May-June 2015 - New Car Dealers Association of BC

A publication for members and friends of the New Car Dealers Association of BC
May-June 2015
S gnals
Vancouver International
Auto Show
Page 6
Auto Show Gala
Page 10
New Car Dealers Foundation &
Special Olympics BC Online Auction
Page 16
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Contents
6
14
8
10
In This Issue
4
10
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
19
AUTO SHOW GALA
Highlights from this year's Gala
CADA UPDATE
Success on GST/HST fight with
Canada Revenue Agency
Auto Show Wrap & CEV for BC
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL
AUTO SHOW
Biggest attendance growth
in Country!
8
LEGALINE
Anti Spam Legislation Serious Business
14
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Inspiring Athletes from
Kamloops Winter Games
17
COMPUTER CENTS
4 myths about IT services
20
VSA UPDATE
Regulators crack down on
legislation breaches
21
ASSOCIATE MEMBER LISTING
At-a-Glance listing of members
and contact Information
SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015 3
SSIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015
3
S gnals
Chief Car Washer’s Message
Officers and Directors
Promise Made, Promise Delivered
Jim Inkster
Chairman
Aspol Motors Ltd.
John Chesman
Vice-Chairman
MCL Motor Cars
Blair Qualey
President & CEO
New Car Dealers
Association of BC
Directors
Paul Batchelor
Pacific Newspaper Group
Mark Edmonds
Ferrari Maserati of
Vancouver
Darren Graham
Applewood Auto Group
Jeff Hall
Hallmark Ford Sales
Ryan Jones
Marv Jones Honda
Moray Keith
Dueck GM
Derral Moriyama Bank Of Montreal
John Wynia
Harbourview Volkswagen
Auto Show Attendance Increase
Largest in Country for 2014-2015
Show Season!
To borrow a saying from our Premier, “Promise Made, Promise Delivered.”
Last year, we made a number of changes in the team at the Association office to provide
the right set of skills and experience to deliver an improved value proposition for our
membership in a rapidly changing sector.
We brought in two veteran Show managers, Jason and Phil Heard, and we promised a
bigger, better and more entertaining Auto Show experience. With the guidance and support of our Board and our Auto Show Committee, I am pleased to report that your team
at the New Car Dealers Association delivered.
The most important event for the auto industry in British Columbia and best-attended
consumer show in Western Canada, the Vancouver International Auto Show, delivered
2015 attendance numbers of 98,694 for the six-day event. This is a 17% increase from
the 2014 Show, and the largest attendance increase in the country of the 2014-2015 auto
show season. This level of attendance had not been seen in Vancouver since the Show
was a 10 day event many years ago.
The 2015 Vancouver International Auto Show featured over 440 vehicles from 40 national
and international brands. This year’s Auto Show included a 25 per cent larger footprint
and was the first consumer show ever to use both the ballrooms and all exhibit halls at
the Vancouver Convention Centre West.
Although this was the 95th anniversary year of the Vancouver International Auto Show,
this year really signified the start of an entirely new era of the show in British Columbia.
The 70,000 square foot addition allowed the show to showcase an impressive display of
supercars, luxury automobiles, 30-plus regional debuts and five concept cars from global
manufacturers.
The changes our new Auto Show team implemented for this year’s event worked extremely well in engaging the public and increasing attendance. By expanding the show we
were able to add a significant amount of features to the event, all of which appealed to
British Columbian’s love of the automobile.
These changes are being noticed not just by industry but by media as well.
Unit 70 – 10551 Shellbridge Way
Richmond, BC V6X 2W9
Tel: 604-214-9964
Fax: 604-214-9965
[email protected]
www.newcardealers.ca
Copyright: The contents of Signals, such as text, articles, opinions, views, graphics,
images, and the selection and arrangement of information (the “Content”), are protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws under both Canadian and foreign
laws. Unauthorized use of the Content may violate copyright, trademark, patent and
other laws. You must retain all copyright and other proprietary notices contained in the
original Content on any copy you make of it. Disclaimer: Information contained within
Signals is for general information purposes only and may not be entirely complete or
accurate. Use of Signals’ content is done so at your own risk.
4 SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015
4
SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015
Auto journalist Zack Spencer in his April 2, 2015 column stated the following: “Yours truly
travels all over the world to such exotic locations as Paris, Geneva, Beijing, New York and
Frankfurt, for much bigger auto shows. But to me, it’s obvious that the setting for the
Vancouver show is, hands down, the best around … And with the expansion this year’s
show underwent, the Vancouver show is moving into the big leagues.”
The 2015 Show was the beginning of a three year transition to a much larger show utilizing both buildings of the Vancouver Convention Centre. This is a huge step to take as no
consumer or trade show has filled both buildings. But with the support of our members,
the vehicle manufacturers and others in our sector, we will drive hard to get us there for
2017.
Planning is already underway for the 2016 Vancouver International Auto Show, which will
return to the Convention Centre March 23-28.
