automobile

Thursday February 1, 2024

Government allocates $121 million to tackle surging auto theft, emphasizing collaboration and potential Criminal Code changes in response to the escalating crisis, particularly in the Greater Toronto/Hamilton Area.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 1, 2024

Government Action on Rising Car Thefts

August 7, 2019

The recent announcement of a $121 million investment by the federal government to combat auto theft in Ontario is a commendable move that signifies a strong commitment to addressing the surge in carjackings and vehicle thefts. The funding, part of a larger federal fund of $390 million designated for the national Initiative to take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence, aims to target gun and gang violence, with a particular focus on the escalating auto theft crisis in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The severity of the issue is underscored by the alarming statistics reported by Toronto police, revealing a 24.4% increase in stolen vehicles in 2023 compared to the previous year, following a 45% jump in 2022. These incidents are not merely property crimes; they also involve violent carjackings and break-and-enters, instilling fear in residents and violating their sense of safety within their homes.

News: Doug Ford, Justin Trudeau governments announces $121M in federal funding to fight auto theft, gun crimes  

The holistic approach advocated by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc, and Minister of Justice Arif Virani is crucial in addressing the multifaceted nature of this problem. Recognizing the national and international organized crime links to auto theft, they emphasize the need for cooperation between local law enforcement, the auto and insurance industries, and the Canada Border Services Agency.

Furthermore, the commitment to potentially revising the Criminal Code to include stiffer penalties for auto theft-related offences, as suggested by Minister Virani, aligns with the gravity of the situation. Premier Ford’s explicit call for changes to the Criminal Code, including mandatory minimum sentences for those convicted of violent offences related to home invasions, resonates with the public’s demand for swift and decisive action.

The upcoming national summit on combating auto theft, convened by Minister LeBlanc, demonstrates a proactive approach to tackling this issue at a broader level. Bringing together political leaders, law enforcement, border agents, and auto industry executives will foster collaboration and exchange of strategies to effectively curb the organized theft rings.

Investigation: This car was stolen from a driveway in Canada. We found it in West Africa 

Additionally, the efforts by the Ontario government, earmarking $51 million over three years for prevention initiatives and establishing a joint police task force, showcase a commitment to disrupting the networks responsible for high-risk auto thefts. The task force’s achievements, including 89 arrests, 554 charges, and the recovery of over 100 vehicles, highlight the effectiveness of targeted interventions.

The government’s swift response to the rising tide of car thefts is a positive step forward. By allocating substantial funds, proposing legislative changes, and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, they are demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding communities and curbing the activities of organized crime groups involved in auto theft. These measures are not only necessary but also essential to restoring a sense of security and peace of mind for residents across the affected regions. (AI)

Tuesday September 22, 2020

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 22, 2020

No charges laid at ‘mega meet’ car rally in Ancaster; Premier Ford calls gathering ‘totally unacceptable’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling an impromptu car “mega meet” that saw several hundred people gather in an Ancaster parking lot Saturday night “totally unacceptable” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

July 29, 2008

Speaking to media Sunday, Hamilton police Supt. Will Mason said officers arrived at the parking lot of the Ancaster Cineplex Cinemas at 771 Golf Links Rd just shortly after 6 p.m. following a tip from the Project Eliminate Racing Activity on Streets Everywhere (ERASE) team.

Mason said the task force — which consists of the OPP as well as York and Peel Regional Police forces — had informed Hamilton police that an event coined “Mega Meet 2.0” was planned for that evening in the area. 

When officers arrive on scene, Mason said they found a “large group” of vehicles already setting up in the parking lot. 

Over the next hour, Mason said the group “swelled” to completely fill the movie theatre lot, the adjacent Indigo bookstore lot and had “spilled” into the smaller surrounding lots.

In a statement Sunday, Ford said the “reckless behaviour” seen in the lots was “totally unacceptable.”

“While Ontario has made incredible progress in the fight against COVID-19, we cannot take that progress for granted,” he added. 

With an initial response of three Hamilton police officers, Mason said the force called in the ERASE team for assistance to “prevent a repeat of previous incidents.”

May 26, 2020

No charges — neither traffic violations or for gathering in large groups — were laid during the police response, said Mason. 

On Saturday morning, Ford announced that the province would be clamping down on the number of people allowed at social gatherings in Ontario to slow the spread of the virus. 

Effective immediately, private, unmonitored gatherings are to be limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. 

Saturday evening’s event garnered several hundred people — well beyond the limit, said Mason. 

“The goal at that time was to disperse the crowd as quickly as possible. That helps us mitigate both the risk of COVID-19 as well as the risk of street racing,” he said. “Stopping all of those individuals and issuing fines just exacerbates the size and the duration of that gathering.” (Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Saturday September 19, 2020

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday September 19, 2020

Bold plans of federal Liberals grounded by resurgent COVID-19

The high-flying trial balloons the federal Liberals launched just a month ago, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament, have all but disappeared amid the ominous clouds of rising COVID-19 numbers across central and western Canada.

