File photo of workers on a General Motors line in Oshawa, Ont.
A Canadian class-action law firm is going after General Motors for the automaker's handling of defective ignition switches in 1.6 million small cars worldwide, including about 235,000 cars sold in this country.
The firm seeks to represent and compensate people across Canada for defects in various models of small cars with the defective switch, used between about 2003 and 2007.
Merchant Law Group LLP says it filed claims against the Detroit-based auto maker on Wednesday in Ontario and Quebec courts.
GM announced last month that ignition switches in older models of the Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5s, Saturn Ion, Chevrolet HHR, Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky need to be repaired.
Those are the vehicles that form the basis of the Canadian suit against General Motors.
On Monday, GM issued a new recall of 1.5 million larger vehicles, including 70,437 in Canada, because their side air bags, front centre air bags and seat belts may not work properly if drivers ignore a warning light on their dashboard.