Review of automotive business watchdog to be headed by George Cuff, former mayor of Spruce Grove

The province has appointed a former mayor of Spruce Grove to head up a review of the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC).

George Cuff will examine AMVIC's governance and operations and report his findings to Service Alberta Minister Stephanie McLean.

"Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases Alberta families will make and they deserve to have confidence when they make a deal that big," the minister said in a release.

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"This review is about restoring faith in the regulation of the auto industry and ensuring that Albertans get the services they pay for."

AMVIC was created to protect consumers in the motor vehicle industry by licensing businesses and salespeople and investigating violations of the Automotive Business Regulation under theFair Trading Act.

The board chair,Paul Williams, said in a statement the organization welcomes the review and it's not the first one.

"We take our role as Alberta's automotive industry regulator seriously.We regularly have external reviews:our most recent was in 2014," Williams said.

"The results of that review and our annual report, which includes financial statements, are available online.During the review we will continue to help consumers. Since April alone, we have returned more than half a million dollars to Albertans."

The body came under fire last year after the owner of Treadz Auto, a now defunct vehicleconsignment company, was arrested in connection with an alleged $1.8-million forgery, theft and fraud ring.

The industry council was named, along with TreadzAuto, in a $5-million class action lawsuit last year.

Vehicle owners say the automotive watchdog failed to investigate their concerns after the consignment company didn't honour their contracts.

Earlier this year, the provincial government amended theFair Trading Actto give Service Alberta enhanced powers over some regulatory organizations, including AMVIC.

The amendments gave the minister the power to order a review of AMVIC's governance and operations.

Cuff served four terms as mayor of Spruce Grove and has worked as a consultant specializing in "board and council governance, governance reviews, organizational trouble-shooting and staff and elected official training," the province said in a release.

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