Dec 17
Hope for Holiday Joy ??? Time to call Cannon!
- Today was a bit frustrating . One of our members was called by the RIV and told to export her car? When asked to speak to the supervisor, she was passed onto a full voice-mail box. horror-story-ii.pdf
- When we called to get an explanation concerning the expulsion request we were given the runaround by the RIV. ( When asked to put the statement in writing, the individual indicated it might take some time, because it had to go through the legal department!)
- Our calls to Senior TC folks concerning any announcement went unanswered.
- One of our members was told there would be an announcment late in the week, but they would not state if the caller would be happy?
- So bottom line,…..it doesn’t look good for a positive Wednesday announcement! Even if it did happen it might take up to 3 weeks just to get the RIV folks on the same page!
- Therefore we suggest that all of you spent a bit more effort and call Mr. Cannon’s Office. Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca (613) 991-0700
Lawrence Cannon (613) 990-2309 Remind him what he stated on November 30th “Our government is committed to ensuring safety on Canadian roads and highways,” said the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “This amendment will simplify and clarify the process for Canadians importing U.S. vehicles, to ensure those vehicles meet our requirements with respect to anti-theft immobilizers.”
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If you can’t get through to him, talk to his assistants…call his Gatineau number… Cannon, Lawrence tell them them a announcement late in the week is unacceptable! We have had enough! We want our plates Now!
December 17th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Right on Bob It’s time to act. They have been stalling long enough.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
And how do we demand to see the minutes of their meetings with the auto manufacturers? That must be public domain. Does anyone know anything about how to go about getting those minutes?
December 17th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Where is the amendment that was suppose to be passed today? All talks no actions.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Something’s rotten. How on earth was it possible for the auto manufacturers to have private meetings? Where was our opportunity to counter their claims with our own. Where’s our voice? How is this possible in a so called democracy? Sorry all, I’m venting.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Simon - It’s OK to vent. Tomorrow we need to vent also with Mr Cannon or with his staff. I’m calling around 9:00am.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
We are dealing with a very dishonest government ministry. Please read the numerous letters that I have written on various pages of this website. Once a reader begins to believe, what I have been saying in these letters, the reader will very likely agree with me, that corruption is at the heart of this situation. The corruption has been there for more than a quarter of a century and regardless, of whether, or not, the immobilizers get passed, this problem will not get resolved without either, a class action law suit, or a public inquiry, or both. Even if the immobilizer amendment goes ahead, Transport Canada will introduce something else, to stop us and we will have to fight them all over again. Today, Mr. Harper made an announcement in the House of Commons, that in January, his government is going to introduce some new safety standards, for consumer products. It will be very easy for Transport Canada to slip in some new ones of their own. We must demand and have a public inquiry now, in order to investigate, what influence, the foreign manufacturers have been able to exert, over public officials, what personal relationships have enabled this influence and what monies have been paid to what people, in order to influence them. We have very, very bad government here. It is amazing that even the opposition is not having anything to say about it and the press have been very quiet about it.Remember, that in one of my letters, found elsewhere on this website, I brought to the readers attention, the fact that a small independent dealer in Victoria, had his ad pulled out of the newspaper about three weeks ago, because he dared to advertise his services, in bringing used cars up from the U.S. His ad apparently offended one of the big franchised dealers, so the advertising manager at the newspaper, pulled the ad. This situation is not going to get better, just by asking nicely. If we Canadians are really determined to have, the access to the North American market place that we were promised, in the Canada U.S. Free Trade Agreement and subsequently, in N.A.F.T.A., then we are just going to have to, either sue for it, and, or, insist on having a very thorough, very transparent and very in depth investigation. Hopefully, such an inquiry would get to the bottom of the corruption, clean house at Transport Canada, establish complete harmonization of standards with the U.S. put an end to the corruptive influence and of not the least importance, give us the market access, that is our right. I am ready. Is any one else ready !!!! ??????
December 17th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Has anyone thought to file with the Competition Bureau.
December 18th, 2007 at 12:52 am
I have just sent three more e-mails to my MP, the Prime Minister and Lawrence Cannon. Hopefully everyone else is doing the same. Let’s keep up the pressure on Transport Canada.