Before I wrap up this editions President’s Message, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention
a few other Association projects that we have also had on the go while Jason and Phil were pulling the Auto Show together.
In late March I advised all of our members that the Provincial Government was reintroducing a Clean Energy Vehicle point of sale
incentive program and that had asked us to administer it again. At the Auto Show, Energy Minister Bill Bennett and I announced the
details of the Program which your Association team was able to get up and running for April 1. Under this program, qualifying vehicle
purchases would receive an incentive of up to $6,000. I encourage you to visit www.cevforbc.ca for all the details. You must be a member
in good standing with the Association to access this program.
In my role as Chair of the BC Scrap-It Program, I was privileged to work with the Scrap-It management team on developing a new Electric
Vehicle incentive adding another $3,000 incentive that can be stacked with the CEVforBC program. You must also be a member in good
standing with the Association to access this program.
The Association team has also been working on a new Association website and a Job Board along with Car Career promotional materials.
If you are a member of the Association, please engage in the opportunities the Auto Show, CEVforBC, BC Scrap-It and our Car Career job
board and materials will provide your business and your customers. And if you aren’t a member, well, what the heck are you waiting for!
Call me today and we’ll get you signed up!
Blair Qualey - President & CEO
Liquidity
Transparency
Weekly Auction Times:
Wednesday 7:00PM
Thursday 9:30AM
Saturday 10:00AM
Trusted
Since 1971
Buyers Around the World
604.232.4403
ADESA.ca/Vancouver
The strongest
market on record the time to sell is now!
SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015 5
Huge Crowds Turn Out
for all new Vancouver
International AutoShow
2015 SHOW SEES BIGGEST ATTENDANCE GROWTH IN COUNTRY
The most important event for the auto industry in British
Columbia and best-attended consumer show in Western Canada, the Vancouver International Auto Show, released the 2015
attendance numbers of 98,694 for the six-day event. This is a
17% increase from the 2014 Show, and the largest attendance
increase in the country of the 2014-2015 season.
The 2015 Vancouver International Auto Show featured over 440
vehicles from 40 national and international brands. This year’s
Auto Show included a 25 per cent larger footprint and was the
first consumer show ever to use both the ballrooms and all
exhibit halls at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.
“Although this was the 95th anniversary year of the Vancouver
International Auto Show, this year really signified the start of
an entirely new era of the show in British Columbia,” says New
Car Dealers of BC President and CEO Blair Qualey. “The 70,000
square foot addition allowed the show to showcase an impressive display of supercars, luxury automobiles, 30-plus regional
debuts and five concept cars from global manufacturers.”
Auto Show Executive Director Jason Heard said public response
to the new additions was extremely positive. “The changes we
implemented for this year’s Auto Show worked extremely well
in engaging the public and increasing attendance,” said Heard.
“By expanding the show we were able to add a significant
amount of features to the event, all of which appealed to British
Columbian’s love of the automobile.”
Planning is already underway for the 2016 Vancouver International
Auto Show, which will return to the Convention Centre March
23-28. For more information please visit:
www.VancouverInternationalAutoShow.com.
LegaLine
CASL (Again): This is Serious Business
Last Spring we introduced you to CASL, Canada’s new Anti-Spam
Legislation that came into effect July 1, 2014. We took the bad cop/
good cop approach to tell you of the changes to expect and the
impending doom if CASL compliance was not achieved. For dealerships, we pointed out that it was important to note that, simply
because a customer has provided his or her email address or phone
number, the customer has not consented to receiving electronic
marketing material. Simply put, CASL prohibited organizations
from sending “commercial electronic messages” (“CEM”) sent to
an electronic address without the recipient’s prior consent, where
the purpose of the message is to encourage participation in a commercial activity. This included not only emails but other forms of
electronic communications as well, including text messaging and
all social media.
In order to get our point across, in partnership with the New Car
Dealers Association, we took our dog and pony show on the road
and held seminars throughout British Columbia, preaching not only
compliance but suggesting ways to achieve growth in a CASL compliant manner. It was that important.
Almost a year after CASL took effect, the Canadian Radio-television
and Telecommunications Commission has issued its first Notice of
Violation and fine of $1.1 million under the Legislation to CompuFinder, a Quebec software training company. Further to its investigation, Manon Bombardier, the Chief Compliance and Enforcement
Officer, found that Compu-Finder sent CEMs without the recipient’s
consent as well as emails in which the unsubscribe mechanisms did
not function properly. The emails sent by Compu-Finder promoted
various training courses to business, often related to topics such
as management, social media and professional development. The
four alleged violations occurred between July 2, 2014 and September 16, 2014.
the CRTC did
not allege that
Compu-Finder’s
CEMs
did not contain an “unsubscribe”
mechanism,
but rather the mechanism did not function sufficiently.
Following Compu-Finder’s $1.1 million fine, the CRTC announced in
April that it was entering into an agreement with the online dating
service known as Plenty of Fish whereby the service would pay a
$48,000.00 penalty.
