Evidence of meeting #20 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:30 a.m.
Managing Director, Toyota Canada Inc.
If we're talking about suppliers to manufacturing, again, I don't have contact with them, so I'm not aware of that communication.
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Here is another miscellaneous question.
Has any direction been given or any understanding of any kind subtly conveyed by either Toyota Motor Manufacturing or Toyota Canada to destroy any documents or e-mails or other such evidence or internal correspondence that could point to a Motor Vehicle Safety Act violation or concealment of such from the minister or regulators at Transport Canada?
10:30 a.m.
Managing Director, Toyota Canada Inc.
No. There's certainly no instruction to do that.
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Okay.
In a September meeting last year with Transport Canada officials, you.... I'm referring to an e-mail that was sent from Toyota Canada to Transport Canada, where you were, I think, commending or thanking Transport Canada for the meeting and the information on Transport Canada's work and processes. Was that vital so that you could figure out how to better game the system, Mr. Beatty?
10:30 a.m.
Managing Director, Toyota Canada Inc.
No. In fact, that meeting was established for the purposes of introducing the entire regulatory staff at Toyota Canada to the Transport Canada officials, with a view to ensuring that there was a full flow of communication on a regular basis between the company and Transport Canada.
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
So what you're telling us today, Mr. Beatty, is that Toyota Canada had no notice of the Europe issue until after January 21 of this year?
10:30 a.m.
Managing Director, Toyota Canada Inc.
No, that's not true. What I said was that we had not received the TI.
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I'm interested in when you had notice of the Europe issue here at Toyota Canada, because remember, Toyota Europe owns 50% of Toyota Canada, do they not? The company that owns Toyota Europe owns 50% of Toyota Canada--
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
That's a pretty significant investment for them.
10:30 a.m.
Managing Director, Toyota Canada Inc.
Right. So the answer to the question is that we became aware of the situation in Europe with the documentation that we were provided in support of the regulatory filing in Canada.
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Okay.
Where are those pedals manufactured, the ones that were faulty in Europe?
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Now you've obviously read the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, which says: “...on becoming aware of a defect in the design, construction or functioning of the vehicle or equipment that affects or is likely to affect the safety of any person, cause notice of the defect to be given...”.
