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These are the most-stolen vehicles in Canada in 2020 – CTV News

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TORONTO —
While Ford pickup trucks usually top the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s annual ranking of the most-stolen vehicles in Canada, this year high-end SUVs have become the most desirable targets for thieves.

According to the IBC, which works with law enforcement agencies and the Canada Border Services Agency to identify stolen vehicles, the 2018 Honda CR-V SUV is the most stolen vehicle in Canada thus far in 2020.

It was followed by the 2017 Lexus RX350, the 2017 Honda CR-V, and the 2018 Lexus RX350. Rounding out the top five was Ford’s 2018 F150 pickup truck.

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Bryan Gast, the national director of investigative services at IBC, said high-end SUVs have surpassed older model Ford pickup trucks as the most targeted vehicles because thieves have developed new ways to get around their security systems and gain access to them.

“As technology advances, these vehicles, especially the SUVs, are really well sought after,” he told CTVNews.ca during a telephone interview on Tuesday. “Overseas organized crime groups are targeting these vehicles and they’re finding ways to bypass the security systems.”

For example, Gast said thieves have been able to capture radio signals from a key fob and replicate it in order to gain electronic access to a vehicle.

“There are devices that are able to trigger that device to capture the signal and clone it and start your vehicle without ever touching that original key,” he explained.

And while there are many motives for vehicle theft, Gast said the findings by the IBC show a distinct increase in thefts related to organized crime and street racing.

According to the IBC, many high-end SUVs are stolen by organized crime groups to be sold to unsuspecting consumers in Canada or abroad to be stripped down for parts.

In many of these cases, Gast said the stolen vehicle’s vehicle identification number is changed before it’s sold.

In addition to organized crime operations, the IBC said street racing also led to an increase in certain vehicle thefts.

“There’s a growing trend, especially during the pandemic, in dangerous activities such as street racing and illegal gatherings for drifting events, providing a market for stolen small, speedy vehicles,” the IBC said in a press release.

Gast said these street racing events are “very concerning” to law enforcement, the insurance industry, and for the greater population because they can put public safety at risk.

“These are staged events. They’re very serious. These vehicles are being modified in significant ways,” he said. “Our concern is that there are stolen vehicles, stolen parts contributing to these events.”

THE TOP 10 MOST STOLEN VEHICLES IN CANADA IN 2020

  • 2018 Honda CR-V 4DR AWD SUV
  • 2017 Lexus RX350/RX450H 4DR AWD SUV
  • 2017 Honda CR-V 4DR AWD SUV
  • 2018 Lexus RX350/RX350L/RX450H/RX450HL 4DR AWD SUV
  • 2018 Ford F150 4WD PU
  • 2019 Honda CR-V 4DR AWD SUV
  • 2018 Toyota Highlander 4DR 4WD SUV
  • 2017 Toyota Highlander 4DR 4WD SUV
  • 2019 Lexus RX350/RX350L/RX450H/RX450HL 4DR AWD SUV
  • 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD PU

Although high-end SUVs were the most desirable targets for thieves overall, Gast said the IBC did take note of some regional variations across the country.

For example, pickup trucks were still the most popular type of vehicles to steal out West. In Alberta, the IBC said, Ford F-series and Dodge Ram trucks were the most stolen vehicles in the province.

“These trucks are attractive to thieves, and oil and gas companies have used them almost exclusively, which has brought a disproportionately high amount of them to the province,” the IBC said.

Gast added that pre-2008 models of these pickup trucks are particularly attractive to thieves because they aren’t equipped with ignition immobilizers, which are devices that can prevent people from hot-wiring them.

“This list is different from region to region,” he said. “Those large pickup trucks are still a very hot commodity.”

In Ontario, the IBC found that Lexus and Honda vehicles were stolen most often, with many of them headed for export by organized crime groups or used in street racing rings.

In the police operation “Project Seagull” in Hamilton, for example, the IBC said high-end vehicles were being stolen and chopped for parts that were then sold on the black market.

Finally, in Atlantic Canada, the IBC found the Chevrolet Silverado was the most stolen vehicle in the region.

TIPS TO PREVENT VEHICLE THEFT

While Canadians who own one of the vehicles on the IBC’s annual list should take extra care to protect it from being stolen, Gast said all owners should be aware of the precautions they can take to avoid being the victims of theft.

“I think it’s really important to understand the different ways to protect the consumer,” he said. “Some of those can be as simple as just common sense.”

Here are some tips from the IBC to protect your vehicle.

  • Don’t leave a keyless entry fob inside of a vehicle or unprotected at the front entrance of your home.
  • Put a keyless fob in a protective box or bag that will block the radio frequency identification signal.
  • Never leave a vehicle running while it’s unattended.
  • Park your vehicle in well-lit areas.
  • Lock all of the doors and windows when it’s parked.
  • Use a visible or audible device to alert thieves that the vehicle is protected.
  • Install a tracking device that emits a signal to police or a monitoring station if it’s stolen.
  • If it doesn’t have one already, install an immobilizing device in your vehicle to prevent thieves from hot-wiring it. These can include devices that require wireless ignition authentication or starter, ignition, and fuel pump disablers.
  • Consider using a steering-wheel or brake-pedal lock to ward off would-be thieves.
  • Don’t leave personal information, such as insurance or ownership details, in the glove box when the vehicle is parked.