Thanks again to everyone for your time and effort.
December 18th, 2007 at 1:02 am
I am also more than willing to contribute financially toward any fund we decide to establish to advertise for a public enquiry or to commence any legal action against Transport Canada or others.
December 18th, 2007 at 3:32 am
I have written to Mr. Cannon’s office. I was more than polite. I intent to write in stronger terms also.
You can count on me for $$ to fight for our rights. Some of my friends will also contribute, even though they are not in the market for cars from the USA.
As with all of you, I hope that TC will do the right thing rather than forcing us to go down a confrontational route.
December 18th, 2007 at 7:47 am
It looks like several are ready to contribute $, pass on to the next phase etc. But let’s wait on that. We need to clear this first battle this week - we need plates on Bob’s car, and Mike, and Trish etc - there are 000’s of these.
December 18th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Just heard this morning that the actual consultation period ended Monday
as Saturday was not a working day. The people at TC were working early
this morning to wrap things up asap. As soon as the new regulation is
registered it becomes law, even if it did not yet appear in the Gazette.
Stay tuned.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Serge / Robert;
Will one of you be notified when it is registered so you can update this site or where will we be able to find out the soonest that it is in effect?
December 18th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Hey Serge, Robert…We’ve been pretty quiet lately, we were down south picking up the new truck last week. I just made my call to TC, and got the usual, we’re working on it, blah blah. He had the nerve to tell me this is for my safety that these rules were implimented. I asked him how so…his response is, this immobilizer device is to protect Canadians. I then informed him that I have the immobilizer part number from my US truck, and I called GM Canada and asked about that part and it’s the same in the Canadian truck, just needs to be reprogrammed by any level 2 tech at GM. He told me they go by what the manufacturers are telling them. I then asked him why THEY are making sure what the manufacturers are saying is true. He told me to get it in writing…again, I asked him if he was joking…I told him he couldnt be that naieve to think that GM would possibly give me a letter confirming admissability when they can charge me 30 grand more for the same truck. He then got very rude and said, we’re doing what we can over here, you’ll have to wait until we figure things out.
I then asked why the RIV was directing people to export their vehicles and he told me the RIV was seperate…I cant remember his exact wording, but basically said they are in charge of the registration process. I asked if they were acting under the direction and rules of TC, and he told me the conversation was over and to keep checking the website for updates.
If anyone in the government had half a brain they would stop talking, cause they are aggravating the situation worse by talking stupid when they do talk.
Im am so so sick and tired of this fight and it sickens me the amount of taxes we pay to pay these people to not do their jobs.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Here’s an excerpt of an e-mail I sent to a number of
government representatives yesterday.
I suggest that now, even more than ever, we need to increase the pressure on Transport Canada to do the right thing. Thanks to all involved!
“I am sending a follow up note to the one below regarding my concerns regarding the proposed amendment on the importation of vehicles from the US.
Since I sent my previous note on December 4, 2007, I have observed several items I find very disturbing. In addition to the attempts to frustrate or discourage the purchase of vehicles from the US by Canadians by General Motors, for example, a number of manufacturers have undertaken similar tactics.
For example:
Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. has announced there will be no warranty coverage for vehicles imported from the United States, regardless of the importation date.
Toyota Motor sales USA has implemented punitive measure to its US dealers if they are “caught” selling to Canadians.
Subaru of America, Inc., despite acknowledging it’s dealer agreements do not prohibit selling to Canadians, have also implemented punitive measures with it’s US dealers, including withholding incentive payments, and other dealer sales volume bonuses.
Honda US is refusing to issue compliance letters to Canadians to further their efforts to frustrate Canadians attempts to save thousands of dollars by buying vehicles in the US.
Notwithstanding that RIV information states that all GM vehicles built after September 1, 2007 are inadmissible, I am aware of a GM vehicle, bought in the US by a Canadian, that has the same vehicle immobilizer as those vehicles built for the Canadian market. This vehicle clearly would be an admissible vehicle, but current rules prevent it from being registered. This vehicle is in limbo pending a favorable ruling on the proposed amendment announced on November 30, 2007.
