NYT: Canada’s Doubts on Toyota (vaguely raised the prospect of criminal charges against the company)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/business/global/06auto.html




By IAN AUSTEN
Published: May 5, 2010

OTTAWA — During much of the eight-month crisis between Toyota and safety regulators over recalled vehicles in the United States and Canada, the public pronouncements from the two governments have been remarkably different.

As early as November, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criticized the Japanese automaker for providing “inaccurate and misleading information,” while its Canadian counterpart, Transport Canada, issued a statement that declared, “Transport Canada applauds Toyota’s action to protect consumers.”

The divergent messages have helped create the impression in Washington and elsewhere that Toyota has been more cooperative with Canadian regulators, and that somehow Canadian car owners have received better and swifter treatment. But newly released Transport Canada documents show that behind the scenes, some Canadian regulators were just as frustrated — and sometimes alarmed — by Toyota as were transportation officials in the United States.

“Toyota Canada’s action seriously undermines this safety issue,” one field investigator for Transport Canada wrote in an e-mail message in October after reviewing Toyota’s public disclosure over floor mats that may have caused unintended acceleration. “Frankly, I’m appalled by their action.”

snip: John Baird, the Canadian transportation minister, has toned down his department’s praise for Toyota and has even vaguely raised the prospect of criminal charges against the company, the regulators’ only enforcement tool. But while the United States transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, has announced plans to fine Toyota $16.4 million, the largest fine allowed, for not promptly notifying the government about potential problems, Canadian regulators have held back.

FULL 2 page story at link.

... Canada’s powers.

So it looks like a Harper government accomodation to cover for a corporation.