A Winnipeg man who was mowed down by a teen driving a stolen vehicle doesn't think new federal measures go far enough to crack down on auto theft.

Kelly Van Camp was struck while out jogging last spring, and says he was disappointed with today's announcement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Winnipeg today.

"I thought it was going to address the issues that concern me the most which is cars that are being stolen by kids that either joy ride and inadvertently hit somebody or target people like myself," he said.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper used an unexpected stop in Winnipeg on Monday to announce that his government is targeting car thieves in new legislation to be introduced in Ottawa.

The prime minister said he hopes new laws will impose harsher penalties on auto thieves and give prosecutors the tools they need to charge individuals and organized criminals specifically for crimes related to vehicle thefts.

The new laws would:

  • Make it illegal to tamper with vehicle identification numbers (VINs)
  • Target so-called chop shops that dismantle stolen cars for parts.
  • Target organized criminal gangs that import or export stolen vehicles from or to other countries.
  • Target all property crimes -- not just car thefts -- making it illegal to possess stolen goods for the purpose of trafficking

"We will make life difficult for those who traffic in stolen property, so Canadians will feel safe in their own communities and their own homes," Harper said.

"By giving police and prosecutors these new (legislative) tools, we're closing some legal loopholes that organized crime has been driving its stolen vehicles through for years."

Harper said the total costs of auto thefts to Canadians is more than $1.6 billion dollars a year, including policing and court costs, accident-related injury costs, and higher insurance premiums.

"So even if you've never had your car stolen, you are paying for cars that are stolen," Harper said.

Chop shops aren't the culprits: victim

Kelly Van Camp says people who are stealing cars to take them to so-called chop shops aren't the main culprits responsible for injuring other motorists or pedestrians.

He says people who behave like -- quote -- "idiots'' or those with homicidal intentions are the ones he'd like to see targeted by federal measures.

Van Camp spent five days in hospital after suffering serious head injuries and a fractured ankle.

Van Camp's story and others have made Winnipeg known as the stolen car capital of Canada, although auto theft numbers have been on the decline. In one recent high profile case, a cab driver was killed when his taxi was hit by a stolen SUV. In another case, a police officer had to open fire on a stolen vehicle when a suspected car thief tried to mow him down.

Under the current criminal code, auto theft is not a specific crime. Auto thieves are charged with theft over $5,000.

More changes on the way: Doer

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer says the prime minister has told him more changes are coming.

"We believe that everyone of these initiatives build upon the changes that have to be made in the Criminal Code," he said. "This is a very positive announcement. Do we have more work to do? Yes and the prime minister pledged that today."

Harper made the announcement at the Manitoba Public Insurance facility with Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and Manitoba Conservative MP Vic Toews.

Harper's last visit to Manitoba was in October, 2007, when he announced upgrades for the Port of Churchill.

With files from The Canadian Press, and a report from CTV's Kelly Dehn.