GM dealers in the US are prohibited by their franchise agreements from selling to Canadians.
Several manufacturers (GM, BMW) are charging up to $500 for a compliance letter. These letters typically have been issued for free.
The presence of this information clearly indicates that the motivation for manufacturers to frustrate cross border purchases by Canadians is to try and protect the Canadian market and their continued price gouging of Canadian consumers. If Canadian vehicle prices were similar, there would be no need for these steps. In this regard, any legislation (or amendments) regarding vehicle immobilizers and the related admissibility lists must be handled in a manner to remove the ability for the manufacturers to prevent the import of vehicles that do or can be modified to meet Canadian standards.
There are some positives. Vehicle prices in Canada are starting to drop, although most of this activity is in the form of “incentives” with the retail price being unaffected, at least for the time being. It is my expectation that should the manufacturers be allowed to implement their wishes and effectively close the door to Canadians purchasing cheaper vehicles in the US, vehicle prices in Canada will continue to remain dramatically higher.
As elected representatives of Canadians, I implore you to consider the actions mentioned above, and ensure the proposed amendments prevent the ability for manufacturers to continue to gouge Canadians for vehicle prices.
This is an opportunity to take positive steps in this
regard and earn the respect of the voting public.
Thank You.”
December 19th, 2007 at 12:34 am
To Andrew Timmis:
Thank you for the great posts. Hopefully, the cars will be able to be licensed and Lawrence Cannon will realize that his self-serving bureaucrats could cost the Conservatives the next election.
December 19th, 2007 at 1:15 am
When people break the law, they are supposed to be charged,possibly arrested and detained, tried in a court, convicted and punished. Once convicted, they are usually prohibited from engaging in such illegal activity in the future. This happened to the car companies in Europe, when they did the very same things, there, a few years ago, that they are presently doing here. Many of the companies convicted in Europe, were the same companies currently involved in this identical illegal activity here, in Canada. They are guilty of breaking the law in a number of areas. Competition law in Canada, makes it a criminal offense to conspire with another party to restrict trade by, or to deny market access to a third party. The Competition Board of Canada has a responsibility to prosecute and to punish, in such circumstances. The Competition Board has, so far failed to act on this crime. The evidence of illegal activity is overwhelming. I urge every person, interested in, or affected by this crime, to please write to the Competition Board of Canada to demand that criminal prosecution commence immediately. When, in Canada, it has become apparent that scandalous, dishonest and, or illegal activity, has occurred, either in government, or in large corporations, a public inquiry is a common process, used to investigate and deal with the matter. I urge every person reading this, to demand, to the Prime Minister’s Office and, or, the Office of the Auditor General, that a public inquiry be conducted immediately. Such an inquiry would subpoena individuals who are, or have been employed by Transport Canada, by certain vehicle manufacturing companies, and by certain franchised dealerships. Such an inquiry would invite submissions by affected parties, such as independent auto importers and private individuals who have been denied market access and who have suffered losses, either business, or personal, as a result. The inquiry would likely also invite judicial representatives of the European Community, who only a few years ago, prosecuted and punished these same corporations, for committing the same crimes,in Europe. This inquiry would provide information, beneficial to the successful prosecution of, those guilty of illegal activity. It would also provide a framework for recommendations, to stop the recurrence of this criminal activity and ensure that Canadians are no longer, to be the victims of these corporations and of their own government. I am sure that many people are at this moment, waiting anxiously, for word from Transport Canada, on the immobilizers. While a favorable amendment to the immobilizer regulation will help to alleviate the immediate suffering, of many affected Canadians, such an amendment will not resolve the greater problem, for the long term. Next month, it will be the tail light lenses and a few months after that, it will be the windshield wipers and then after that, so on and so on, until even the door handles will be deemed inadmissible. We have a ways to go, to resolve this matter properly and to establish, for all Canadians, the right to trade, without interference and the right to the market place, without manipulation, either by corporations, or by our own government. I therefor, demand that prosecution commence, by the Competition Board of Canada. I demand, a proper, full and very public inquiry be conducted by the Government of Canada. As a victim of this criminal activity, I have suffered financial loss, to my business and to my livelihood, that goes back many years. Every Canadian is a victim and many are suffering from the effects of this illegal activity, right now. Enough is enough. Please support a public inquiry. Please support criminal prosecution. Please insist on these measures and keep up the pressure, on government officials, until it happens.
