This House of Commons committee meeting on Bill C-12, a bill addressing border security and auto theft, featured testimony from representatives of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (CVMA) and the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), followed by clause-by-clause consideration of the bill with officials from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration (IRCC).
Brian Kingston of the CVMA stated that auto theft rates have dropped 14% in 2024 and 19.1% in the first half of 2025, crediting coordinated efforts and Bill C-12's measures to target organized crime and secure borders, including stronger anti-money laundering penalties and new CBSA access to premises for export inspections. He warned that organized crime has shifted to auto financing fraud and that sustained border resources are needed, and he argued that the federal electric vehicle mandate should be repealed as it adds costs to manufacturers.
Liam McGuinty of the IBC reported that while theft rates fell 14% in 2024, they remain 25% higher than a decade ago, and insurance claims costs have risen nearly 400% over 10 years due to targeting of luxury vehicles. He welcomed Bill C-12's focus on ports as choke points but called for all elements of the national action plan on auto theft, including updated motor vehicle safety standards for security features, and noted that reVINing and auto fraud are growing concerns.
Graeme Hamilton of the CBSA explained that proposed sections 97.01 and 97.02 mirror existing import provisions to close a legislative gap, allowing CBSA access to goods being transported or warehoused for export, which is critical for intercepting stolen vehicles in rail yards and ports. He stated that the amendment from the Bloc Québécois on dwelling-houses was not seen as necessary by officials, as the provisions target licensed warehouses and transporters, not private homes.
Tara Lang of IRCC opposed NDP-1, which would limit information-sharing to CBSA and the IRB, arguing it would conflict with the bill's intent to modernize domestic information-sharing and hamper national security screening with CSIS. She also stated that the mass authorities in part 7 do not allow changing a person's status from temporary to permanent resident, only varying documents.
Brett Bush of the CBSA noted that monthly removal reporting, as proposed in CPC-7, would have less data fidelity than annual reporting and could raise privacy concerns with small sample sizes. He also warned that making arrest warrants mandatory under CPC-8 would remove officer discretion and strain detention capacity.
Jason Hollmann of IRCC stated that tracking all federal benefits for asylum claimants across government would be challenging, as many programs do not differentiate claimants from other low-income individuals. He also confirmed that the one-year bar on refugee claims includes regulatory exceptions.
The committee debated numerous amendments, with several Conservative amendments on serious criminality and asylum eligibility being ruled out of order or defeated, while others, including a reporting requirement on mass authorities and a prohibition on varying documents to grant permanent resident status, were adopted on division. The Bloc Québécois amendment on dwelling-houses was adopted on division. The meeting concluded with all remaining clauses and the title of Bill C-12 being adopted on division.
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