I want to rise in the House this morning and raise a very important issue to not only my riding of Brampton North, but, quite frankly, the province of Ontario. In Ontario, a car is stolen every 48 minutes. Auto theft has been on the rise over the last number of years, with a 72% increase from 2014 to 2021; last year, that increase was 14%.

As we know, the GTA is a hot zone for crooks to steal cars. And the hard-working residents of Brampton North are fed up. They work hard for their money, and with 90% of homes in my riding having a driveway, they deserve to feel safe and to have the peace of mind that their cars will stay on their driveway—not poached by some low-life scumbag. But since 2021, in Peel region, carjackings have risen by 45%.

Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah has described the impact of vehicle theft on public safety as “tremendous.” He also stated: “It is one of the fastest-growing problems that we have in not just the Golden Horseshoe, but right across Ontario.”

Speaker, that’s exactly why our government is taking decisive, strong action. Last week, our Solicitor General announced a $51-million investment to combat auto theft. We’re supporting new measures to help police identify and dismantle organized crime networks and put thieves behind bars, where they belong. Our government is providing police services with the resources they need to make Ontario safer for all car owners, reduce auto theft, and bring those involved in these criminal networks to justice. I support it wholeheartedly. Let’s get it done.