By Pepper Parr
July 29th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The province has announced plans to spend $134 million for five new helicopters to patrol the GTA and Ottawa – on the prowl for car theft, carjacking, street racing and impaired driving.
The province’s spring budget provided funding for four helicopters; this funding will allow for the purchase, not lease, of five — the additional chopper going to Ottawa — as well as to cover ongoing operating costs.
H135 helicopter
Two H135 helicopters will be purchased for the Ontario Provincial Police to use for air surveillance in Ottawa and Toronto police, and three helicopters will be purchased and operated by Durham, Halton and Peel police.
“Criminal networks have become more sophisticated, but so have we,” said Kerzner of the state-of-the-art aircraft.
“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 who are stealing cars and committing crimes on our streets.”
Camera image of a theft taking place.
Some 90,000 vehicles are stolen annually in Canada. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says that in Ontario, Toronto has the highest number of auto theft claims — up 561 per cent in five years — followed by Brampton, Mississauga, Vaughan and Markham.
The Ford government has also said that it wants car thieves to lose their driver’s licence for life, though critics said such a move would not deter criminals.
Currently in the GTA, two helicopters are in use and shared with other police forces.
Let the third world in, become the third world. Why not at least immediately return to sender any first-time non-citizen offenders (underage too, with their parents) rather than release them to re -offend.
Imagine, the majority of stolen vehicles leave through the Port of Montreal, my home province. Arguably our most corrupt province. Let’s secure enough technology to scan a sufficient number of containers (Saint John too) to ensure effective deterrence.
I could go on however here is a consumer tip. Most new cars can economically (less than $100) be insured at full replacement value for at least a few years. Come and take mine.