The Ontario government is buying five new police helicopters that will be used to help combat auto theft and street racing in the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa. Premier Doug Ford said on Monday the province plans to spend $134 million on the new choppers. This is significantly more than the $46 million originally budgeted. Why the change? Doug Ford sees it as a “great investment” in helping to curb auto crime. Let’s take a look at what the purchase of these new police helicopters means for fighting auto theft.
Helicopters to help police crack down on crime
In a July 29th news release, provincial officials say the helicopters will be used in instances of auto theft, carjackings, street racing, and impaired driving. “Our government is making the necessary investments to ensure that police services have the tools and resources they need to crack down on auto theft and car thieves,” says Premier Doug Ford, in a statement. The cost of the helicopters has jumped from the $46 million planned in this year’s budget.
When asked about the increase in cost, the premier says the province initially intended to lease four new helicopters for the police services but has now opted to buy them outright. “You go to any major city anywhere, specifically in the U.S., they have helicopters because they can cover a lot more ground a lot faster than police vehicles and a lot safer. So it is a great investment and we can’t wait to catch the bad guys.” Ford also asserts, “This investment is a strong message to all of the criminals and thugs out there involved in violent and organized crime. People who steal cars and commit violent crimes, we’re coming for you and we will catch you and we will put you behind bars.”
The province initially said it would lease four police helicopters for the Toronto area for $36 million, plus $10 million to operate.
However, not everyone sees this as a new tactic of getting tough on crime. In a recent statement, provincial Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie says Ford failed to properly tackle the province’s auto theft issues. “He complains about auto theft and blames everyone — but himself,” she says. “The truth is that after six years of inaction, Ford isn’t interested in fixing what’s broken. (The) re-announcement of a previous commitment just proves the point.”
New police helicopters: Joint task force with the OPP
The province says that as part of a new joint air support unit, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will acquire two new H135 helicopters that will provide support to both Ottawa and Toronto police services. The other three helicopters will be procured, owned, and operated by Durham, Halton, and Peel police respectively. “Criminal networks have become more sophisticated, but so have we,” says Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, in a statement. “In Ontario, a car is stolen every 14 minutes — this is completely unacceptable. These helicopters will be a critical tool in helping police stay one step ahead of the criminals stealing cars and committing crimes on our streets.”
OPP Deputy Commissioner Kari Dart says this is the first time in the OPP’s history that it will be providing “dedicated air support” to other police services. When asked why Toronto and Ottawa will not own and operate their own helicopters, Dart says this model works best.
Is auto theft on the decline?
Still, others are questioning the purchase in light of the recent downward trend in theft so far in 2024. An auto theft trend report by Équité Association cites a decrease of 17% in the first half of 2024. This is in comparison to the same period in 2023. This decrease in auto theft means that Canada is beginning to see results from the collective efforts to reduce it.
The recent decline in auto theft is stemming the flow of funds into organized crime, making Canadian communities safer. Notably, Ontario (-14%) and Quebec (-36%) have the largest decreases in auto theft. “Police services across Canada, particularly Ontario and Quebec, have been building their auto theft units and then working collaboratively.” This is from an interview with Brian Gast, VP of investigative services at Équité.
National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft
In May of 2024, the federal government announced a countrywide plan to fight auto theft. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says the National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft will focus on disrupting, dismantling, and prosecuting the organized crime groups involved in the thefts that have been rising at an alarming rate. The report cites that a tangible impact as a result of partnerships and information sharing has contributed to the decline. This is amongst law enforcement, government agencies, insurers, and industry stakeholders. In addition, the increased investment in resources from the federal and provincial governments has been seen as invaluable. Ford believes that the purchasing of five helicopters is a “great investment” in the long run. “We are going to stop the crime. We are going to avoid high-speed car chases and deaths and give the police the tools that they need,” Ford said.
Final Thoughts on the new police helicopters
Many believe the National Action Plan is a massive step towards continuing to see gains in auto theft decline. Disrupting the criminal networks that deal with stolen vehicles is a crucial step to making our communities safer, and the newly purchased helicopters will help in this regard. Only time will tell how effective the implementation of the helicopters will be in helping to reduce auto theft, carjackings, street racing, and impaired driving.
As long as auto theft remains an issue, having proper insurance coverage in place is crucial. Contact isure today or request a car insurance quote!
Canada's auto theft crisis appears to be reversing course. Following Read more
With stolen vehicles at an all-time high in Canada, the Read more
With the number of auto thefts rising daily, it's no Read more