According to the CRTC, Plenty of Fish failed to include a CASL
compliant “unsubscribe” mechanism in its CEMs to customers. The violations occurred from July 1, 2014 to October 8, 2014.
As with Compu-Finder, Plenty of Fish’s CEMs contained an unsubscribe mechanism. However, the CRTC stated that Plenty of Fish had
allegedly sent out CEMs with an unsubscribe mechanism that was
not clearly and prominently displayed and which could not be readily
performed, as required by the legislation.
Compliance with CASL’s requirements was mandatory as of July
1, 2014. We recommend that dealerships take the time to review
their updated electronic communication policies to ensure compliance moving forward. We also recommend that dealerships review
their current email and text messaging lists and ensure that the
consent of each recipient to receive CEMs is in place to ensure CASL
compliant marketing campaigns.
In a statement, Manon Bombardier of the CRTC said Compu-Finder,
“…flagrantly violated the basic principles of the law by continuing
to send unsolicited commercial electronic messages after the law
came into force to email addresses it found by scouring websites.
Complaints submitted to the Spam Reporting Centre clearly indicate that consumers didn’t find Compu-Finder’s offerings relevant
to them. By issuing this Notice of Violation, my goal is to encourage a change of behaviour on the part of Compu-Finder such that
it adapts its business practices to the modern reality of electronic
commerce and the requirements of the anti-spam law. We take violations to the law very seriously and expect businesses to be in
compliance.”
Compu-Finder sent CEMs to other businesses soliciting its training courses with respect to management and professional development. This is a key point because although there are categories
of implied consent, including the sender and recipient having an
existing business relationship, personal and family relationship as
well as business-to-business emails, they are not blanket exemptions
and have requirements that must be complied with. Also of note,
8 SIGNALS MAY -
JUNE 2015
By Christopher J. Bakker, Associate,
Roderick H. McCloy, Associate Counsel
Shapiro Hankinson & Knutson Law Corporation
& Promotional Products
shop online!
Michael Mason & Co. Ltd.
 Devonshire Road
Victoria, BC, Canada, VA T
T: 250-384-7304 / 1-888-882-6688
F: 250-384-7308 / 1-888-727-6688
[email protected]
www.michaelmason.ca
To shift your Finance Dept into high gear, give us a call.
To shift your Finance Dept into high gear, give us a call.
John Romfo - National Sales Manager
John Romfo - National Sales Manager
1-250-308-1112
1-250-308-1112
SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015
9
Moments from
the
10 SIGNALS MAY -
JUNE 2015
1
22015
AUTOSHOW
Thank you to our Event Sponsors!
Lance Torkos
Wolfe Langley
Mitsubishi
Naeem Agro
Applewood Nissan
William Fong
Porsche Centre
Vancouver
BMW
HONDA
Brian Woo
OpenRoad Honda
LAND ROVER
BENTLEY
GENERAL MOTORS
KIA
Neil Shah
The BMW Store
Tom Peng
Land Rover
Richmond
Patrick Ng
Mercedes-Benz
Richmond
Steven Wu
Rolls-Royce Motor
Cars Vancouver
MINI
Jason Wong
Kia Vancouver
Philip Man
MINI Yaletown
SCION
Shane Nakai
Wolfe's Langley
Mazda
Joey Prevost
MacCarthy Motors
Terrace
MERCEDES-BENZ
AUDI
FORD
JAGUAR
Adam Smith
MCL Motor Cars
Jonathan Wang
Bentley Vancouver
ROLLS-ROYCE
Farzin Sahbaei
Cam Clark
Ford Lincoln Ltd.
George MacDonald
MSA Ford Sales
MAZDA
ASTON MARTIN
FERRARI &
MASERATI
INFINITI
Geoff Rosales
Infiniti
North Vancouver
James Rincon
Capilano Audi
PORSCHE
MITSUBISHI
Philip Ngai
OpenRoad Lexus
Richmond
Victor Yeh
Ferrari Maserati
of Vancouver
LINCOLN
LEXUS
Oksana Karpiv
Castlegar Hyundai
Wilson Ng
Aston Martin
Vancouver
NISSAN
ACURA
CHRYSLER,DODGE
JEEP,RAM,FIAT
HYUNDAI
Jarrett Payne
Northland Chrysler
Jeep Dodge
Eric Chan
Regency Toyota
Scion
Matthew Hale
Wolfe Subaru
Glenn Schwarz
Jim Pattison
Toyota-Victoria
Shaun Openshaw
Capilano
Volkswagen Inc.
VOLVO
VOLKSWAGEN
TOYOTA
SPONSORED BY
SUBARU
2014SALESPEOPLEof theYEAR AWARDS
Chris Choi
Lougheed Acura
Jayson Wadud
Jim Pattison Volvo
of Surrey
The New Car Dealers Association of BC recognizes BC’s automotive dealerships that
exemplify business strength and community excellence — with a significant focus on
making a tangible contribution to the growth and livability of their community or region.
