CEA began the national discussion on copper theft on March 3, 2014 by launching a policy paper that highlighted the consequences of copper thefts across the country and outlined four detailed recommendations.
The recently-tabled bill seeks to define and add consideration of copper stolen from critical infrastructure, enabling the crime to be considered mischief instead of a minor theft. This change intends to ensure that guilty parties are liable for all damages related to the theft, not only the cost of copper stolen, which is currently the case.
Since 2010, media reports show that many people have suffered serious injuries from copper theft and tragically eight people have lost their lives. While costly to the electricity sector, approximately $40 million each and every year, copper theft is also costly to other sectors and businesses across the country.
Additionally, these thefts pose a significant threat to the reliability of CanadaÂ’s electricity system, putting Canadians in vulnerable situations such as loss of access to 9-1-1, medical care, and other critical services.