Signals Magazine, Fall 2023 Issue

A PUBLICATION FOR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE NEW CAR DEALERS ASSOCIATION OF BC

FALL 2023 ISSUE

FEATURE STORY

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Driving the Future of ZEVs

EL C

O

NCDA Welcomes New Acting Chair, Ann Marie Clark

M E

INSIDE

› Car Buyers’ Big Role in the Economy › Dealers Are Fired Up to Help › Car Buzz: Power and Purpose

A Q&A with Hon. Josie Osborne

PAGE 16

The Vancouver International Auto Show returns in 2024 NEW CARS SOLD IN BC

2023

JUL 16,185 SEP 15,651 AUG 16,251 YTD 138,633

IT’S YOUR JOB TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NATION’S AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS. IT’S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE OUR NATION TAKES CARE OF YOURS. The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association is working with your regional and provincial associations to represent your interests at the highest levels.

To learn more about how CADA is working for you, visit CADA.ca

CONTENTS

12 We’d love to hear from you!

Our vision is 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 individuals serving all members of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. Should you have any questions, concerns or issues, or if you have any ideas for our organization to pursue, our staff is available to listen and help. Get in touch with us by phone or email at our Langley office.

Signals is THE flagship publication for the NCDA, the industry association that represents over 400 new car and truck franchised auto retailers in BC. #380–8029 199 Street, Langley, BC V2Y 0E2 Tel: 604-214-9964 // Fax: 604-214-9965 newcardealers.ca // info@newcardealers.ca

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NCDA Staff Blair Qualey President & CEO bqualey@newcardealers.ca 604-214-9964 Ext. 228 Shakira Maqbool Manager, Finance & Administration smaqbool@newcardealers.ca Joshua Peters Manager, Member Services jpeters@newcardealers.ca

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NCDA office info@newcardealers.ca

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Roni Sapoznikov CleanBC Go Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Administrator goelectric@newcardealers.ca Duy Le CleanBC Go Electric Vehicle Rebate Coordinator goelectric@newcardealers.ca

Vancouver International Auto Show Eric Nicholl Executive Director enicholl@vanautoshow.ca 778-968-0440 Have a topic or story suggestion? Email us!

And for article and ad submissions and rate card details, please contact: Joshua Peters | 604-214-9964 Ext. 225 jpeters@newcardealers.ca For subscriber inquiries, please contact: info@newcardealers.ca

Janet Gairdner, Associate Group Publisher 818 Broughton Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1E4 jgairdner@blackpress.ca

COLUMNS

FEATURED ARTICLES

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President’s Message

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6

Industry News

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Legislature Wire NDCA Makes a Mark at UBCM Event

Dealers Are Fired Up to Help Hundreds of thousands raised to help people affected by BC wildfires

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Car Buzz Power and Purpose: Check out these highlights of the 2024 lineup

Taking the Wheel at ICBC David Wong, ICBC’s new president and CEO, test drives an EV with the NCDA

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Car Buyers Are Playing a Big Role Helping keep Canada’s economy out of the ditch

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Connector: Revolutionizing Dispute Resolution in BC A highly effective new tool from the VSA

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Driving the Future of ZEVs A Q&A with Hon. Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation

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Considering Constructive Dismissal Consequences of employment changes

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Published in Canada 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.

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 40030593.

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Legal Line British Columbia’s Pay Transparency Act Special Olympics BC Celebrating the winners and nominees of the 2023 Special Olympics BC Awards

On the Cover: Hon. Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, with her electric vehicle. Photo by Blair Qualey

newcardealers.ca

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

News From the Front Seat Changes in NCDA leadership

BLAIR QUALEY PRESIDENT & CEO, NCDA

Please join me in welcoming Ann Marie, from Family Ford in Parksville, as she takes on the role of chair earlier than she expected.

We’re excited to have her in the driver’s seat.

