent. Currently, auto theft is treated like a simple property offence and the sentencing is based on whether the stolen property was worth over or under $5,000.

Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised to crack down on car thieves and chop shops that sell stolen car parts, by making several amendments to the Criminal Code.

The changes include making it a crime to alter, destroy or remove a vehicle identification number (VIN); to knowingly sell, give, transfer, transport, send or deliver goods that have been acquired criminally; and to possess property known to be obtained through crime for the purpose of trafficking.

Many stolen vehicles end up in chop shops where they are dismantled and sold for parts or sold with an altered vehicle identification number. High-end vehicles are often exported out of major ports, such as Halifax.

"Anything we can do to prevent auto theft in Canada will have a positive effect on premiums," Dublin said.

Auto theft costs Canadians about $40 per auto policy. Nova Scotia Justice Minister Cecil Clarke also applauds the proposed bill.

"I am delighted that the prime minister has responded to the call of provincial and territorial governments to bring in stronger legislation against car theft," Clarke said.

The proposed legislation would also give new powers to Canada Border Services Agency officers, giving them the authority to detain stolen property.

Currently, there are no federal laws that prohibit the import and export of property obtained by crime and the new law will allow the CBSA to investigate imported vehicles or vehicles about to be exported to determine whether they are stolen.

The proposed bill would also increase the penalties for the possession of property obtained by crime and widen the definition of trafficking in order to "target all of the middlemen who move stolen property."

The government says the existing trafficking laws don't cover the full range of trafficking activities from beginning to end.

"Nova Scotians want their governments to make sure that every possible step is being taken to make our streets safer, which includes taking the fight to car thieves," said Clarke.

An estimated 170,000 vehicles are stolen every year in Canada, costing Canadians an estimated $1 billion a year, as well as $600 million in extra costs to car insurers, who, in turn, pass that on to drivers in the form of higher premiums.

kmoar@hfxnews.ca