News Release

Thousands Of Seized Bikes To Benefit Ontario Youth

Ontario’s Civil Forfeiture Law Puts Assets Of Unlawful Activity To Good Use

April 5, 2010

News

Thousands of bikes were forfeited as part of a civil case involving a property on Queen Street West in Toronto owned by Igor Kenk. These bicycles and bike accessories are going to benefit youth across Ontario including:

• Approximately 30 bicycles and more than 1,000 bike components and locks will go to the Cabbagetown Youth Centre for at-risk youth to learn new skills and get training on safe cycling.
• More than 40 bicycles and helmets went to the Toronto Foundation for Student Success Beyond 3:30 Program – an inner-city program for youth.
• Approximately 250 bicycles, locks and accessories went to Shkoday Abinojiiwak Obimiwedoon, a community centre for Aboriginal youth, in Thunder Bay
• Approximately 50 bicycles and pumps are going to the First Nations community of North Spirit Lake.

Ontario’s civil forfeiture law — the Civil Remedies Act — allows the Attorney General to ask the civil court for an order to freeze, take possession of, and forfeit to the Crown, property that is determined to be a proceed or an instrument of unlawful activity.

Quotes

“I think that everyone who is familiar with this story will agree that putting these stolen bikes into the hands of children, youth and people who need them is a fitting end to this case. Some of the bicycles and parts will be used to teach bicycle repair skills to at-risk youth and others will be delivered to a remote community where bikes are rare and most children would not experience the joy of having one.”
— Chris Bentley, Attorney General

Quick Facts

• Since November 2003, $12.9 million in property has been forfeited to the Crown under provincial civil forfeiture law. Additionally, approximately $40.7 million in property is frozen pending the completion of civil forfeiture proceedings.
• Civil forfeiture proceeds have funded close to $1.2 million in compensation to victims of unlawful activity and $3.4 million in grants to law enforcement agencies.

Learn More

Read more about how the assets forfeited in this case will be put to good use.

Read more about what people are saying about this extraordinary civil case.

Learn more about civil forfeiture in Ontario.

Read the Civil Remedies Act.

Contacts

Erin Moroz
Minister's Office, 416-326-1785

Brendan Crawley
Communications Branch, 416-326-2210

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