In my final President’s Message in Signals for 2023, I would like to extend sincere appreciation on behalf of all our NCDA members and staff to outgoing chairman, Ben Lovie, who resigned from the board of directors in mid-October after leaving his role with the OpenRoad Auto Group. Thank you, Ben, for your leadership and commitment to furthering the interests of hardworking dealers and their staff members across BC. All the best in the next chapter, sir!

With Ben’s departure, and as per NCDA bylaws, vice chair Ann Marie Clark has been elevated to chair. Please join me in welcoming Ann Marie (from Family Ford in Parksville and Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln in Nanaimo), as she takes on the role of chair earlier than she expected. We’re excited to have her in the driver’s seat and look forward to a busy and productive fall and winter season ahead.

Government relations activities Speaking of a busy fall season, our board executive has been very engaged in government relations efforts on behalf of members, especially around the transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).

In September, we participated in the BC Government’s two-day ZEV forum (ZEV Days) held September 11 and 12 in Victoria. The purpose of the forum was to bring together

partners and experts from across the sector to share knowledge and inform efforts across the ZEV ecosystem to support a market transformation to zero-emission transportation.

The forum was promoted as an opportunity to provide input into provincial ZEV policies and programs. The occasion also served as a chance for several stakeholders (industry, utilities, infrastructure developers, academic institutions, environmental organizations, other governments) to engage and provide input to support the broader transition to zero-emission transportation.

The inaugural BC ZEV Days included an overview of the current landscape by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, a panel sharing customer feedback on ZEV adoption (including me), and a series of workshops for participants to discuss key ZEV topics.

The two overarching questions framing the forum discussions were: » How should government policy evolve to support the transition to ZEVs across all modes? » What do other actors in the ZEV market now need in terms of some level of focus to support the transition to ZEVs? From the various discussions and input arising from the forum, the ZEV council and ministry staff will create a report that will include recommendations to inform future programs

Meet your 2023-2024 New Car Dealers Association Board of Directors

Ann Marie Clark Acting Chair STEVE MARSHALL FORD LINCOLN / FAMILY FORD VANCOUVER ISLAND

Peter Heppner Past Chair PRESTON GM LANGLEY

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Kai Hensler Acting Vice Chair / Treasurer

Anthony Lunelli Past Chair

Blair Qualey President & CEO

James Carter

Deryl Griffith

Mike Hacquard

CARTER GM N. SHORE

SIGNATURE MAZDA RICHMOND

KELOWNA SUBARU

NCDA

WOLFE AUTO GROUP SURREY LANGLEY

Peter Sia

Peter Trzewik

NORTHLAND NISSAN PRINCE GEORGE

GAIN GROUP VANCOUVER ISLAND

Jared Williams

Erik Jensen

Darren Johnson

JACK CARTER NORTH STAR CHEV BUICK GMC

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

FIRST CANADIAN FINANCIAL GROUP

Member at Large

Member at Large

WEISSACH GROUP VANCOUVER

Signals Magazine Fall 2023

and policies developed by the ministry and ZEV efforts by other key stakeholders in the ecosystem.

On the last day of the ZEV forum, the NCDA was invited to join the two vehicle manufacturer associations and some of their members for a meeting with Shannon Baskerville, deputy minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, to discuss industry concerns about the unintended consequences of arbitrary ZEV mandate targets. Ongoing supply chain challenges, the high cost of new ZEV technology, the lack of charging infrastructure (particularly in the Interior and North) and related range anxiety have created headwinds slowing the demand for ZEVs. Government continues to maintain its mandated targets of 26 per cent of new vehicle sales by 2026, 90 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035. However, there is recognition that flexibility needs to be built into the regulations to account for these challenges—and ensure we collectively achieve the kind of success that we all want to see—and ultimately create a cleaner, greener future.

Finally, just prior to attending the ZEV Days in Victoria, I had the pleasure of travelling to Port Alberni to meet with the Hon. Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. This was an opportunity to spend some time with a key government decision-maker. We took the opportunity to take photos with her new electric vehicle—the same one featured on the cover of this issue of Signals. We also interviewed

the minister on a range of topics and you’ll find her responses to a variety of questions in this edition. Thank you, minister, for your time and ongoing support and collaboration to increase the adoption of ZEVs in BC with the NCDA and other stakeholders.

