Manitoba’s Scrap Metal Act addresses theft issues

Bill 9, the Scrap Metal Act, and its corresponding Scrap Metal Regulation have gone into effect in Manitoba as part of the government’s plan to address the problem of scrap metal theft in the province.

Under the new framework, dealers must record details of their transactions related to scrap metal, defined as a used item made of aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, iron, lead, steel, stainless steel, tin or a prescribed metal or alloy. Dealers must keep the transaction records for two years and provide them to a peace officer when requested. In addition, cash transactions are not permitted for any transaction over $50.

“The Scrap Metal Act, along with the Scrap Metal Regulation, outlines a framework that applies to the sale and purchase of scrap metal in Manitoba,” says Manitoba Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen. “The act and regulation will significantly reduce the theft of catalytic converters by disrupting the resale opportunities for illegally obtained scrap metal.”

Goertzen says the transactions involving metal containers normally recycled to avoid waste, such as paint cans, as well as coins, bullion and jewelry are exempt from the record-keeping requirement. According to a news release from the provincial government’s website, transactions involving restricted items—defined as being highly vulnerable to theft and resale, such as catalytic converters, or having significant intrinsic value, such as plaques, monuments and statues—have more stringent rules.

In addition to the record-keeping requirements for general scrap metal, any transactions involving restricted items must include a photograph that provides sufficient detail to identify the item. The government website states that the complete records must be submitted to the scrap metal dealer’s local law enforcement agency within seven days. Cash transactions are not permitted for restricted items.

Law enforcement, nonprofit partners and other government agencies are helping to combat catalytic converter theft in Manitoba, including the Winnipeg Police Service, Winnipeg Crime Stoppers, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) and Criminal Property Forfeiture (CPF). CPF provided grants to both the Winnipeg Crime Stoppers and the Steinbach RCMP to implement projects to combat the theft of catalytic converters by marking and having catalytic converters engraved with vehicle identification numbers (VIN). With an engraved VIN, police can trace the owners of recovered catalytic converters, and individuals with illegally obtained catalytic converters can be charged for being in possession of stolen goods.

“Winnipeg Crime Stoppers appreciates the funding supplied by Criminal Property Forfeiture. Along with the help of our many partners in the community, this provided us the opportunity to develop the ‘Save Your Cat’ program,” says Paul Johnson, chairperson of Winnipeg Crime Stoppers. “We were able to provide one more idea to address the epidemic of catalytic converter thefts. Identification is a key to prosecuting the criminals responsible.”

“The thefts of catalytic converters are affecting many Manitobans, and in the Steinbach area, we have certainly seen an increase in this type of crime,” says Supt. Jim Mirza, acting Criminal Operations Officer, Manitoba RCMP. “I am proud of the initiative shown by our Steinbach detachment in applying for Criminal Property Forfeiture funds to purchase engravers to give to local mechanic shops. Our hope is that this will increase our ability to enforce against this crime and reduce the number of Manitobans who become victim to it.”