Congratulations
to the 2015 Award Winners!
Brian Jessel BMW, Metro Vancouver Region
Brown’s Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd., Northern BC Region
Cranbrook Dodge, Kootenays Region
Harmony Auto Group, Okanagan/Interior Region
Laird Wheaton GM, Vancouver Island Region
Mertin Auto Group, Fraser Valley Region
Awards Sponsor
Media Sponsors
Special
Olympics
Snapshot
Athletes and support inspire at
2015 SOBC Winter Games Kamloops
B.C.’s New Car Dealers are among the longest-standing supporters of Special Olympics BC. In this issue of Signals we continue
the series demonstrating all that your support helps to bring to life through the world of Special Olympics – all the experiences
of joy, friendship, empowerment, and acceptance for more than 4,300 athletes with intellectual disabilities around the province.
The way Max Nelson sees it, Special Olympics athletes are superheroes.
“When people say special needs, I don’t think of that, I think we have special powers,” the
Special Olympics BC – Quesnel snowshoeing athlete said after a day of giving his all racing
in the 2015 SOBC Winter Games.
Nelson’s vision was shared by the 2015 SOBC Games Organizing Committee, who wanted
the 500-plus participating athletes to be recognized and celebrated as the superheroes
they are. With superhero-themed Opening and Closing Ceremonies and an outstanding
competitive experience throughout, the 2015 Provincial Games in Kamloops and Sun Peaks
gave the Special Olympics athletes the empowering experience they deserve.
Nelson earned silver, bronze, and fourth-place finishes in his three Games individual races.
He said competing in Provincial Games makes him feel “powerful.”
Held February 19 to 21, the 2015 SOBC Winter Games involved competitors from around
B.C. and the Yukon who were at the top of their game in earning more than 350 medals in
seven sports. After training countless hours over the last two years to reach the Provincial
Games, with the support of their dedicated volunteer coaches, the athletes were well
prepared to make the most of this opportunity to show their abilities in a world-class sport
hosting community. Many won medals and achieved personal bests; all competed hard and
grew as individuals.
At age 12, figure skater Arianna Phillips of SOBC – Nanaimo was the youngest athlete to
compete in the Games. She won gold competing with her brother Michael in the Level 1
pairs event, and skated to silver in her Level 3 freeskate event. Phillips said she felt they
performed well and had fun.
“It’s fun and it’s my first time here. I’m the youngest,” Phillips said of Provincial Games.
She likes competing, but had to power through some nerves to perform as well as she did.
“I was nervous because it was my first time.”
SOBC – Kamloops curler Wayne Kulchyski said he had a good time in his hometown Games.
Kulchyski said he had “lots of fun and met lots of people. I enjoyed it.”
SOBC – Victoria figure skater Emily Walzak was competing in her first Provincial Games,
and said she enjoyed the encouraging and exciting atmosphere. “It’s pretty exciting to be
here. Everybody is so supportive of each other. I like the sportsmanship and the energy.
Everyone claps for each other,” Walzak said.
14
SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015
“I always enjoy spending time with all the athletes. The highlight
of my year usually is Provincial Games, or regionals, or National or
World Games. It’s so great to see them all excel, and to see their lives
change,” said Randy Scott, SOBC Provincial Coach for alpine skiing.
The 2015 SOBC Winter Games were an incredible experience thanks
to the outstanding performances by the athletes, the inspiring
dedication of their volunteer coaches and mission staff, the cheering
of families and fans, and the remarkable support shown by volunteers
and sponsors.
Provincial Games would not be possible without the support of local
sponsors and SOBC’s generous provincial sponsors, including B.C.’s
New Car Dealers. In addition to the ongoing support SOBC receives
from New Car Dealers around the province, Rivershore Chrysler
in Kamloops stepped up to help locally, donating vehicles
used for Games operations and helping raise awareness
in the community.
“We were thrilled to see the powerful way our Games
athletes were welcomed and celebrated in Kamloops.
They were treated like athletes, with outstanding
competitive venues, enthusiastic and
well-trained officials and volunteers, and
media coverage,” SOBC President &
CEO Dan Howe said. “And we heard a
wonderful response from those who
generously came out to volunteer
and the sponsors who supported
the Games. As much as these
athletes were inspired by
the Games, they inspired
so many others.”
Find full results, photos,
and Games information at
http://sobcgameskamloops.ca
D
New Car Dealers Foundation/Special
Olympics
SE
O
CL
2015
ONLINE
W
O
AUCTION
O
N
I
T
C
U
A
N
MAY 1 - MAY 8 2015
Thanks for your support!
T
he annual New Car Dealers Foundation of BC/Special Olympics Auction makes a significant difference for
the athletes and programs of Special Olympics BC and the work of the New Car Dealers Foundation, having
raised more than $4.2 million to date.
