Today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, released an update on the progress made under the National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft (Action Plan).
Since its launch in May 2024, the Action Plan has driven targeted efforts to prevent vehicle theft, recover stolen vehicles, stop their export, and combat the organized criminal networks behind this crime.
This latest update builds on the progress shared earlier this year and outlines collective actions taken by the Government of Canada and partners from November 2024 and May 2025, including:
- Implementing a strategy to share available Import/Export Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) data with external partners, such as Équité and Carfax, to help disrupt the flow of stolen vehicles from Canada;
- Providing funding for the Government of Quebec to support police efforts to provide information and actionable intelligence to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and take custody of stolen vehicles intercepted at ports and rail yards quickly;
- Increasing export cargo container examinations to support the continued operation of RCMP-owned vehicle detection technology;
- Awarding grants for 8 projects, valued at up to $150,000 each, to Canadian small and medium sized companies to develop innovative solutions to deter and prevent vehicle theft, including smart phone-based security, AI assisted locking devices and sensors with gesture recognition technologies;
- Delivering the Specialized Vehicle Theft Investigative Techniques course for law enforcement;
- Completing targeted security assessments of high-risk port facilities in Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax,along with security plan revisions and follow-up inspections to verify compliance.
Our Action Plan is yielding results. Motor vehicle theft saw a significant decline in 2024, with police-reported incidents dropping by 17 per cent. Auto thefts have continued to decline nationally in 2025, with a 19 per cent decrease reported in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest trend report from Équité Association.
But we are not letting our guard down. Canadians can rest assured that the Government of Canada, as well as law enforcement agencies, will remain vigilant, as we continue the fight against auto theft, and related crimes, and work together to protect everyone's property and keep our communities safe.
