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A VW sign is seen outside a Volkswagen dealership in London, Britain November 5, 2015.Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

Canadian owners of Volkswagen cars equipped with diesel engines are still waiting to hear how they will be compensated – two weeks after Volkswagen Group of America Inc. offered $1,000 (U.S.) worth of gift cards and other compensation to U.S. owners.

Volkswagen Canada Inc. has promised diesel owners that they will be offered a package, but was unable to supply full details Monday of what that would contain, even as the company ran full-page ads in 100 Canadian newspapers pledging to earn back the trust of Canadian buyers and restore its own integrity.

"We will ensure we resolve the issue for every customer affected," said the ads, which offered no details about a compensation package. It pointed Canadian owners of Volkswagen vehicles affected to a website, where a message from Volkswagen Canada president Maria Stenstrom offered an apology, but also had no information about how the issue will be resolved.

"The program will be very similar to that which was offered to customers in the U.S., but it is taking us a bit longer" to make it final, Volkswagen Canada spokesman Thomas Tetzlaff said Monday.

There are no details yet on when vehicles will be repaired or whether they will be recalled in Canada, Mr. Tetzlaff said.

Full-page ads that ran in U.S. newspapers earlier this month told of a $500 (U.S.) prepaid Visa gift card, a $500 gift card for products and services at Volkswagen dealerships and three years of free roadside assistance.

Canadian dealers said they have been told that Volkswagen Canada will offer a $500 (Canadian) gift card, but were also waiting for more information.

Sales of Volkswagen AG vehicles with diesel engines were halted in September around the world after the auto maker was found to have cheated on emissions tests.

So-called defeat devices showed the cars meeting emissions requirements when they were tested, but then switched off anti-pollution devices during normal driving periods.

Diesel engines are a major part of Volkswagen's business, representing about 22 per cent of its sales in Canada.

Since the scandal broke, Volkswagen's Porsche and Audi luxury brands have also halted sales of vehicles that offer some diesel engines as options.

Michael Storino, a Toronto resident whose lease on his 2013 Jetta diesel ran out on Monday, returned the car and switched to a Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 instead.

"Too much uncertainty in my eyes regarding the resale value of the vehicle," Mr. Storino said.

He said Volkswagen Canada officials were unable to offer him details of the package, nor was there any information on the website about compensation for owners of vehicles equipped with diesel engines.

A message sent to owners of the affected cars earlier this month said an owner credit package would be offered soon "as a gesture of goodwill for your continued patience."

Volkswagen Canada sales plunged 20 per cent in September from year-earlier levels, but bounced back in October with an 8-per-cent gain on October, 2014, sales.

November sales results are scheduled to be released Tuesday.

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