Forty-four Charges Laid
under Motor Vehicle Dealers Act |
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Toronto, July 10, 1997- In
its first few months of
operation the Ontario Motor
Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC)
has laid 44 charges against
individuals and businesses
selling vehicles in
contravention of the province’s
Motor Vehicle Dealers Act
(MVDA).
The MVDA is designed to protect
consumers against dishonest
people who buy and sell cars.
OMVIC is committed to increasing
consumer protection by
vigorously pursuing people who
are operating in contravention
of the MVDA. Its mandate is to
maintain a fair, safe and
informed marketplace by
protecting the rights of car
buying consumers, while
promoting open and ethical
business practices.
OMVIC is the industry’s
self-management body and is made
up of the 9,000 registered
dealers of Ontario. The motor
vehicle dealer sector is the
first regulated business in
Ontario to implement such a
self-management initiative. One
of its top priorities is to
identify and prosecute those who
violate Ontario’s Motor Vehicle
Dealers Act. Since OMVIC’s
inception in January, a series
of aggressive steps have been
taken. OMVIC is conducting site
inspections of all registered
dealers in Ontario to ensure
they are operating from their
approved locations. As well,
close to 150 new investigations
have been launched resulting in
such charges as selling vehicles
without valid registration
(curbsiding), failure to
disclose the identity of a
registrant and selling from
non-registered premises. Charges
of conducting unfair business
practices have also been laid
under Ontario’s Business
Practices Act (BPA).
When asked about the success of
these enforcement operations,
Carl Compton, Executive Director
of OMVIC, said: “Under
self-management our commitment
to consumer protection is
stronger than ever. We want to
increase consumers’ confidence
in the industry by ensuring a
fair and thriving marketplace in
the province. Rogues are not
welcomed in this industry, and
will not be tolerated.”
For further information call
OMVIC at 416-226-4500 or
1-800-943-6002.
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