Held May 1 to 8, the 2015 auction featured another amazing array of items up for online bidding by New Car
Dealers and donors around the province. We are sincerely grateful for the leadership of the hardworking auction
committee, and for the generosity of the Dealers who support the auction with items and cash pledges. Our
sincere thanks also go out to the bidders whose generosity leads to significant fundraising to support the lifechanging Special Olympics BC programs and opportunities and the work of the New Car Dealers Foundation.
Auction Committee
Manse Binkley, Harmony Honda and Harmony Acura
Dan Howe, Special Olympics BC
Doug Bower, Vancouver Sun & Province
Dave Meyerink, Harris Auto Group
Marnie Carter, Carter Auto Family
Joe Mitchell, Carter Auto Family
John Chesman, MCL Motor Cars
Christie Morning-Smith, New Car Dealers Association
Pamela Keith, Dueck Auto Group
Blair Qualey, New Car Dealers Association
Christina Hadley, Special Olympics BC
John Wynia, Harbourview Volkswagen
Dealerships that donated to the 2015 auction
Auto West BMW
Harbourview Volkswagen
Auto West Infiniti Ltd
Harmony Acura
Bannister Automotive Group
Harmony Honda
Barnes Wheaton Group
Harris Auto Group
Brian Jessel BMW
Jim Pattison Auto Group
Brian McLean Chevrolet Buick GMC
Jenner Chevrolet
Clarkdale Motors Ltd
Laird Wheaton GM
Cam Clark Ford Lincoln Ltd
Pacific Honda
Carter Auto Family
Preston Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac Ltd
Dueck Downtown
Tyee Chevrolet Buick GMC
Dueck GM
Wheaton Chevrolet Buick Cadillac GMC Ltd
Dueck Richmond
16
SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015
Computer Cents
The 4 Myths About IT Services That Every Growing Business Should Know
C
hoosing a computer support company isn’t easy. There are no
shortages of horror stories about incompetent computer repair
“gurus” bungling jobs, causing more problems, and wasting everyone’s time and money. I’m sure if you talk to your own friends and
colleagues you will get an ear-full of the unfortunate experiences
they have encountered in this area.
BUYER BEWARE
As your company grows, it’s important to keep costs low, but not
all expenses should be shoe-stringed. Consider these four common
misconceptions about IT service companies that cause business
owners to skimp on IT support and lose valuable uptime.
Misconception #1 - “My computers and networks do not require
regular monitoring and maintenance.”After all, they are machines,
right? Clicking “Install updates” should take care of everything.
Like all machines, and especially those with moving parts, failure is
bound to happen at one time or another. Hard drives are spinning
all day, and heat is being generated for as long as your computer
is “on”. These kinds of things put a lot of stress on your computer,
and that’s just the hardware side of computer maintenance (only
10% of computer problems are hardware-related). Software, antivirus programs, firewalls, and files all need proper and proactive
attention.
Lack of system maintenance is the main reason why growing companies lose valuable uptime, and subsequently incur large costs
from unproductive staff and inefficient computers.
Misconception #2 - “Tech savvy friends, family, and neighbors are
reliable resources for keeping my computers running and my data
safe.”
Many people look for a part time guru – usually a friend or family
member – who can work cheaply and save their business a bit of
money. While they may love computers, and likely have some real
skill, certain issues can easily overwhelm them because of their limited experience. We frequently receive calls from business owners
who desperately need certified professionals to salvage lost data,
restore equipment, or help to recover from another catastrophe
caused by lack of experience or training.
By all means, work with your friends
and family to network and grow your
business and to encourage you on
a tough day, but consider other options for the greater responsibility of
computers, servers, and other technology systems that keep your business going.
Misconception #3 - “All IT services companies are created equal.
Your best option is the one that offers the lowest price.”
Some things in life are great bargains but most of the time we get
what we pay for. In the world of IT services, a bargain may well be
an indication that a company is not offering the same services or
level of experience or, possibly, not the same guarantee of response
or uptime.
Be careful when choosing the low cost provider. Charging less than
experienced and professional shops can be a sign of newer IT companies or individual consultants that won’t be able to quickly or
correctly address all of the needs of your growing business.
Misconception #4 - “An honest IT service company should be able
to give you a quote over the phone.”
Over the phone quotes are simply not accurate. Besides watching
out for companies that undercut their more experienced competitors, also be on the lookout for companies that quote you a cheap
rate over the phone or in an email just to get in the door. We’ve
seen companies offer a cheap initial price, only to add “overages”
that double or triple the original proposal.
An honest and professional IT firm will rely on a thorough inspection and analysis of your IT situation. You will be much more efficient in the long run if the IT service company can professionally
assess your equipment with an audit plan and tools designed specifically for that purpose.
Looking for more?
These are just a few misconceptions and tips on IT services for
growing businesses but there are many other things to consider
when looking for an IT service provider. If you’ve made the decision
to outsource the management of your IT you will want to be sure
you are first asking all the right questions: Bit.ly/ShortITQuiz.
