Mr. Chair and honourable committee members, the Association des directeurs de police du Québec, or ADPQ, would like to thank you for inviting us to share our thoughts on the issue of car thefts in Canada.

Not so long ago, car theft was seen as a minor, almost trivial matter. But, as we all know, times have changed. Car theft now means violence and criminal gangs.

We now know that car theft is committed by organized networks prepared to use violence in order to escape any kind of justice. As well, these networks are exploiting weaknesses in shipping security, with the Port of Montreal being one of their prime targets.

In 2023, over 15,000 vehicles were stolen in Quebec. That's an increase of 57.9% over three years.

At the risk of repeating myself, with these thefts we are now also seeing an escalation of violence, which poses a very real threat to the public and police. Recent attacks on police officers are particularly troubling.

It is now clear, dear committee members, that car theft is no longer limited to mere property damage; it also affects the peace of mind of our neighbours, our police officers, and the safety of our cities and roads, making this an issue that requires the entire country's attention.

In the face of this growing threat, as seen by the recent summit organized by the federal government, there is now a collective will to come up with an aggressive response to these crimes and to dismantle the criminal networks that support them. The summit was certainly a crucial first step, to create an open and inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders. However, it is clear that this is just the beginning of a process that will require our full commitment and meaningful action.

That is why the ADPQ is making a number of recommendations to respond seriously to car theft.

First, it is imperative that we toughen the current legislative standards in four areas.

We are all aware of the challenges surrounding public security. Car theft puts a spotlight on the very integrity of Canada's ports, which is critical infrastructure for our country. We need to take a hard look at the security of our ports, understand how car thieves operate, and take aggressive and decisive action. We must fight organized crime infiltrating our ports.

For example, we need to tackle head‑on the critical issue of hiring and conducting security checks of Canadian port employees and the regulations involved. It's time to take firm action by bringing in new legislative standards to address this situation.

That's why we're proposing concrete measures to protect the integrity of our ports, particularly the selection processes and security accreditation system for all Canadian port employees. This is in addition to reviewing the relevant regulations.

Given the situation, we also need to go a step further by giving police the critical task of conducting security checks of Canadian port employees. That way, we can conduct thorough, impartial background checks.

Second, we need to force carriers to ensure that the container contents match the container manifest. In other words, they need to be liable for what they carry.

Third, the Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA, must be required to carry out a certain percentage of random inspections of container contents. On that note, allow me to commend the government's financial commitment to this agency, which plays a critical role in combatting car theft. However, I will add that, if necessary, depending on new demands on the CBSA, it would be worth taking a look at restructuring the agency.

Finally, we also need to toughen the statutory standards for automakers. They must be forced to improve their vehicles' built‑in safety features. For example, this could mean requiring all new vehicles to be fitted with a personalized immobilizer, or bringing in a time limit of one hour or more before a key can be reprogrammed.

That said, it's important to recognize that beefing up our legislative standards won't be enough. We also need to recognize the critical importance of the investigative and intelligence work carried out by law enforcement by establishing joint teams funded through the federal budget; roll out effective tracking systems and surveillance networks on our highways, based on what is being done in the United States; and continue educating the public about how to prevent car theft.

Dear committee members, the ADPQ recommends that these robust measures be implemented as soon as possible.

We firmly believe that by joining forces and by taking a multidimensional approach, we can actually do something to stop the massive problem of car theft. With this in mind, the ADPQ wishes to stress the importance of close co‑operation with the relevant authorities, the industries involved, and civil society to ensure that these initiatives are effective and sustainable. Together we can create a safer environment for our communities and deter crime.

Thank you.