moved for leave to introduce Bill C-237, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (motor vehicle theft).
Mr. Speaker, as members should be aware, auto theft has long been a serious concern to the residents of Winnipeg. From January 1 to November 16 there have been 3,290 actual car thefts and 3,118 attempted car thefts in the city.
I introduced this bill in the last session of Parliament and I am reintroducing it in response to the continuing concern for auto theft in the community.
It also comes in response to a meeting that took place between Liberal members and a Manitoba delegation that included the premier, the provincial justice minister, the mayor of Winnipeg, the mayor of Brandon and opposition leaders, as well as Chief Dennis Meeches of the Long Plain First Nation.
With this bill, everyone who commits theft of a motor vehicle for a second or subsequent offence would be guilty of an indictable offence and would be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)