A Private Members Bill was introduced today by Progressive Conservative Justice critic Gerald Hawranik to ensure auto thieves who are injured or die during the commission of their crime, receive no benefits from Manitoba Public Insurance.

He said Bill 229, Elimination of Benefits For Auto Thieves, if passed, will amend the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act to make sure thieves don’t profit from their crime.

“MPI customers should not have to contribute to a system that gives criminals access to the same accident benefits as law-abiding citizens receive,” Hawranik said, pointing out that absurdly, auto thieves can collect benefits through the insurance policy of the vehicle they steal. “This bill is a no-brainer to Progressive Conservatives and we hope to the NDP as well, as they will need to support the bill in order for the loophole to be eliminated. We hope common sense and the interest of MPI customers prevail over partisan politics and the comfort of criminals.”

Manitoba consistently has among the worst auto theft rates in Canada and the only way to buck this trend is to get tough on thieves, he said.

“Perhaps knowing that if they steal a car and hurt themselves in a crash they won’t be able to collect MPI benefits will make would-be auto thieves think twice about committing the crime,” Hawranik said.