Environment ministry charges Volkswagen

AUTOS

The f ederal government should be moving ahead with action against Volkswagen in the wake of news that Ontario has charged the company and carried out a raid on its headquarters, according to an environmental organization.

On Tuesday, provincial authorities executed a search warrant at Volkswagen Canada offices in the Toronto area as part of its investigation into the emissions scandal that rocked the company two years ago.

The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change said Wednesday it had charged Volkswagen AG with one count under the province’s Environmental Protection Act last week, alleging the German company did not comply with Ontario emissions standards. The allegations have not been proven in court.

“It’s good news, finally. Now if we could just get Environment Canada to act on behalf of the country, that would be a great thing,” said Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence.

He said the federal government has broader powers than the province and can impose higher fines on offenders that could be used to protect against pollution and accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.

His organization and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment filed suit over the summer to try to force Environment Minister Catherine McKenna to move forward on enforcing Canadian pollution laws allegedly broken by Volkswagen. A statement from McKenna at the time said her department is investigating and will act if necessary. Environment and Climate Change Canada said Wednesday that the federal government and the government of Ontario are investigating Volkswagen under different laws and for different potential crimes.

“Consequently, the evidence needed and the burden of proof will be different and each case will take its own timeframe to resolve,” said spokeswoman Amelie Desmarais.

The Ontario government said the search warrant was part of its continuing investigation.