August 27, 2020

It bears noting that the bold and ambitious new agenda team Trudeau was foreshadowing just a few weeks back has been overshadowed by the renewed urgency in Ottawa and provinces to our west to deal with the resurgent health crisis and the prospects for additional economic misery that come with it.

Most folks will recall that soon after pulling Parliament’s plug on Aug. 18, Trudeau and his newly minted Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland were bullish, not only about a post-pandemic recovery, but about a green recovery. There were also musings from within the federal government about lasting changes to Canada’s employment insurance and income assistance safety nets.

But back then the curve was flat. In mid-August, Canada was posting about 350 new COVID-19 cases daily.

Beginning in late August and accelerating through September, the number of new cases identified daily has spiked back up to over 1,000 — levels not experienced in Canada since late May or early June. The majority of those are in Quebec and Ontario, although the West is also experiencing a resurgence.

October 20, 2018

The rise in case numbers and the fear that they portend a second wave of the virus, has tempered or delayed the government’s longer-term ambitions and refocused the Trudeau Liberals on immediate measures that are required to respond to the health emergency and its economic toll.

The government’s longterm vision of transformational change to a green economy and a more robust and enduring income support program has given way to the reality that Canada remains in the grip of the coronavirus.

It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that the trial balloons about a bold and ambitious new agenda were intended, not so much as a preview of the upcoming Throne Speech, as a distraction from the controversy that surrounded the government when Parliament was prorogued.

September 1, 2018

Prorogation meant that several parliamentary committees examining the controversy around an aborted billion-dollar federal contract to the WE charity went into hiatus. The prime minister and former finance minister Bill Morneau had close ties to the charity.

That controversy seems a long time ago now, although when Parliament resumes following Gov. Gen. Julie Payette’s reading of the speech Wednesday, those committees are likely to resurrect their inquiries. (Chronicle-Herald) 

 

Tuesday November 27, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday November 27, 2018

USMCA not to blame for GM plant closures, but it’s killing all hope of exporting from North America

U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies were likely just one factor among many that contributed to General Motors’ decision to shutter multiple plants in the U.S. and one in Oshawa in Ontario, analysts say.

April 29, 2009

But the closures will undoubtedly sharpen scrutiny of the White House’s “America First” trade agenda — a strategy aimed at preserving jobs in traditional industries through controversial measures including steel and aluminum tariffs that have ultimately squeezed automakers, analysts say.

“Only a few months ago GM said that the Trump tariffs were costing a billion dollars but they were going to wait until after the mid-term elections to take action,” said Dennis DesRosiers, president of DesRosiersAutomotive Consultants. “It is now past the elections and they are taking action. Partial blame for this goes to Trump and his isolationist policies. It is much bigger than U.S. politics, but it certainly is part of the issue.”

January 13, 2009

GM will shutter its factory in Oshawa as part of a global restructuring as the company shifts to manufacturing electric and autonomous vehicles. The move will see 2,973 jobs cut by the end of 2019 at the Oshawa plant, which has been in operation since 1953. The Detroit firm will also slash a total of 6,705 jobs at plants located in Warren, Ohio; White Marsh, Md; and two facilities in Michigan.

Other Canadian manufacturing facilities in St. Catharines and Ingersoll, Ont. will not be affected.

“Trade headwinds” and, in particular, Trump’s tariffs of 25 per cent on imported steel and 10 per cent on aluminum, have also been identified as a key business challenge by more than one automaker as they attempt to make difficult transitions in their product lines and operations. In September, executives at Ford Motor Co. blamed the tariffs for taking US$1 billion out of company profits. (Source: Financial Post)

“I honestly don’t think Trump devotees will mind that autoworkers are losing their jobs.”

Thursday April 5, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday April 5, 2018

Rolling back vehicle emission standards in U.S. will affect Canada

March 8, 2017

Canada will have to decide what to do in light of the U.S. decision to ease emissions standards for cars and trucks. In 2014, Canada and the United States jointly adopted rules to radically increase fuel efficiency of the vehicles destined to be sold between 2022 and 2025.

On April 2, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said a timeline that was put in place by the previous Obama administration set standards too high and it will be changed. At the same time, the state of California has the right and is expected to keep to the tougher standards.

November 23, 2016

This will oblige the Canadian government to decide which stand to take.  Looser standards would make it more difficult for both countries to meet commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as promised in the 2015 Paris Agreement to fight climate change. But they would reduce the need for car makers to produce more electric vehicles easing pressure on them.

Canada’s environment minister has in the past said that reducing gasoline consumption is a key element in efforts to reduce this country’s emissions by 30 per cent from 2005 levels by the year 2030. (Source: CBC News) 

Published in the Welland Tribune

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