Vol. 148, No. 8 — April 9, 2014

Registration

SI/2014-32 April 9, 2014

ENSURING SAFE VEHICLES IMPORTED FROM MEXICO FOR CANADIANS ACT

Order Fixing March 28, 2014 as the Day on which Sections 4 and 5 of the Act Come into Force

P.C. 2014-303 March 27, 2014

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to section 6 of the Ensuring Safe Vehicles Imported from Mexico for Canadians Act, chapter 1 of the Statutes of Canada, 2011, fixes March 28, 2014 as the day on which sections 4 and 5 of that Act come into force.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

Proposal

To fix March 28, 2014, as the coming-into-force date for sections 4 and 5 of the Ensuring Safe Vehicles Imported from Mexico for Canadians Act.

Objective

To provide the necessary legislative framework allowing Canada to be in a position to comply with its obligations under the North American Free Trade Agreement, which require that the importation of used vehicles from Mexico be treated in a manner similar to the importation of used vehicles from the United States.

Background

Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, Canada committed to progressively removing restrictions on the importation of used vehicles from Mexico over a 10-year period. As part of Canada’s efforts to meet this obligation, Parliament adopted the Ensuring Safe Vehicles Imported from Mexico for Canadians Act, which received Royal Assent on March 23, 2011. This Act amends the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) and the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

CEPA 1999 is a key element of Canada’s federal environmental legislation aimed at preventing pollution and protecting the environment and human health. Regulations under the Act set out national emission standards for on-road vehicles and engines. All vehicles imported into Canada must comply with these emission standards. CEPA 1999 makes an exception to this requirement and provides authority that could be used to allow non-compliant used vehicles from the United States to be imported into Canada, as long as the importer ensures that the vehicles will be made compliant before their registration for road use. The amendments to CEPA 1999 in the Ensuring Safe Vehicles Imported from Mexico for Canadians Act will extend the authority to create this exception to used Mexican vehicles, thereby allowing vehicles imported from Mexico to be treated in the same manner as vehicles imported from the United States.

Implications

All vehicles imported from Mexico will still need to comply with the requirements under the vehicle and engine emissions regulations.

Departmental contact

Mark Cauchi
Director
Transportation Division
Environment Canada
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H3
Telephone: 819-994-3706
Fax: 819-953-7815
Email: mark.cauchi@ec.gc.ca