2024 was a momentous year, and on behalf of our members, we played a pivotal role in advocating for innovative solutions in the fight against auto theft. We doubled the members on ÉQ Insights while also growing the platform’s analytical capabilities; we delivered over $153 million in direct member value; and provided expert data, testimony and recommendations to support the commitment of over $200 million in federal funding to combat auto theft. 2024’s successes underscore the effectiveness of our initial three-year strategy and highlights the importance of industry collaboration, led by Équité, to reduce and prevent insurance crime in Canada.

By advocating on behalf of our industry, providing expert insights and leading complex investigations, our priorities of reducing insurance crime are consistently top of mind with government and decision-makers. I was honoured to represent Équité and our members by speaking about the impacts of auto theft and meaningful solutions, at the National Summit on Combatting Auto Theft and testifying at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. The resulting Auto Theft Action Plan aligns with the recommendations put forward by Équité and our members.

The successes achieved this year are in large part due to the strategic insights of our members. This active collaboration created opportunities to identify strategic priorities, align on industry recommendations and raise public awareness with a unified voice.

Award-winning Canadian author and poet, Margaret Atwood is one of the most influential voices of our generation and shares, “A word after a word after a word is power.” This effectively captures the core of Équité’s purpose; we speak with a unified voice and harness our collective power to make meaningful change in our communities. This quote feels especially relevant to the momentum gained in 2024 to expand awareness and prevention efforts for insurance crimes, beyond auto theft.

Our initial three-year strategy saw extraordinary achievements for Équité and our members through operational excellence and dedicated collaboration, allowing us to achieve a fully self-sustaining association. Our next three-year strategy will support strategic initiatives to bolster our technology and investigative capabilities, aligning us with global counterparts. By combining our exclusive investigative expertise with our technology foundation, we are best placed to make a meaningful difference for the insurance industry and continue to protect honest, hardworking Canadians.