.

  A Private members bill, Brian Masse - NDP - will be introduced into the House of Commons designed to protect hundreds of thousands of jobs in the automobile aftermarket. The bill will also guarantee CONSUMERS the RIGHT to choose where their car is serviced.

As we all know most Canadian Automobile dealers go to great pains to make sure that if you buy your car in the U.S. ;  they will not service it.  They also give Canadian buyers of U.S. market vehicles a rough time and overcharge them for needless modifications to the car, in order to allow the car to be approved by Transport Canada.  (changes to the console??)  They refuse to be honest with Transport Canada and supply the necessary documentation in order to declare that the U.S. market car meets Canadian Standards.  

This private member’s bill will put us on an equal footing with the U.S. consumer and ensure that the Automobile Manufactures in Canada can not resort to dishonest and unethical practices in order to secure your business.

For example, why do Honda and Cadillac Owners need to go to the dealer to be fitted with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems.  Why do Cadillac owners have to go to a GM dealer in order to have the Day-time running lights reprogrammed??

Please take the time to contact your MP, make them understand that you want them to vote for this bill against the Automobile Lobbyists in Ottawa.  Find out if your MP is a Consumer advocate or just another politician waiting for their time at the “trough”.

Here is the article:    2009-04-14gazette.pdf

My daughter Caroline Bergeron currently doing her Masters in Communications at Montreal University wrote the CarsWithoutBorders story entitled going from “Words to Action”.   This 34-page report earned her a well deserved A+.  If you can understand French, you will love this recapitulation of last year’s historic events.  There are numerous testimonies (in English) from members and she put it all together in today’s context of the internet and communications into action.  Enjoy the reading.

From words to action - by Caroline Bergeron

(PS. thanks Caroline)

Thanks Big 3 for continuing to screw the Canadian Automobile Consumer!!  Thanks Canadian Govt. for your total lack of transparency in this matter. 

Oh to be a big 3  lobbyist, sitting in my office in Ottawa plotting out how to screw Canadian Consumers.  

Christmas bonuses must be good this year!

Now Industry Canada and the Canadian Govenment  are trying to operate in a hidden, sneaky, and undisclosing manner.  The Canadian version of the auto “Bailout plans” should be public.   The U.S. plans were made public last week.  What is wrong with the way we operate our country!

refer to the article below.

Continue reading “Lack of Transparency, “a way of life in Canada!””

So Mr. Harper finally got down to brass tacks and handed out the top jobs to his troops. 

 Of concern to us is that Mr. Baird is now Transport, Infastructure, and Communities Minister. 

Besides being the former federal Environment Minister, Mr. Baird is a former Ontario provincial cabiner minister and played an important role in helping unite the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties into
 the new Conservative party.

 Assisting Mr. Baird with the Transport porfolio is newly
 appointed Minister of State for Transport, Rob Merrifield.

 Replacing Mr. Prentice at Industry is former Minister of
 Health Tony Clement, who like Mr. Baird is another former
 Ontario provincial cabinet minister.  

We think Mr. Prentice’s departure is a good thing, he had trouble keeping up with the news. 

We are hoping that Mr. Baird, Mr. Merrifield and Mr. Clement will be more receptive to our cause and issues.

What do our members think!

The Liberal candidate from Winnipeg responded with the following:

Thank you for your email regarding concerns over automobile pricing for Canadians. I think you make a valid point and that these regulations should be examined more closely. I can advise you that earlier this year when Canadians were having issues with importing vehicles, my office was very pro-active in getting Minister Cannon to modify some of these rules. If re-elected, I would continue to serve the constituents of my riding by voicing their concerns in Ottawa.

Raymond Simard

Campaign Manager / Chef de campagne 

Campagne Raymond Simard Campaign 2008

A few Liberal MPs have written to state they helped, it is difficult to believe that the Conservatives have remained silent!  It was the the Conservatives, back in December, that pushed Transport Canada into adopting the regulation  changes that allowed our  Vehicles to be admitted into Canada.   The legislation change was the fastest ever adopted by the Govt of Canada - 15 days.  

Still we find it hard, without any firm commitment from any of the Party Leaders,  to place our trust in any polititian.   But we do need to vote!

We believe Harper and his “silent” band understand our issues better than the other parties!   Continuing to act in our favor over the Canadian Car boys might be too much to ask for.

 CarsWithoutBorders would like to extend a very safe and happy holiday weekend to all our members and supporters.

We have been working hard to ask our leaders where they stand on our consumer issues. 

One Liberal from NDG has written us back indicating that Liberal Values will look after all consumers.   And I have been personally flooded with spam from the liberal party, encouraging me to vote Liberal, but not bothering to answer our questions.

The Conservative party members in Quebec have been told not to give media interviews, not to attend local debates, and we assume not to return phone calls or emails!   They have completely lost any hopes of a majority by some rather awkward moves on Culture and Crime.  They must have been listening to the folks in “Hero” euxville.   They are directly responsible for the rise of the BLOC in recent polls.

The NDP have remained silent.

The Green have talked a good game but no commitment.

 We encourage our members to follow-up on their e-mails with phone calls to their local ridings.

But more importantly please spend some quality time with your family this week-end. 

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday!

Robert & Serge.