Member’s Statement: Community Safety & Auto Theft

Monday, November 27, 2023

TORONTO — Sheref Sabawy, Member of Provincial Parliament for Mississauga—Erin Mills made the following statement before the Ontario Legislature:

“On Friday, I joined my colleagues at Peel Regional Police headquarters in Mississauga, where the Premier announced the Preventing Auto Thefts Grant, an $18-million investment over three years to help police services combat auto theft and protect communities, including $900,000 for Peel region.

“We know that auto thefts are an increasingly serious problem in Mississauga and across the province. That’s why our government is taking immediate and decisive action to increase safety and security and prevent crime.

“Earlier this year, the Solicitor General announced a $51-million investment over three years to fight criminal organizations and put these criminals behind bars.

“Although our government is working hard to fight crime, we must be clear: Comprehensive reforms from the federal government are needed to take criminals off the streets and keep them in jails. That’s why this Legislature called on our federal counterparts to implement bail reform. The non-stop game of catch-and-release and the dangerous opposition rhetoric of defunding the police only serves to punish the hard-working, law-abiding residents of Ontario.

“We will always continue to support law enforcement officers, such as Peel Regional Police, who are working hard to keep our community safe. Changes we made earlier this year will provide free tuition at the Ontario Police College and allow up to 550 recruits per cohort—such as the 51 police who graduated in Peel this year.

“This government is providing police with the resources and training they need to be successful. We’re firmly committed to fighting crime so Ontarians can feel safe and secure.”