Quebec RHD Ban

[trialsmaster2]

Thanks to the Province for posting this anti-RHD article (see first link below) right at the same time that this Quebec RHD temporary ban stuff is going down.

The discussion on IVOAC (second link below) shows that this reporter met with some members of IVOAC as part of her story, and yet she left their side of the story out of this article entirely.

There is a comments section at the bottom as well as an email address to send Susan Lazaruk comments about her "article". I am composing my response to hopefully be added to the comments section as we speak.

The Province "Right-hand-drive car owners in B.C. fear ban" article
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Right+h ... story.html

IVOAC dicussion about The Province Article:
http://forum.ivoac.ca/showthread.php?t=2534

[mararmeisto]

I like how the one poster jumped on the FUD-wagon first thing after the article was posted. This was my response:

Mark... wow! You really thought out your comments at 7:43 this morning (and I see your spelling is to be commended, too). Anyway, here's one for you: considering most daily commuters (in North America) are single occupants, and considering most head-on collisions are left-side-front to left-side-front, wouldn't it make more sense to put the driver on the right-hand side of the vehicle in order to cut down on injuries and fatalities? Hmmm, bet you didn't think of that at 7:43am, now did you?

The point of importing these vehicles (as you are begging to be answered) is that the North American manufacturers have refused to build what we want. In the case of a Mitsubishi Delica: a 4X4 that actually gets more than 20mpg (and that was 20 years ago), seats seven, has a 2.5 litre diesel engine, and is durable enough to last more than the usual 5 or 6 years that most North American vehicles seem to last before rusting out or having too many recall notices to carry around in the glove box! What has Jeep offered? A 4X4 that has gotten heavier and with worsening fuel economy nearly every new model off the line for the last 20 years.

I have NEVER bought a vehicle from the Detroit Three, and considering their latest offerings, I'm not about to start any time soon. Driving on the right-side of the vehicle is NOT dangerous, it's just different. When one considers how Canada is viewed as a tolerant country, I'm surprised at how quickly you've clambered aboard the FUD wagon: one article and you seem to have the reins in both hands.

[Profister]

one article and you seem to have the reins in both hands.

This is exactly who the article is targeting - 99% of people around us will buy the story. The problem is that we are not raising our voice but discussing this matter on our forum instead. Who cares? My son who is a new driver and loves driving Delica (his daily ride is Focus) told me after reading the article in Province: 'Well, it sucks but it does not affect me'. We are the minority and maybe we should learn tactics from other minorities, gays for example? Can you imagine such an article about them? 'They fear their days are numbered...' Ouch!

[trialsmaster2]

Nicely worded response, mararmeisto.

I see that mine is on there now too:

I don’t understand why other countries are able to have RHD and LHD vehicles share their roads just fine, while here in Canada, RHD is considered "highly dangerous". As other comments have pointed out, RHD is different, not dangerous. When I decided to replace the 1993 gas guzzling F350 I had, only one vehicle fit my criteria. The vehicle we ended up purchasing was a 1993 Mitsubishi Delica from Japan. If there was a 7 passenger, turbo diesel, gets half decent mileage, capable 4X4, has no rust, low KM, doesn’t look like a mini van and cost around or less than $12,000 to purchase available in North America, then we might have considered buying a domestic…but no such vehicle exists here that meets those criteria! This Delica also shares the driveway with a RHD Celica of mine, that I have owned for just shy of 6 accident-free years. Why can't we (RHD and LHD) all just get along already.

Aaron

[Delicanadabc]

Hey,

I just called Susan Lazaruk to see if she would care to comment on both the follow up mail or the ICBC story. When I called I got the voice mail so we'll see if she gets back to me...

[Strada 92]

Go see APVIQ.It's a french (québec) association for owners of imported vehicle,mainly RHD.
www.apviq.ca.Also,check this: http://www.newswire.ca/fr/releases/arch ... c3089.html

The CADA is the problem.(canadian automobile dealers association).They are lobbying to stop the
sales of RHD japanese vehicle.

[Strada 92]

Go see APVIQ.It's a french (québec) association for owners of imported vehicle,mainly RHD.
http://www.apviq.ca Also,check this:

http://www.newswire.ca/fr/releases/arch ... c3089.html


The CADA is the problem.(canadian automobile dealers association).They are lobbying to stop the
sales of RHD japanese vehicle.

[Strada 92]

Sorry i have a problem with the adress:

http://www.newswire.ca/fr/releases/arch ... c3089.html

i wish it's ok.

[Strada 92]

After 'archive/', it's april2009/20/c3089.html to complete the link.

sorry again.

[Blackberry]

After 'archive/', it's april2009/20/c3089.html to complete the link.
sorry again.