Looking to learn more about the benefits of Outsourced IT Services? We can help - contact us by phone at 604-270-1730, or by
email at [email protected] and we’ll help you
find the right IT service company for your business.
Your comments are appreciated – [email protected]
Bob Milliken is the President of Cascadia Systems Group.
We take care of your IT so you can take care of your business. You
can reach Bob directly at 604.270.1730, or by email at TheITGuy@
cascadiasystemsgroup.com
SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015 17
2015
Digital for Dealers
in review
Dealers and associates attended the 2015 Digital
for Dealers event on March 26th during Auto Show
week at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.
Ron Henson from DrivingSales led the group in a
morning workshop.
Ron Henson (left) with Jim Inkster (right)
Over lunch, Michael Sanders from Postmedia,
provided information on “Modern Media Company”.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Jim Inkster (left) with Michael Sanders (right)
Your 2015-2016 2014-2015
New Car Dealers
Association
of Directors
Association
BoardBoard
of Directors
Jim Inkster
Chairman
Aspol Motors Ltd.
John Chesman
Vice-Chairman
MCL Motor Cars
Jeff Hall
Hallmark Ford
18
SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015
Blair Qualey
President & CEO
NCDA
Moray Keith
Dueck Auto Group
Paul Batchelor
Pacific Newspaper
Group
Ryan Jones,
Marv Jones
Honda
Mark Edmonds
Ferrari Maserati
of Vancouver
Derral Moriyama
Bank of Montreal
Darren Graham
Applewood
Auto Group
John Wynia
Harbourview
Volkswagen
Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) Update
Success on GST/HST Fight with Canada Revenue Agency
F
or more than three years, the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) in partnership with the Trillium Automobile Dealers
Association (TADA) has led a coordinated campaign to help dealers being audited and assessed by CRA for unpaid HST/GST on
finance income. Since that time this has been the number one advocacy priority set by the Boards of Directors of both associations.
In early February 2015 CADA sent a memo to all dealers to inform
them that our collective efforts have been successful. The CRA’s
Appeals Division confirmed that both conditional sales contracts
and financing contracts will remain HST/GST exempt. The Appeals
Division also confirmed that they will be vacating all assessments
on both conditional sales and financing contracts.
TADA had funded numerous dealer appeals in this area while
CADA funded and pursued a positive ruling from CRA’s Rulings
division. Subsequent to an earlier positive outcome at Rulings,
CADA received confirmation that some dealers have begun to receive significant refunds from audits conducted in this area. CADA
began this government relations effort in early 2012 after becoming
aware of numerous audits throughout the country in which CRA
contended that HST/GST applied to fees received by dealerships
from financial institutions.
Since 2012 CADA has worked with a team of external legal and accounting experts which led to numerous meetings and consultation with CRA officials and other government leaders over that time
frame. CADA has always maintained the position that as a financial
service, a typical dealer finance transaction was HST/GST exempt.
This position has now been affirmed by CRA’s Appeals Division.
This is a significant victory for all dealers, even those not under
audit, as a loss on this issue would have led to nationwide assessments and penalties for every dealer in the country. Through
CADA/TADA efforts, we will continue to keep you apprised of all
further significant developments on this file and other CRA matters currently under review, as while this positive outcome solidifies
our long-standing position regarding HST/GST on dealer finance
income, CRA has advised that it is reviewing its view that income
derived from the sale of insurance products remains taxable under
the Excise Tax Act.
Given that this matter initially gained momentum in the province
of Ontario, CADA would like to thank the TADA for its significant
contribution on this file and the outstanding work of our joint legal
counsel Colin Smith of Thorsteinssons LLP first introduced to the
file by TADA. CADA would also like to thank the Canadian Finance
and Leasing Association (CFLA) for its substantial assistance both
in 2010, when this issue first surfaced and more recently. CFLA
President & CEO David Powell provided significant research and
technical expertise in support of our
case. Finally, CADA would also like
to thank Doug McLarty, Partner at
the accounting firm MNP, and his
team for their assistance. CADA
also thanks long time CADA outside
legal counsel Peter Harris.
Michael Hatch, Chief Economist,
Canadian Automobile Dealers Assocation (CADA)
All-New Automotive Job Board
Your Association is excited to have launched an all-new Job Board,
available for members of the New Car Dealers Association of BC!
Please share with us your job openings and business opportunities
available at your dealership. This will ensure the new website is
populated with a robust Job Board postings section connecting you
with skilled workers searching for employment. For the next few
months, as we launch Phase II of the new NCDA website, there will
be no charge for dealer members to submit job listings.
The Job Board is an invitation to members to post your job openings.
Postings by members are separated into different categories including:
Accounting & Administration
Apprenticeships
Body Shop/Collision
Customer Service
Finance & Insurance / Business Office
General
Human Resources
Leasing
Management
New & Used Sales
Parts Department
Service Department
Within the job postings, the following fields are available to fill in:
Job title, location, company
Job description, including email/phone contact to apply,
deadline
Contact person
Contact Christie Morning-Smith at
[email protected] with any questions and to set up
your login credentials for posting.
SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015
19
Motor Vehicle Sales Authority (VSA) Update
Recent Insurance Council, Competition Bureau and
CRTC Fines Offer Reminders
C
anadian regulators have been cracking down on businesses that
breach federal and provincial legislation. As dealerships and their
employees are governed by these laws, the regulatory actions serve
as a reminder for dealers to ensure compliance in all business
practices, not just vehicle sales legislation.
The Insurance Council of BC requires a licensed nominee to oversee the solicitation and sale of non-exempt insurance products. As
a result of recent investigations:
• One dealer was fined $750 and investigative costs of $600 for
allowing an unlicensed employee to solicit insurance.
• Another dealer failed to disclose to consumers that the insurance
was not mandatory. For this breach, the Council levied a combined
$3,600 fine against the dealer and the nominee.
The Council notes that dealers have an “obligation to know and act
in accordance with Council rules and all relevant legislation.”
The federal Competition Bureau has been monitoring deceptive advertisements across Canada. In efforts to enforce all-in pricing, the
Bureau found that Avis and Budget car rental agencies:
• Mislead consumers in their advertisements, often charging an
additional 35% above what was originally advertised; and
• The fine print in both online and traditional ads implied that the
fees were required by government.
For these infractions, the Bureau is seeking a $30 million penalty
– the maximum fine possible. Improper advertising and pricing
practices can also be a deceptive act under the provincial Business
Practices and Consumer Protection Act.
The Competition Bureau also works alongside the Canadian Radiotelevision and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and
the federal Privacy Commissioner to enforce Canada’s AntiSpam Legislation (CASL). The CRTC found two companies
in breach of the act:
1.
Compu-Finder, an Ontario company, sent commercial electronic messages (CEMs) without consent. This
warranted a $1.1 million penalty.
2. Plentyoffish Media, a Canadian online dating site,
sent out commercial emails that did not have an unsubscribe option. This warranted a penalty of $48,000.
CASL became law on July 1, 2014 to protect the privacy
and security of all Canadians in electronic communications. Dealers and salespeople are reminded that a CEM, as
defined by CASL, is any form of electronic message used to solicit
someone’s business. Consent to solicit is required in most cases.
The Registrar reminds dealers that a failure to abide by any federal
or provincial legislation may be added to a dealer’s record and will
20
SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015
be reviewed as part of an obligation to protect the public interest.
Walt the Curber at the Auto Show
For the 11th year, the VSA had a
booth at the Vancouver International Auto Show. During the successful six-day event, 18 staff
from every VSA department took the time to work at least one
shift at the show, chatting with both consumers and industry
members. This year, the new booth concept that contrasted
the dangers of buying from Walt the Curber and the benefits of
licensed dealers drew an engaged crowd. A prize wheel attracted
visitors to the booth, giving VSA staff the opportunity to teach
consumers that it’s a gamble to buy from curbers.
VSA pens, small notebooks and other branded items were given
out to consumers, while 350 Tim Horton’s gift cards went to the
licensed salespeople working the show as a way to recognize
their hard work.
Ian Christman, Registrar of Motor Dealers
Associate Member Listing
The New Car Dealers Association of BC is a member driven organization. In addition to dealer Members, a strong and valuable group of
Associate Members belong and contribute to the success. Many Associate Members have direct ties with the automotive industry, oftentimes specializing in areas and issues specific to the industry. Preferred rates are often offered by Associates to Dealer Members.
ADESA Auctions Canada Corp
AllWest Insurance Services Ltd.
Auto123.com - Xprima.com Corporation Inc
AutoAlert Inc.
BCIT - School of Transportation
BMO - Bank of Montreal - Dealership Finance
Calla Financial Services Ltd.
Canadian Automobile Dealers Association
Canadian Black Book
CarProof
CDK Global
CIBC Commercial Banking
DealerSocket
Dealertrack Technologies
e-Dealer
Evolio - Xprima .com Corporation Inc
First Access Funding Corp.
First Canadian Insurance Corporation
General Bank of Canada
HUB International Insurance Brokers
Industrial Alliance S.A.L. Group
Kent-Macpherson Appraisals Ltd.
Kijiji Canada
LegalShield - Focus 3
Marsh Canada Limited
Michael Mason & Co. Ltd.
MNP
MyAutoNews.ca
NXGEN Canada
Pacific Newspaper Group, A division of Postmedia Network Inc.