UBCM convention The NCDA was once again a sponsor of the annual Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention and attended the event in Vancouver—one that saw record attendance. In addition to running the NCDA trade show booth, we had many conversations with mayors, councillors, MLAs, ministers and other leaders from around BC. We also hosted a ZEV ride and drive for conference delegates, wherein I was pleased to spend some time with new ICBC president David Wong for a test drive in one of the latest electric vehicles. UBCM didn’t disappoint as it once again provided a tremendous opportunity to share the story of BC’s new car dealers and their role as drivers of local economies with key government and other leaders from across BC.

CADA updates Our national association, CADA, held its fall board meeting in Regina, Saskatchewan in mid-October and honoured outgoing chair Trevor Boquist for his service. The provincial associations met with their CADA colleagues to review the rollout of a national economic impact study of dealers in their

provinces, along with various government lobbying efforts around ZEV mandates and related regulation.

Upcoming events We kicked off our annual tour to visit dealers around BC, starting with Okanagan dealers in Kelowna. Our next stop, featuring our new chair, Ann Marie Clark, was with Vancouver Island dealers in Nanaimo on November 2.

In mid-November, dealers from BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan will gather for the Western Canadian Dealer Summit at the fabulous Chateau Lake Louise.

And on February 14, our national association, CADA, will host the CADA Summit at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre with special speakers that will include Andrew Coyne, David Frum and a number of OEM industry leaders from Mazda Canada, Nissan Canada, Porsche Cars Canada, Stellantis Canada, Ford Motor Company of Canada, General Motors of Canada and Volkswagen Group Canada. Learn more about the summit click here.

Thanks for reading Signals and we hope you enjoy all of the articles and content.

Sincerely,

Blair Qualey, President and CEO New Car Dealers Association of BC bqualey@newcardealers.ca

Meet your 2023-2024 New Car Dealers Foundation Board of Directors

James Carter

Dave Bare

Ryan Jones

CARTER GM N. SHORE

HARRIS AUTO GROUP

MARV JONES HONDA MAPLE RIDGE

Anthony Lunelli Chair & Treasurer

John Wynia Vice Chair

Heather Headley Past Chair

Blair Qualey President & CEO

KELOWNA SUBARU

HARBOURVIEW VW VANCOUVER ISLAND

PACIFIC HONDA N. VANCOUVER

NCDA

David Jukes

Moray Keith

John MacDonald

Sharon Rupal

Peter Sia

FIRST CANADIAN FINANCIAL GROUP

DUECK AUTO GROUP VANCOUVER/RICHMOND

ADESA RICHMOND

OPENROAD LEXUS PORT MOODY

NORTHLAND NISSAN PRINCE GEORGE

newcardealers.ca

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Plan to Exhibit at VIAS 2024 Use member rates to book space or sponsor a brand-new VIP event Getting involved at the 2024 Vancouver International Auto Show (VIAS) has benefits for NCDA members, with great opportunities at low price points to help you connect with over 100,000 potential customers.

You could be on site with an accessorized, modified or custom-feature vehicle in a 200-square-foot booth for as low as $2,400. But space is limited! Email us at jpeters@newcardealers.ca or call 604-330-4290 to secure your display space.

Another perk for NCDA associate members is the opportunity to sponsor a brand-new gala/VIP industry preview event at the VIAS. The preview will serve as the industry kick-off event on March 19, the night before the auto show opens. (VIAS 2024 runs March 20 to 24.)

This highly anticipated evening gives dealer and associate members, manufacturers, government and media guests an opportunity to network, enjoy fantastic entertainment and mingle over cocktails and canapés. To be a sponsor, email clevesque@vanautoshow.ca or call 604-214-9964.

Find PolestarVancouver at 2211 Burrard.