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Ironman Canada: Ottawa to host 2025 triathlon – CTV News Ottawa

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The city of Ottawa will be hosting the Ironman Canada Triathlon in 2025.

It will be the first full-distance Ironman event to be held in Ottawa. The event is scheduled to take place Aug. 3, 2025.

“We are thrilled to announce this new partnership with Ottawa and bring Ironman Canada-Ottawa, one of our most historic race franchises, to the Canadian capital,” said Ironman VP of North American operations Keats McGonigal in a news release. “Ottawa offers the quintessential Canadian race environment with a plethora of outdoor activities, great weather and a mosaic of culture all nestled at the very seat of government. Ironman Canada has played a prominent role in the history of Ironman and will continue with the expansion to Ottawa. We are enthusiastic and excited to see what futures hold here in Ottawa, Ontario.”

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The triathlon will begin at Britannia Beach, with a 3.8-kilometre two-loop swim in the Ottawa River.

Ironman Ottawa Swim Course (Ironman Canada/supplied)

From there, the 180-km bike portion will run along NCC and city roads, including the Kichi Zibi Mikan, the Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Laurier Avenue, Nicholas Street, Sussex Drive, and the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway. Roads will be closed to traffic for the event.

Finally, the marathon run will begin at Parliament Hill, run along Wellington Street before looping to head south on Colonel By Drive alongside the Rideau Canal to Hog’s Back and then back up the Queen Elizabeth Driveway to Parliament Hill.

“I am thrilled to welcome the Ironman Canada competition to Ottawa,” said Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. “I love this city and so will you. There are so many triathletes in Ottawa. And it’s an absolutely stunning and beautiful place to swim, bike and run. It’s also the perfect location for outdoor adventures and world class events, especially an event as prestigious as Ironman Canada. Ottawa is a great place for this amazing competition. Everyone from athletes to families, friends and fans will have an amazing race experience here. I look forward to seeing everyone here in August 2025.”

General registration opens April 22 on the Ironman website. The Ironman Canada-Ottawa triathlon, part of the VinFast Ironman North America Series, will offer qualifying slots to the 2026 VinFast Ironman World Championship.

“This event showcases the resilience and determination of athletes from far and wide, leaving a legacy of excellence in our city,” said Ottawa Tourism president and CEO Michael Crockatt. “We’re confident about this partnership and believe this will significantly contribute to our local economy, grow our sports tourism market, inspire our community, and further showcase our ability to host world-class events. Ottawa’s scenic landscapes and vibrant communities are ready to welcome participants and spectators alike for an unforgettable experience.”

[embedded content]

Turn by turn directions

Bike course

  • Head southeast on Greenview Ave
  • Turn left onto Carling Ave
  • Take the ramp onto Kichi Zibi Mikan East
  • Stay on parkway until it turns into Wellington St
  • Turn Right onto Lyon St
  • Turn Left onto Laurier Ave W
  • Take Ramp onto Queen Elizabeth Driveway and head south
  • Turn Right onto Queen Elizabeth Pl towards Wilton Crescent and Bank St
  • Turn Right onto Wilton Crescent
  • Turn Right onto Bank St
  • Turn Right onto Echo Dr
  • Turn Right onto Colonel By Dr and head north
  • Colonel By Dr ends and becomes Sussex Dr – Continue North on Sussex Dr
  • Sussex Dr continues along the Ottawa River and turns into Princess Ave
  • Princess Ave becomes Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier Pkwy
  • Stay on Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier Pkwy until it ends at Regional Rd 48/St Joseph Blvd where you will U-Turn prior to the intersection.
  • Stay on Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier Pkwy west until its Princess Ave, and then Sussex Dr again into Ottawa
  • Right onto Wellington St
  • Continue on Wellington St until it turns back into Kichi Zibi Mikan West
  • Stay on Kichi Zibi Mikan until the yet to be determined exact turn around point approx. near Deschênes Rapids Lookout and begin your second or final loop.
  • Repeat these steps above until you return to our transition area for the final time and dismount.

Exact transition area is still being determined and right now it shows on Wellington St. This remains to be determined but it will be in and around this general area within 800 meters.

Ironman Ottawa bike course (Ironman Canada/supplied)

Run course

  • Head west on Wellington St
  • Use the Wellington St Underpass to access Commissioner St
  • Turn left onto Commissioner St
  • Right onto Wellington St
  • Right on Colonel By Dr- Stay on Colonel By Dr all the way down to Hogs Back Rd
  • Turn around just before Hogs Back Rd and head North
  • Turn Right onto the ramp up to Bronson Ave
  • Turn Left onto Bronson Ave
  • Turn Left onto Lakeview Terrace
  • Turn Right onto Queen Elizabeth Driveway
  • Queen Elizabeth Driveway turns into Prince of Wales Dr
  • Turn around at Prince of Wales Dr and NCC Scenic Driveway (exact turn around will be adjusted here to make the exact distance and may be before or after the roundabout)
  • Head North on Prince of Wales Dr
  • Prince of Wales Dr turns into Queen Elizabeth Driveway
  • Stay on Queen Elizabeth Driveway until Hawthorne Ave
  • Turn right onto Hawthorne Ave
  • Turn left onto Colonel By Dr
  • Turn left onto Wellington St
  • Continue on Wellington until turn around to start second loop
  • Follow steps above to complete second loop
  • Finish line is currently planned on the beautiful and historic Wellington St.