I also couldn't directly address to the article...so found it via a search on that site. Anyway, here's what it says (bolding near bottom I added)....and here's a link to the crazy-slick looking "This is War" report it refers to:
http://www.cada.ca/Uploads/PDFS/public/ ... _Drive.pdf
You now have a clear target/enemy so go forth and write to Transport Canada (cc your MP) with a point-by-point refute of the erroneous and misleading propaganda it contains.

Dealers Address Automotive Crisis, Call for a National Vehicle Scrappage Program
OTTAWA, April 20 /CNW Telbec/ - Today on Parliament Hill, the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) renewed its call for the implementation of a robust vehicle scrappage program at the federal level. Since November of last year, vehicle sales have been in steep decline in Canada and all of the other measures taken in support of the auto industry to date could be for naught if the demand side of the issue is not addressed. A fleet renewal program that is more signifigant than the current $300 program would do much to stimulate sales in Canada.

"We congratulate the federal government in its recent efforts to stabilize Canada's auto sector," said Bill Taylor, CADA's Chairman, "but more must be done to address the issue of declining sales across Canada. Without robust demand in the marketplace and showrooms full of potential buyers, we fear that the investments that have already been made may not have the desired effect of stabilizing the industry."

Mr. Taylor congratulated the government on the announcement of the $12 billion Canadian Secured Credit Facility (CSCF), from the 2009 Federal Budget. CADA communicated the need for just such a facility in the pre-budget period, and the government delivered. Now the program must be designed and rolled out as quickly as possible, he said.

"Despite record-low interest rate reductions from the Bank of Canada, commercial banks have not been open for business for months for our dealers. This is not acceptable or sustainable. The CSCF should help ease tightening credit conditions facing Canada's dealers and consumers, but the money needs to flow immediately," said Mr. Taylor. "If this program were combined with a fleet renewal program worth $3,000 for the retirement of an old vehicle, the effect on sales would be immediate. Germany's program, for example - worth 2,500 Euros - has increased sales in that country by some 300,000 units."

The overriding problem facing Canada's vehicle industry is a lack of sales. A comprehensive national scrappage program would address this issue by stimulating additional sales of new vehicles this year. Scrappage programs remove old vehicles from the road and replace them with new ones, refreshing the national vehicle fleet more quickly than the unregulated market's rate of attrition would allow. In addition to the economic benefits stemming from a healthy automotive retail sector, scrappage programs also offer numerous environmental benefits and could play an important role in helping our nation reduce its climatic impact, since older cars pollute as much as 37 times as
much as a new car.

"An aggressive scrappage program would help achieve much sought-after dual economic-environmental policy objectives," continued Mr. Taylor. "It would be the perfect policy to prove that economic growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive. When policies are designed properly, these important goals can be addressed in conjunction with one another."

CADA has also urged the government to close regulatory loopholes that allow several thousand right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles on to Canada's roads despite the fact that they do not comply with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. These vehicles pose a risk to Canadian citizens and undermine the pursuit of Canada's safety and environmental goals. The details of the RHD safety and environmental concerns are addressed in a new CADA report.

The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) is the national association for franchised automobile dealerships that sell new cars and trucks. Our 3,500 dealers represent a key sector of Canada's economy. Through our dealers, we are represented in nearly every community and those dealers collectively employ over 140,000 people across the country.

For further information: Kate Poirier, CADA Public Affairs, (613)
230-2079, Cell: (613) 889-3846, kate@cada.ca

[jwfchase]

Imagine if there were a homebuilder's organization offering to burn down your house for you so you would buy a new house every five years instead of renovating...

[loki]

wow what a blatant load of horse sh!t, I feel like I'm watching fox news

[fishslapper]

wow what a blatant load of horse sh!t, I feel like I'm watching fox news

Hey now...... Fox news is great entertainment !! i will watch it if i need a good laugh sometimes !! Specially that one wanker Glenn beck !!!!

[marsgal42]

The 15 year exemption on imports is not a loophole. It's the way the law is written.

Our vehicles do not meet Canadian safety standards of the era, but that is only a formality; they do meet the Japanese standards of the era, which aren't exactly trivial. I'm always impressed by the "periscope" mirrors so you can see the immediate vicinity of the bumpers. Could the Japanese standards be safer in some ways?

Artificially creating demand doesn't work. The U.S. have been doing this in all sectors of their economy for the last 15 years and it all came crashing down about a year ago. If a product fills a need, it will sell. If it doesn't, it won't.

...laura

[konadog]

Could the Japanese standards be safer in some ways?

When it comes to automobiles (and lots of other stuff) the Japanese are the best. I love the pathetic new adds by the North American auto makers - "We make GOOD cars now...". Ford poking fun at Honda because they make lawnmowers - I have a Honda mower and it's as reliable as their autos. Never had much luck with Fords though and if they made mowers I would no more buy one of those than one of their cars... Wankers - let em sink When my deli's gone I'll be looking to Japan for its replacement...