John Macdonald
Dana Voynovich
Kyell Vyncke
John O'Brien
Kim Dotto
Bradley Warren
Nick Calla
Lucille Laframboise
Kathy Ward
Scott Osinchuk
Greg Wallin
Phil Lehn
Shellie Pierce
Debbie Brewer
Shane Hambly
Kyell Vyncke
Paul Stephanson
John Romfo
Raj Autar
Wayne LeGear
Michel Poirier
Adrian Rizzo
Bobbi Barnes
Dan Anders
Tom Swan
Steve Batchelor
Darrell Endresen
Morgan vanHolst
Don Andrews
PaulBatchelor
(604) 232-4403
(604) 731-6696
(888) 474-2886
(949) 398-7000
(604) 432-8254
(604) 665-7064
(604) 921-4048
(800) 463-5289
(905) 477-0343
(780) 901-1612
(778) 838-0639
(604) 665-1318
(206) 730-2055
(905) 281-6229
(416) 853-5626
(888) 474-2886
(888) 816-5574
(250) 308-1112
(604) 617-6411
(604) 269-1944
(604) 882-8220
(250) 763-2236
(416) 969-2256
(604) 318-9161
(604) 443-3520
(250) 384-7304
(604) 949-2088
(519) 932-1149
(604) 946-8884
(604) 605-2546
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.adesa.com
www.allwestins.com
www.autoalert.com
www.bcit.ca/transportation
www.bmo.com
www.callafinancial.ca
www.cada.ca
www.canadianblackbook.com
www.carproof.com
www.cdkglobal.com
www.cibc.com
www.dealersocket.com
www.dealertrack.ca
www.edealer.ca
www.fafcorp.ca
www.firstcanadian.ca
www.hubinternational.com
www.salgroup.com
www.kent-macpherson.com
http://www.kijiji.ca/autos
www.legalbenefitcanada.com
www.marsh.com
www.michaelmason.ca
www.mnp.ca
www.myautonews.ca
www.paylogec.com
www.sunprovince.com
Radius Security
Jonnie Graham
(604) 232-2405 [email protected]
RBC Automotive Finance Group
Erik Jensen
(604) 468-4590 [email protected]
Roy Speed & Ross Ltd. (Operating as RSR Global) Karey Davidson
(905) 631-5865
[email protected]
Scotia Dealer Advantage
GinaGuercio
(778) 373-4248
[email protected]
Scotiabank Western Dealer Finance Centre
Warren Sandbeck
(800) 268-0762 [email protected]
Search Optics Ltd
Dean Brownstein
(858) 678-0707
[email protected]
Serti Information Solutions
Pascal Lafleche
(514) 493-1909
[email protected]
Shapiro Hankinson & Knutson Law Corporation - Roderick H.McCloy
(604) 684-0727 [email protected]
Rod McCloy Law Corp.
www.securitysystemsvancouver.com/
remote-guarding
TD Auto Finance
Total Graphics inc.
Western Dealers Co-Auto
Wolrige Mahon Chartered Accountants
www.TDFS.com
www.totalgraphics.com
www.wdcoauto.com
www.wm.ca
Danny Long
Jeff Mesina
Mike Reid
Masato Oki, C.A.
(403) 819-1244
(604) 294-0223
(780) 468-9552
(604) 684-6212
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.rbc.com/canada.html
www.royspeedross.com
www.scotiabank.com/
scotiadealeradvantage
www.scotiabank.com
www.serti.com
www.shk.ca
SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015
21
September 20-21 Fairmont Pacific Rim
Vancouver, BC
- Details & Registration Coming Soon -
2015 BC Auto Industry Conference
Save the Date!
Who's Who at the NCDA
OUR VISION: For member dealers and the dealer franchise system to be seen by the
public as the best choice to fulfill all their automotive needs.
We are a small, but dedicated and hardworking team of four individuals working
to serve all Members of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. Should any
questions, concerns, issues or ideas arise, the Association staff will be available to
listen and help.
CONTACT US
Get in touch via phone, email, fax or in person at the Richmond office!
Blair Qualey
President & CEO
[email protected]
Jason Heard
Executive Director,Vancouver
International Auto Show
[email protected]
Shakira Maqbool
Senior Accountant &
Office Manager
[email protected]
Christie Morning-Smith
Event Manager
cmorning-smith@
newcardealers.ca
#70-10551 Shellbridge Way, Richmond, BC V6X 2W9 | Phone: 604-214-9964 | Fax: 604-214-9965
@NCDA_BC
New Car Dealers Association of BC
@NCDA_BC
CORPORATE PARTNERS AND SUPPLIERS
The New Car Dealers Association of B.C. would like to acknowledge these fine
companies for their support of your association’s activities:
Signals, the official publication of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C, is published six times a year. It is
designed and printed at Total Graphics Inc. and distributed to dealer members, select government agencies and the
Association’s corporate partners. Please direct all inquiries about Signals to the Editor, Christie Morning-Smith.
We search when you say so.
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SIGNALS MAY - JUNE 2015
23
SAVE
the
DATE
SEPTEMBER
20-21•2015
Fairmont Pacific Rim
Vancouver, British Columbia
Event details and registration
opening soon at
www.newcardealers.ca
2015
BC AUTO INDUSTRY
CONFERENCE