Athletes will notice the bike, run and finish are all planned for Wellington St. Ironman has different versions of the plan still being vetted out and will have updates as it completes those discussions.

Ironman Ottawa Run Course (Ironman Canada/supplied)

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Former mayor appealing sexual assault conviction dies of cancer – CBC.ca

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The former mayor of a township just outside Cornwall, Ont. — who resigned six months after he was charged with sexual assault and child luring in 2021 — died last month.

According to an online obituary, Frank Prevost died of cancer on March 9. He was 56.

In the summer of 2021, Ontario Provincial Police accused Prevost, then 53 and the mayor of South Glengarry, of sexually assaulting a man over several years, as well as three counts of child luring stemming from an undercover police operation.

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He was convicted of the sexual assault charge in 2023 and had been in the process of appealing.

The child luring charges were still winding their way through court at the time of his death.

Prevost was also charged in February 2022 with violating a condition of his release order. He had been ordered not to use the internet or similar communication services to access unlawful content, social media, dating sites, chat rooms or forums.

Trials had been scheduled for both outstanding matters, according to court records, but Prevost’s health had been deteriorating.

They “could not proceed because he was unable to attend court or participate in a trial,” his lawyer Mark Ertel said in an email.

All outstanding charges against Prevost were withdrawn at the request of the Crown on April 4.

Prevost’s death was first reported by Cornwall Newswatch.

Notice to abandon appeal

In July 2023, Ontario Court Justice Diane Lahaie found Prevost guilty of sexual assaulting someone between 2018 and 2021 in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, according to court records.

In November, Prevost was sentenced to four years in prison, his name was added to the sexual offender registry, and he was ordered to submit his DNA, among other orders.

He and his lawyer launched an appeal that same month. On Nov. 8, the court granted Prevost bail pending a hearing on the matter.

Prevost died before the hearing could take place, the court confirmed.

A notice to abandon the appeal has been submitted and is being processed, a spokesperson for the court wrote in an email Monday.

After the first charges were announced, Prevost took an unpaid six-month leave of absence as mayor of South Glengarry and was removed as warden of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.

He announced his resignation after those six months passed.

Lyle Warden was promoted from deputy mayor to interim mayor. Current South Glengarry Mayor Lachlan McDonald was elected in 2022.

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Canada carbon tax rebate: 2024 deposits start for some

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OTTAWA –

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Canadians living in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and all four Atlantic provinces will receive the first of four instalments Monday if they filed their 2023 taxes by March 15.

Those who filed their taxes since March 15 will see their first instalment on May 15, while those who file after Monday will wait until June or July.

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The payments are based on household size and for a family of four range from $190 in New Brunswick to $450 in Alberta.

Ottawa also has just launched a new online estimator that shows how much you should get from the rebates.

In a bid to make the rebates more understandable Ottawa renamed them the “Canada Carbon Rebate” this year but is still negotiating with the big banks about changing how the deposits are labelled when they show up in your account.

Ottawa has been battling with banks about how the deposits are labelled since they moved to quarterly payments for the rebates in 2022.

Many Canadians were confused, or didn’t realize they even got the rebate, when payments showed up with vague labels including “EFT deposit from Canada”, “EFT Credit Canada.” or sometimes just “federal payment.”

The federal government asked the banks to help label them with the old moniker — the climate action incentive payment — but some didn’t arguing they had a 15 character limit for deposit description.

The deposits will be labelled different depending on where you bank, with some going with the full Canada Carbon Rebate name, others shortening it “CDACarbonRebate” or “Canada CCR/RCC.”

In French, the labels could be “Carbone RemiseCA” or “Dépôt direct/Remise canadienne sur carbone.”

The rebates are sent to offset what people pay in carbon pricing when they buy fuel so they’re not left worse off as a result.

People who do things to lower their fuel use are even better off because they still get the same rebate but pay less in carbon pricing.

The rebate amounts are set annually based on how much carbon price Ottawa expects to collect in each province.

British Columbia, Quebec and Northwest Territories have their own carbon pricing system for consumers so residents there don’t receive the federal payment. Yukon and Nunavut use the federal system but have an agreement to distribute the proceeds themselves.

The parliamentary budget officer says about 80 per cent of Canadians get back more from the rebates than they pay.

He also says though that the economic impact of carbon pricing could lower wages over time, erasing that benefit for some Canadians. The government however argues that climate change itself can cause economic harm if it is left unchecked.

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