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This afternoon Harper and his boys and girls initiated legislation to change our Canadian National Symbol.  The PQ has been rumored to be supporting the change, but only if  it comes in a bigger size!

Continue reading “Canadian National Symbol to Change!”

Quote : another success story: “ I just brought a 2008 Buick Enclave over the border last Friday with absolutely no issues.

Continue reading “Another Success Story!”

 Finally, after many phone calls and e-mails from our members MR. Volpe has replied to one.   We are thankful for the reply, but wonder if he was ever elected and in power how he would perform, given his track record of responding so quickly!! 

(he appears to be only one Julie away.. )

Here is his reply:  volpeletter-jn-5-08

Some  of our feelings on the issues noted in the letter:

• We wonder if Mr. Volpe is aware that the U.S. requires tire pressure sensors.
• We  reject his claim that harmonization has negative attributes because “Canada is an independent country and the United States would be dictating the needs of Canadians.” What utter nonsense. We can choose not to buy U.S. spec. cars but should have the freedom to be able to buy them unencumbered by government regulations that disadvantage Canadian car buyers who pay from 10 to 50% more than Americans for cars at an annual cost of over $5.7 Bilion dollars annually.Having regulations that are different than the U.S. only makes Canadians look foolish. Different Canadian standards are not going to have any impact on U.S. car standards. Our market is just too small. Different standards only cause Canadians to pay more for their cars.-
•  Mr. Volpe states that the extreme Canadian weather requires different safety standards in Canada than in the United States. It is disappointing that the “weather in Canada” card is being played by Mr. Volpe. Being a Toronto MP is no excuse for ignornance that many areas of the U.S. have the extreme weather conditions experienced in Canada. Consider the border states of Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana whose winters are not unlike those of North Western Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Then there is Alaska. Mr. Volpe should realize that the auto manufacturers winter test their vehicles in Northern Manitoba as well as North Dakota.
• Mr. Volpe does not state whether he has a cost/benefit analysis or an examination of the existing stability control systems that presently are in many U.S. spec vehicles. Maybe he could answer the question as to how much Canadians are going to have to pay if his legislation was passed.

We encourage all our members to continue writing Volpe, expressing the need to quickly harmonize our standards.   Bumpers…Bumpers… Tire pressure monitors save lives and reduce greenhouse gasses!(all U.S. maket vehicles have this system) and they still cost 20-30% less!?

The Honourable Joseph Volpe, M.P.
Volpe.J@parl.gc.ca

 BMW plans to invest a further $270 Million to expand its U.S. operations. BMW also reaffirmed on Friday it is investing $750 million to expand production capacity in its U.S. plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina., where it will eventually assemble its X3, X5 and X6 range of sports utility vehicles.

By 2012, the plant will be able to build 240,000 units as opposed to the current 160,000.

 We wonder if they would change their minds and come to Canada if they knew 20 to 30% of those Beamers probably were imported to Canada.

Ok BUZZ and the boys you should be out there trying to convince Harper to throw more money at BMW to convince them to build the cars in Canada! 

 here is the article… 2008-06-13trontostarbmw

 One thing you don’t really read in many of the newspapers reporting on this Douglas Porter BMO story is that New vehicles, (mid-range  19% , upper-end  30% ) still have a considerable difference in price.   Yes overall, the Car Boys have be-grudgingly given up a few points 4-6% reductions, but the US prices are dropping by about that much as well. 

Continue reading “Uh Oh..The Price is STILL wrong!”