Thank you, Mr. Chair.
During an appearance as part of the study on vehicle theft, the Insurance Bureau of Canada told the committee that, based on its findings, the border was porous, and that the Canada Border Services Agency and law enforcement agencies needed to do their job. However, it's estimated that there's a shortage of between 2,000 and 3,000 border services officers to ensure border security.
If we're seeing an improvement in the auto theft file, it's because the agency and the RCMP prioritized this problem, which had received a lot of media attention. However, one question often comes up: While they are focusing on vehicle theft, what services are being neglected? Organized crime comes to mind, as do other services that require the presence of border services officers.
So Bill C‑12 could improve the situation, but I don't get the impression that it gives us the means to achieve our ambitions. In other words, it doesn't seem to provide sustainable resources to combat vehicle theft in the short and long term. That's what I think.
It must be said that everything depends on the agency's ability to provide its inspection services. The Montreal Port Authority tells us that it can take up to two weeks to open containers and that this has consequences for manufacturers. They can't get the vehicles to their customers, since there's a shortage of border services officers and they can't do their jobs any faster.
Do you believe that the provisions set out in part 2 or part 3 of Bill C‑12 will really make a change or create a deterrent effect when it comes to vehicle theft?
Mr. Kingston can go first, and then Mr. McGuinty.