The Alberta government released an independent review of the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC) was released publicly Tuesday, and found the organization has not been on-side with consumers.
The report, which was conducted by the province, said the $4 million compensation fund held by AMVIC, which is supposed to pay out consumers with complaints, only paid out $2,000 last year.
The director of the Automobile Protection Association said the eligibility rules for the organization are too restrictive.
“Our sense is whoever created the fund is more interested in protecting the dealers’ money, than protecting consumers from dealers,” George Iny with APA said. “So that needs to be repaired.”
In addition, the report cited a lack of trust between staff and board members.
Now, AMVIC has ousted its CEO.
“It’s been a mutual agreement between the board and the CEO that it’s better to position someone else who has the ability to take on a newly defined role,” Service Alberta Minister Stephanie McLean said.
The newly defined role will be a registrar, an individual who will oversee regulatory decision making over consumer complaints, while the CEO’s role would be restricted to administration.
George Cuff was appointed to conduct the review in August, 2016. The report was presented to the AMVIC Board of Directors on Monday, December 5.
AMVIC Board Chair Paul Williams said he had accepted 22 recommendations included in the report.
With files from Shanelle Kaul