The Vancouver International Auto Show Returns March 20–24, 2024... RE-IMAGINED

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Polestar Vancouver opens retail space In September, Polestar celebrated the grand opening of its new permanent showroom at 2211 Burrard Street in Vancouver.

Operated by the GAIN group, this location—known as a “Polestar Space”—adds yet another luxury brand to the Burrard Street corridor of luxury auto dealerships.

Polestar also took the opportunity of opening this new space to showcase the Canadian debut of the all-new 2024 Polestar 3 SUV, which arrives next year, the second of many exciting future Polestar products.

A chat with Hugues Bissonnette, country manager for Polestar Canada, revealed that Vancouver is considered a key city in expanding the Polestar network, and that all of the spaces are designed to have a modern art gallery look. Here, potential customers will be able to experience firsthand the sustainability factors built in to the vehicles, as well as in the materials used in the construction of the Polestar Space.

More moves

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Signals Magazine Fall 2023

Also in the news, two additional Lower Mainland dealerships have moved into new locations.

Joining the collection of luxury car dealerships on Burrard Street, Lotus of Vancouver moved into new digs at 2211 Burrard. In addition to being a Lotus car dealer, Lotus of Vancouver offers a premium selection of certified pre-owned sports and luxury automobiles.

OpenRoad Honda Burnaby also moved into a new dealership space.

It officially opened at 5723 Marine Way, saying, “All of us at OpenRoad

Honda Burnaby look forward to welcoming you to our new state-of-the-art home!”

OpenRoad Honda has been serving Burnaby and its neighbouring regions for over 30 years, and is a three-time consecutive Honda Dealer Excellence Award winner.

OpenRoad Foundation The new OpenRoad Foundation, launched

by OpenRoad Auto Group, is a philanthropic non-profit organization designed to support development of healthy communities.

Its focus is to support locations in the areas of environment, community and education, and the OpenRoad Foundation has already granted some $100,000.

“By supporting the growth of strong, resilient communities, we as a group want to fuel these possibilities. Thus, we’ve established a non-profit giving arm with values and pillars centred around giving back,” Shea Studler, OpenRoad Foundation manager, told Auto Remarketing Canada. “OpenRoad Foundation gives us this autonomy, and we are thrilled to already be getting started.”

Lotus of Vancouver moved to a new location at 2211 Burrard Street.

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LEGISLATURE WIRE The annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention occurred in Vancouver, in the middle of September.

The NCDA participated in the trade show, hosted an EV ride-and-drive event for delegates and had conversations with municipal and provincial leaders on a wide variety of issues, including the importance of new car dealers powering local economies in communities across the province.

This annual event is a vital platform for the NCDA to discuss pressing issues, share insights, and influence policy decisions with elected officials.

The NCDA’s EV test-drive event was visited by ICBC’s president and CEO, David Wong.

NCDA Makes a Mark at UBCM 2023 Part of a busy summer and autumn of outreach

ZEV Council Forum Days in Victoria In September, the NCDA took part in the BC government’s ZEV Forum Days, an event in Victoria that brought together industry and government to discuss and review progress of electric vehicle adoption in BC. EV uptake in BC is the highest in Canada, surpassing 20 per cent to date in 2023.

The event provided the NCDA an opportunity to present as a speaker and to provide input to the province on their policies and programs in supporting the transition to ZEVs.

Meeting with Langley City Mayor in August The NCDA visited with City of Langley Mayor Nathan Pachal to discuss how BC dealerships can work with local governments to tackle the great need for charging stations where people live, work and socialize.

City of Langley Mayor Nathan Pachal.

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Signals Magazine Fall 2023

Dan Coulter, MLA for Chilliwack and minister of state for infrastructure and transit, visits the NCDA booth.

NCDA welcomes Automotive Business School BC cohort The NCDA welcomed the BC cohort of the Automotive Business School’s new/used sales management course in Vancouver for their fall session.

NCDA president and CEO Blair Qualey shared with students the role of the association, top issues and challenges facing the BC auto sector and the benefits that good government relations has for its dealer members.

