New law coming to compel vehicle recalls, fine car companies that don’t comply

OTTAWA – Federal Transport Minister Lisa Raitt says car manufacturers can’t be trusted to voluntarily recall vehicles when there are safety concerns.

Consequently, she says the federal government plans to give itself the power to force recalls when Canadians’ safety is threatened.

Related: Takata airbag recall affects 1.2 million vehicles in Canada

Raitt says the government intends to bring in a new vehicle recall law that would also give the government the power to fine companies that don’t comply with a recall order.

The announcement comes on the heels of a major recall of 1.5 million cars in Canada over safety concerns from malfunctioning air bags.

Related: Japanese auto manufacturer recalls nearly 34 million air bag inflators

The government currently can’t force an automaker to recall vehicles, unlike in the United States.

Instead, car makers must tell Transport Canada of defects when they find them.

Takata agrees to quit using volatile chemical in air bags http://t.co/JhBVzIRds3

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) June 1, 2015

Takata airbags: About 1.5 million recalls listed in Canada http://t.co/qaQ0cBFh0e #cbcto pic.twitter.com/zlmHadCa9O

— CBC Toronto (@CBCToronto) May 29, 2015