Ontario needs stronger VIN registry for auto thefts happening ‘right under the Premier’s nose’ – Oshawa MPP

The idea of a VIN verification system to put a dent in auto theft crime rings that have grown in power in recent years seems like a no-brainer but an Oshawa MPP has had little luck prying a commitment out of the provincial government despite repeated attempts.

With criminal tentacles inside the province’s own Service Ontario offices – an alleged scheme involving the registration of fake VINs by employees at a ServiceOntario location is part of a Toronto Police investigation into auto theft than has resulted in dozens of arrests and more than 300 charges – it seemed to Jennifer French like a good opportunity to ask the ruling government once again.

The latest political jousting happened November 4 on the Legislature floor at Queen’s Park when French rose during Question Period to question her regional neighbour, Durham MPP and Minister for Public and Business Service Delivery Todd McCarthy.

Oshawa MPP Jennifer French in the Ontario Legislature

“Why do we still not have a VIN verification system to protect drivers?” French asked, adding that while the government appointed Graham McGregor as Associate Minister for Auto Theft to focus on enforcement, “there was an auto theft ring operating right under the Premier’s nose.”

“These public employees weren’t smashing in windows or picking locks, they were registering fraudulent VINs to stolen vehicles for resale,” she said. “These fraudulent rings are running rampant and the government has failed to implement any preventative measures. All of their ideas are after the crime. The police want a VIN verification system; other provinces have already implemented a VIN verification system.”

“What is stopping this government from taking real action to protect the VIN registry?

McCarthy, in his rebuttal, said ServiceOntario and his government take cooperation with law enforcement “very seriously,” adding there are procedures in place to ensure auto theft is detected and “those responsible are apprehended and prosecuted.”

McCarthy added that despite the investigation being led by Toronto Police it was those government procedures that led to the employees being caught and assured the Legislature that the employees will be prosecuted

Tom Rakocevic, MPP for Humber River Black Creek in Toronto, then took up the mantle during the debate and challenged new auto theft czar McGregor on the government’s actions. “Let’s be perfectly clear. None of the measures that the government has proposed to stop car thefts would have actually prevented the crimes. A helicopter won’t be able to see a fraudulent VIN number. And once you’ve arrested the car thieves and their accomplices, the cars are already long gone.”

“But there’s one obvious solution that the government seems unwilling to try to stop car thieves in their tracks: a VIN verification program that has already been implemented in other provinces.”

McGregor, like McCarthy, responded by taking credit for the Toronto police investigation, saying it was funded by his government, adding that the Conservatives have “more police on the streets” with “helicopters on the way.”

“The members opposite talk a big game (but) they vote against all these measures.”

The Toronto Police investigation, dubbed Project Thoroughbred, began in July and focused on auto theft rings involved in VIN fraud as well as ‘chop shops’ where stolen vehicles are prepared for shipment overseas.

The 300-plus charges do not include the Service Ontario employees allegedly involved in the fraud – yet – but the Toronto cop heading up the investigation said, “they will be.”

Supt. Ron Taverner said the employees are alleged to have knowingly used fake documents provided by the suspects to make it look like the VINs were legitimate, and then registered Ontario licence plates to the fraudulent VINs.

The stolen vehicles were then sold to unsuspecting buyers at a discount.

A ‘Chop Shop’

French told INdurham she has been “frustrated” with the delay in adopting a VIN verification system, noting other provinces have the system in place where a vehicle registration number flagged as potentially fraudulent triggers a next step that could prevent consumers unknowingly buying stolen vehicles.

“We want to know that vehicles on the road are legit,” she said. “I’m all for consequences but we need to make it harder on thieves in the first place.”

She is at a loss to explain why the Conservative government has not put VIN verification in place, speculating the government might believe it is “too complicated” or too expensive.

“If this is a matter of cost then by all means bring it in-house,” she said. “The cost of having a vehicle stolen and having a system we cannot trust is far worse.”

French said the province looked into establishing the system more than a year ago but “no answer has been forthcoming.”

The provincial government have instead focussed on enforcement and is planning to create a new provincial offence for fraudulent vehicle registrations as a way to tackle auto theft.

The proposed legislation would create a new Highway Traffic Act offence of knowingly providing a false vehicle identification number when applying for a vehicle permit, an offence that would come with penalties of up to $100,000 in fines, up to six months in jail, and driver’s licence or vehicle permit suspensions.

The announcement from provincial Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkoria came on the same day that Toronto police announced the results of Project Thoroughbred and the alleged involvement of the ServiceOntario employees.

Ottawa has also got involved in the issue, saying cooperation from the provinces is needed to close loopholes criminals are using to re-sell stolen cars, with the federal transportation ministry sending letters to provincial counterparts calling for meetings on ensuring record technology is up to date and there is more intelligence sharing among jurisdictions.

It also calls for more interventions at ports, with the Canada Border Services Agency tasked with expanding searches of shipping containers in a bid to stop vehicles from being sent overseas.

According to insurance crime watchdog Équité Association, 28,550 vehicles were stolen in Canada in the first half of 2024, with most destined for the Port of Montreal for shipment abroad. There were 462 vehicles stolen in Mississauga and Brampton alone in October – an average of 15 per day.

“We’re attracting car thieves here because it’s so easy,” French said. “And it’s only going to get worse.”