MLA Andrew Mercier with Blair Qualey.

NCDA meets with BC minister of State on skilled trades The NCDA met with BC’s Minister of State for Workforce Development, Andrew Mercier, in his constituency office in September to discuss the need for further skilled training supports for automotive technicians, and continued funding for apprentice and jobs training, in particular to address the growing labour shortage faced by our member dealers.

Blair Qualey at the ZEV Council Forum presentations in Victoria.

Thank you As our customers bound toward exciting new driving technology, you’re there to meet them with the latest in convenience, luxury – and safety. Thank you for your partnership in driving British Columbians forward by keeping your eyes on the road ahead.

newcardealers.ca

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Dealers Are Fired Up To Help Hundreds of thousands of dollars raised to help people affected by BC wildfires

BY DON DESCOTEAU, SIGNALS CONTRIBUTOR Blair Qualey was staying at a bed and breakfast in West Kelowna in late August when he awoke about 6:20 am to the sounds of firefighters urging residents to evacuate the area.

The McDougall Creek Wildfire was on the move and Qualey, president and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC, was among many people who were in the path of the blaze.

In the area for meetings, he found alternative lodging in Kelowna, but felt he had experienced some of the wrath of a wildfire season that devastated multiple BC communities this summer.

“We’re still not through it…there are many parts of the province that still have lots of smoke,” he said in a late-September

interview. “The devastation has been on so many different fronts, not just in Kelowna, but in the Shuswap and other places around the province.”

The damage to property and upheaval to families prompted Kelowna-based Harmony Auto Group in August to jumpstart a dealer-led fundraising campaign with a $100,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross for direct support of fire-affected residents.

With NCDA member-dealers around BC contributing generously in the days and weeks since, a special donation portal was set up and upwards of $300,000 had been raised, Qualey said. To boost the efforts, the NCDA has been matching dealer donations up to $20,000.

The funds have helped the Red Cross

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Signals Magazine Fall 2023

provide shelter, basic needs, recovery assistance and emotional support for people whose homes were destroyed or damaged and those who may still be under evacuation orders in fire danger zones.

The willingness to step up in times of desperate need “is just part of the DNA” of auto dealers, Qualey said.

“That’s the kind of leadership these folks show.”

Support for the campaign has also come from outside the province, with the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association chipping in $10,000.

Not only have they donated funds for campaigns such as this one, Qualey added, many dealers and their employees have been lending a hand physically.

“I know some of them were in their boats delivering water and food to (stranded) families that were affected.”

NCDA members are in 55 cities and towns around BC and are an integral part of those communities, especially in smaller centres, he said.

The willingness to step up in times of desperate need “is just part of the DNA” of auto dealers.

“I’ve heard from many of our dealers that they owe a lot to the communities in which they do business. So, when their community is challenged and needs someone to help— whether it be for hospitals or schools, or disasters like this—dealers want to give back and support the people who support them.”

Qualey noted that he and the NCDA appreciate the leadership of the Canadian Red Cross in helping orchestrate the campaign as well as being there to help.

Click here to access the donation portal, or call the NCDA office at 604-214-9964 for more information.

Taking the Wheel at ICBC— and Test Driving an EV With the NCDA Meet ICBC’s new president and CEO, David Wong Earlier this year, David Wong took the wheel as president and CEO of ICBC. In his new role, David provides leadership and strategic direction to ensure affordable insurance, excellent customer experience and products that offer among the best protection in Canada.

Before joining ICBC, he held a number of roles at BC Hydro, most recently as executive vice-president, Finance, Technology, Supply Chain, and chief financial officer (CFO); he also had senior financial roles at Teekay Corporation, including CFO of Teekay Offshore Partners Ltd. David is a chartered professional accountant, and his background includes a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Simon Fraser University. He has served on Vancity Credit Union’s board of directors as the audit committee chair, as well as BCAA’s board of directors. Recently, David was appointed to serve as a member of the Presidents Group advisory committee, which comprises of a network of 25 change-driven BC business leaders who champion more accessible, inclusive workplaces.

