List of MOST STOLEN VEHICLES and LEAST STOLEN VEHICLES in 2010 Two-door, 2000 Honda Civic SiR the most stolen vehicle in 2010: IBC
The 2000 model of Honda's two-door Civic SiR was the most stolen vehicle in 2010, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).
Each year, IBC releases its Top-10 list of most stolen cars. The remainder of the IBC's 2010 list is as follows:
1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
2002 Cadillac Escalade 4-door 4WD
2004 Cadillac Escalade 4-door 4WD
2005 Acura RSX Type S 2-door
1997 Acura Integra 2-door
2000 Audi S4 Quattro 4-door AWD
2003 Hummer H2 4-door AWD
2006 Acura RSX Type S 2-door
2004 Hummer H2 4-door AWD
The presence of high-value, all-wheel and four-wheel drive models on the list proves that sophisticated, organized crime rings are involved, the IBC says.
These models are generally stripped for parts, sold to unsuspecting consumers or exported to countries with a high demand for vehicles that can handle rugged terrain.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) can now seize stolen vehicles intended for export, following the passage last month of the federal government's Bill S-9, Tackling Auto Theft and Property Obtained by Crime Act.
Bill S-9 makes several amendments to the Criminal Code, including:
making a separate offence for motor vehicle theft supported by tough sentences,
creating the offence of altering, destroying or removing a vehicle identification number (VIN), and
creating the offences of trafficking property obtained by crime, and possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of trafficking .Manitoba case puts host liability front-and-centre before the courts - Canadian Underwriter Feb.15, 2011 The death of a Manitoba teen on her way home from a friend's birthday party is bringing the issue of host liability back to the courts.
A 15-year-old girl, Tamara Aller, died on her way home from a friend's 18th birthday party on Feb. 14, 2009. The party was held at the house of the friend's parents, Mary-Anne and Allan Kostur, in Dauphin, Manitoba.
Allan Kostur dropped Aller off about two blocks from her home after the party. She allegedly was not wearing a coat and the temperature that evening dipped to minus-37 degrees Celsius, according to a report by CTV.ca.
Aller's mother is suing the Kostur family for $15,500 for funeral expenses, as well as other damages, according to CTV.ca. Citing a statement of claim, CTV reported Aller's mother says the family knowingly over-served alcohol to a minor and failed to see to it that Tamara got home safely.
None of the allegations have been proven in a court.
Bob Sokalski, a lawyer, told CTV.ca this case of host liability differs from the 2006 Supreme Court case, Childs v. Desormeaux.
In Childs, a woman hit by a drunk driver and rendered a paraplegic sued the driver and the hosts of the New Year's Eve party she had attended just prior to the accident. The Supreme Court threw out the case.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court said: "A social host at a party where alcohol is served is not under a duty of care to members of the public who may be injured by a guest's actions, unless the host's conduct implicates him or her in the creation or exacerbation of the risk. Short of active implication, a host is entitled to respect the autonomy of a guest."
Sokalski suggested to CTV.ca the Aller case may turn on whether the court finds Allan Kostur created the risk that led to Tamara's death by driving her home and failing to see she made it into her house safely.
"The case would have less likelihood of success had the parties not undertaken to drive the individual home in the cold weather, as that was an additional element of risk," Sokalski said to CTV.
A court date has yet to be set. VANCOUVER WORKING TO REPLACE WOOD POLE-MOUNTED TRANSFORMERS, ADDRESSING EARTHQUAKE RISK. Responding to the risk of fires following an earthquake, the City of Vancouver is in the middle of replacing transformers mounted on wooden poles in the city's downtown core, according to a report by the CBC.
A Nov. 20, 2010 report by the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) identified the unique seismic risk of the wooden transformer poles in downtown Vancouver.
"Wood pole-mounted transformers abound in the CBS (Central Business District of Vancouver), in many cases only inches away from commercial buildings," the ICLR notes, citing its own research in 2001. "In past earthquakes, pole-mounted transformers arced and exploded...(and) it is expected that many ignitions would result."
The CBC cites a BC Hydro spokesperson as saying that the Crown-owned hydro company has already started to remove the poles. It committed $50 million to the replacement project two years ago.
The CBC report notes there are about 200 wooden poles left in the downtown core and they should all be removed within four years. |
