Environment committee  I think one way that it can be improved—and I haven't looked into this in depth—would be to ensure that fines that are being collected are related to a specific type of damage. Look at the model in the U.S. For example, on the $196 million we're collecting from VW, is that mone

Environment committee  Yes, I'd be glad to follow up with some materials. It was my mistake to come unprepared. It's the one number that I didn't put in my notes. As Mr. Wright explained, the way the Crown would have played the charges would have played a big role in determining what the maximum fine

Environment committee  When it comes to that percentage—70% of all convictions in a couple of fiscal years, between 2014 to 2017—I think they all targeted dry cleaners. It raises the question to me about whether ECCC is capable of and willing to take on large polluters. The case of VW is a prime exampl

Environment committee  I wonder whether Mr. Sharpe might be in a better position to answer that question.

Environment committee  I can take the first stab, if that's okay with the rest of the panel. There are three very easy recommendations I can highlight right now. They are not within the context of part 7; they are probably more spread out throughout the act, but related to enforcement. The first one

Environment committee  I believe it was around 60 charges.

Environment committee  According to a calculation that one of my colleagues made, and I'm not sure whether this is the precise number—

Environment committee  Yes.

Environment committee  Yes, but maybe I should clarify something. The issue around how the entire number of cars of a certain model were packaged under one charge or one offence is the way the maximum number was reduced. If we had looked at each car separately, it would have added up to a much higher

Environment committee  I'm not very sure.

Environment committee  I do not think so. I'm happy to provide some calculations afterwards. I'm worried that if I try to provide those calculations right now, I'm going to—

Environment committee  I'm afraid I disagree with that. I think much of the analysis by experts has shown that we are far behind.

Environment committee  We're not aware of other companies that are being investigated or charged, but we are aware of charges that have been laid in other jurisdictions against other companies. I would mention just as an example Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz. Concerning a class action lawsuit tha

Environment committee  I'll let Mr. Sharpe answer that question. He might have more information on that than I have.

Environment committee  Maybe I'll jump in. I am not aware of any steps taken by the federal government to improve compliance checks and enforcement. If I could just add one quick answer to the previous question you asked of me and Mr. Sharpe, the l28,000 Volkswagen vehicles that were sold in Canada t