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This ridiculous press release was sent out by CADA last month, I have heard that rebuttals have been issued already.
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Right Hand Drive Vehicles Have no Place on our Roads: Canadian Auto
Dealers Association
Association Calls for Closing of Regulatory Loophole
OTTAWA, Oct. 20 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), which
represents over 3,300 dealers nationwide, is calling on the federal government to close a regulatory
loophole that allows thousands of dirty and unsafe right hand drive (RHD) vehicles into Canada every
year.
"Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of right hand drive vehicles in Canada," said
Richard Gauthier, President and CEO of CADA. "These cars are imported under a regulatory loophole
that allows vehicles older than 15 years of age to enter the country without complying with the Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety standards or national environmental standards."
The 15-year exclusion rule for the imposition of Canada's safety and environmental standards on
imported cars was introduced at a time when 15-year-old vehicles were very rare, to continue to allow
antiques to be imported into Canada. It is under this loophole that all RHD vehicles currently enter
Canada.
"A 15-year-old car is no longer an antique," continued Mr. Gauthier. "The vast majority of vehicles on the
road today reach their 15th birthday and beyond. What's more, RHD vehicles are as much as 40 per cent
more likely to be involved in an accident than traditional left hand drive cars. They are often used for
street racing and other reckless acts. One was involved in a tragic accident in Ottawa this summer in
which the young parents of three girls were killed."
The provinces of Quebec and Prince Edward Island have already acted to stem the tide of RHD cars on
their roads. CADA is calling on the federal government to act on behalf of all Canadians to increase the
threshold for the suspension of environmental and safety regulations from 15 to 25 years.
"This is a very simple fix for the federal government and would bring us into line with our trading partners,"
said Mr. Gauthier. "America and Australia have moved to 25 years and until Canada does the same, it will
continue to be a dumping ground for dirty, old and unsafe RHD vehicles from Asian countries. Keeping
them out of Canada is the right thing to do for the safety of Canadian drivers and for the quality of the air
that we breathe."
The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) is the national association for franchised
automobile dealerships that sell new cars and trucks. Our 3,300 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 130,000 people across the country.
For further information:
Emily Reid
CADA Public Affairs
Phone: 613-230-2079
Email: ereid@cada.ca
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Right Hand Drive Vehicles Have no Place on our Roads: Canadian Auto
Dealers Association
Association Calls for Closing of Regulatory Loophole
OTTAWA, Oct. 20 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), which
represents over 3,300 dealers nationwide, is calling on the federal government to close a regulatory
loophole that allows thousands of dirty and unsafe right hand drive (RHD) vehicles into Canada every
year.
"Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of right hand drive vehicles in Canada," said
Richard Gauthier, President and CEO of CADA. "These cars are imported under a regulatory loophole
that allows vehicles older than 15 years of age to enter the country without complying with the Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety standards or national environmental standards."
The 15-year exclusion rule for the imposition of Canada's safety and environmental standards on
imported cars was introduced at a time when 15-year-old vehicles were very rare, to continue to allow
antiques to be imported into Canada. It is under this loophole that all RHD vehicles currently enter
Canada.
"A 15-year-old car is no longer an antique," continued Mr. Gauthier. "The vast majority of vehicles on the
road today reach their 15th birthday and beyond. What's more, RHD vehicles are as much as 40 per cent
more likely to be involved in an accident than traditional left hand drive cars. They are often used for
street racing and other reckless acts. One was involved in a tragic accident in Ottawa this summer in
which the young parents of three girls were killed."
The provinces of Quebec and Prince Edward Island have already acted to stem the tide of RHD cars on
their roads. CADA is calling on the federal government to act on behalf of all Canadians to increase the
threshold for the suspension of environmental and safety regulations from 15 to 25 years.
"This is a very simple fix for the federal government and would bring us into line with our trading partners,"
said Mr. Gauthier. "America and Australia have moved to 25 years and until Canada does the same, it will
continue to be a dumping ground for dirty, old and unsafe RHD vehicles from Asian countries. Keeping
them out of Canada is the right thing to do for the safety of Canadian drivers and for the quality of the air
that we breathe."
The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) is the national association for franchised
automobile dealerships that sell new cars and trucks. Our 3,300 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 130,000 people across the country.
For further information:
Emily Reid
CADA Public Affairs
Phone: 613-230-2079
Email: ereid@cada.ca