In his first few months on the job, David has focused on looking at how ICBC will continue to provide British Columbians with auto insurance that’s both affordable and takes care of them—and their vehicles—when they need it.

“When it comes to supporting customers with repair claims, ICBC is working to ensure the process is thorough, vehicles are repaired safely or customers are fairly compensated when repairs aren’t feasible,” says David.

“And we want to ensure our partners feel supported during the process, too.”

That’s why ICBC is committed to helping collision repair and towing partners with labour shortages and training for key technical roles. In collaboration with industry partners, ICBC is investing in the Learning, Education, Training and Sustainability (LETS) program to help operators with the knowledge and confidence they need to perform their jobs safely. Through this partnership, ICBC hopes to support the repair sector in retaining and

developing enough trained workers to meet current and future needs.

In September, David had the opportunity to test-drive an EV, thanks to NCDA President & CEO, Blair Qualey. Not only are EVs better for the environment, but their new technology makes driving safer. And with NCDA’s CleanBC Go Electric Rebate Program, these vehicles are becoming more financially attain-

able for many. From sensors that warn when a cyclist is approaching and cameras that alert when there’s a change in the speed limit, EVs and hydrogen-powered cars are incredible.

Whether walking your kids to school, helping your teenager prepare for their driving knowledge test, or simply driving to or from work, the sophisticated technology that today’s vehicles can provide helps improve road safety for all of us.

David said, “I’m proud that ICBC helps make BC roads safer through our Road Improvement Program. Since 1990, we’ve invested approximately $225 million in over 8,300 projects like modern roundabouts and re-designed intersections.”

NCDA and ICBC have a strong partnership because of shared values and goals—providing customers with fair products and services while also promoting road safety. As the new president and CEO of ICBC, David looks forward to working with NCDA leadership and membership in advancing the retail new automotive industry in British Columbia.

Thanks for the EV test drive, NCDA—we look forward to the Vancouver International Auto Show returning to in March 2024!

newcardealers.ca

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CAR BUZZ TRENDS

Power and Purpose Check out these highlights of the 2024 lineup 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV and MHEV

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE Marketed as a sporty electric business sedan, the EQE is a more compact version of the EQS, comparable in size to the CLS. The EQE350 4MATIC combines 288 hp and the EQE500 4MATIC with 402 hp. Both are equipped with a 90kWh Li-ion battery and around 418 kms of range.

With the optional MBUX Hyperscreen, the entire instrument panel is a single, ultimate widescreen, stretching almost the width of the car.

These high-resolution screens merge seamlessly under a shared glass cover, displaying the latest version of the MBUX infotainment system.

Thanks to a suspension design related to the S-Class, the EQE is also available with AIRMATIC air suspension and rear-axle steering. This results in the EQE feeling as manoeuvrable as a compact car.

All EQEs have a rigid passenger cell and modern restraint systems with PRE-SAFE. The latest generation of driving assistance systems includes numerous driver support functions, including a new microsleep warning that analyses driver’s eyelid movements using a camera in the driver display.

Pricing starts at $85,600.

Mazda’s all-new three-row mid-sized SUV, the 2024 CX-90, is here. Built on a brand-new platform, the CX-90 features Mazda’s first-ever inline six-cylinder engine paired with an in-house eight-speed auto. The CX90 offers impressive handling that is unique among three-row SUVs, along with a finely crafted interior in the Signature Trim, giving it a premium feel.

The base CX-90 Turbo comes with a turbocharged 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder engine with 280 hp, with a 48-volt mild-hybrid (MHEV).

The PHEV model combines a 2.5-litrefour-cylinder, an electric motor and a 17.8-kWh battery, providing a total output of 323 hp and 42 km of EV range. GT-P and Signature trims come with the same engine as the Turbo but with 340 hp, making it the most powerful Mazda engine available.

All CX-90s come packed with standard safety and driver assistance features, including auto emergency braking, blind spot warning, lane departure warning/assist, rear cross traffic alert and adaptive cruise control.