December 20th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Hi
I just came back from a MB dealer in New Jersey.
He refused to sell the MB SUV to me. He told me that MB has written to all US MB dealers that if they sell any MB to Canadians they will be penalized. Their vehicle cota will be reduced and they will be fined.
Also any MB vehicle sold to even US customer, the buyer has to sign a waiver that the MB vehicle will not be exported out of USA otherwise the original buyer will have to pay a fine of $8000.00 USD.
If the original buyer sells the car to another person then he must get the waiver letter signed from the second buyer that the same vehicle will not be exported out of USA.
This is the game MB is playing to stop even the US buyers to sell the vehicle to Canadians not to mention that the Canadians are already denied the importation of MB from USA.
Once again MB has proven to be the most corrupt and greedy automaker of all the others.
Go figure !!
December 21st, 2007 at 12:17 am
I know that every one, is very focused on the immobilizers right now and the people who have been suffering, with cars that they have not been allowed to bring home. The real issue here, however, is that the car companies have been misleading the public, conspiring to restrict trade, conspiring to deny market access and conspiring to eliminate competition and Transport Canada has been helping them to do it. These acts are listed as criminal offences in both Canada and the U.S. and are punishable by heavy fines and or,jail time. The car companies were convicted and fined millions of Euros for committing the same crimes in Europe. Surely, a public inquiry, to be followed by aggressive prosecution, is the next step to be taken, here in Canada. The car companies are not going to stop conspiring with Transport Canada, just because we won, on the immobilizer. They can and will try, to continue to stop us, with any other thing, that they can possibly use against us, such as the bumpers, the daytime running lights and certification of, just about any technical standard, for which they chose to withhold information, or provide misleading information on. They can continue to corrupt Transport Canada, as Mercedes Benz, has managed to do, by having customers forced, to have extensive modifications, not required by law, not related to any safety standards, performed at whatever cost, Mercedes wishes to charge, currently running at approximately $5000.00 per vehicle, on one model we inquired about, before Mercedes will confirm that the vehicle conforms to Transport Canada standards and Transport Canada, then allows the vehicle in. These companies can write a letter to Transport Canada, tomorrow, to say that they have just determined, that their bumpers MAY not meet Transport Canada standards, or that their vehicles can not be modified, to accept daytime running lights and there will be thousands of Canadians, blocked from access to the market, all over again. They can refuse to provide recall letters and so on and so on. As long as Transport Canada continues, to try to help these companies, to deny market access to Canadians, then market access will be denied, period. We need a very public inquiry, we need an in depth investigation, we need to uncover and expose the corruption, between Transport Canada and the manufacturers, we need to force Transport Canada, to harmonize standards, as was promised to us, in our trade agreements and we need a complete new set of rules that will force the manufacturers, to provide information to us, not force us, to beg them for it. The RIV must go, period. With harmonization there would be no need for such an organization. We never needed one, in the first place and we never had one, until Transport Canada created the RIV, a few years ago, just to deal with the very few, unharmonized standards, of the day. The RIV is a private company, that makes a profit, collecting $200.00 per vehicle, just to receive and warehouse documents, provided, by vehicle owners. RIV, then forces owners, to have a nonsensical meaningless non-inspection of their vehicle performed. The process does not even determine that the vehicle is safe and as a result a real inspection then has to be performed in order to satisfy Provincial licensing authorities that the vehicle, is in fact, safe to be on the road. The status quo, has to go. We need a system that serves us, the motoring public, not a system that has us, serving Transport Canada and the foreign owned, multinational manufacturing companies. Inquiry now. Investigation now. Prosecution now. Complete harmonization of standards now. A new system for Canadians now.