Pricing starts at $45,900.

2023 Honda Pilot The all-new fourth generation 2023 Honda Pilot is the largest and most powerful SUV in Honda history. Offering a class-leading combo of offroad capability and nimble on-road dynamics, the fourth-generation Pilot has rugged new styling, and more passenger and cargo space.

Under the hood is Honda’s all-new 3.5L V6 paired with a 10-speed auto producing 285 hp.

Pictured here in Diffused Sky Pearl blue, the new TrailSport edition includes raised off-road tuned suspension, skidplates, all-terrain tires and expanded all-wheel-drive capabilities.

With seating for up to eight and a sportier and more engaging driving experience, thanks to an all-new more rigid chassis, the Pilot and its five different trim levels look to set the benchmark in its segment for Canadian consumers.

Pricing starts at $50,650.

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Signals Magazine Fall 2023

GM EV Live GM has launched EV Live, a free virtual experience that allows anyone to connect with an EV specialist and learn about electric vehicles.

Users can schedule a free, live tour with an EV specialist or start an on-demand live tour from the EV Live website, with one-on-one tours and group tours available.

Tours are conducted from the EV Live studio, which houses real GM EVs and dynamic displays of home charging, public charging, battery technology, sustainability, commercial applications and more.

During the live tours, an EV specialist will answer participants’ questions directly through voice or text chat. Participants can see and hear the specialists, while the specialist can only hear them. This customized immersive experience is part of GM’s mission to make EV ownership more accessible to everyone. For more, visit: http://evlive.gm.ca

2024 Hyundai Kona EV and Kona Hyundai Canada recently announced its new 2024 Kona lineup, and it looks to be a game-changer in the small SUV segment. The larger and wider second-gen Kona is designed to be a multi-player, with the all-electric variant offering improved safety, convenience and an outstanding electric range. The 2024 Kona offers one of the most comprehensive product packages in the small SUV segment with the widest range of powertrains. This includes electric and internal combustion powertrains (of which there is a sporty N Line version).

The 2024 Kona launches this fall, with the Kona Electric expected in early 2024.

Pricing starts at $25,999 for the 2024 Kona Essential FWD.

Content and images provided courtesy of Andrew Ling.

Learn more: https://www.techdriven.ca/car-reviews

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PRESENTED BY FIRST CANADIAN

Car Buyers Are Playing Big Role in Helping Canada’s Economy They might just be keeping it out of the ditch

BY RICHARD DETTMAN, SIGNALS COLUMNIST

The mood in late 2022 was as cold and dark as the weather—the economy was headed for a recession. The Bank of Canada was using higher interest rates to beat back what it saw as the economy’s greatest enemy, inflation.

For homeowners hit with mortgage payments suddenly hundreds or even thousands of dollars higher and gasoline costs that cancelled many a family dinner out, the cure seemed worse than the ailment. But starting in early 2023, the expert consensus turned less gloomy, thanks to unforeseen developments.

Like car sales.

Autos outperformed every other category in June, according to the retail sales report from Statistics Canada. Derek Holt, Scotiabank vice-president and head of capital markets economics, described it as “basically an autos report.” (Incidentally, Holt cautions that Statistics Canada’s retail measurements don’t “capture any of the great rotation toward services spending.” Think crowded restaurants, sold-out concerts and packed tourist destinations, a trend that’s affected retailers including Canadian Tire, Sleep Country Canada and Best Buy.) But auto sales data results are strong, if not back to pre-pandemic levels. British Columbia had the nation’s biggest July increase with new vehicle sales up 14.3 per cent year-overyear to 16,185 units, according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC). Canada’s largest market, Ontario, was up 10.4 per cent to 57,477 units while Quebec rose 9.7 per cent to 33,977.

DAC hadn’t issued August provincial sales estimates by press time, but the month’s nationwide total was 146,697 or 5,755 more than July. DAC managing partner Andrew King said the total was a “rollicking” 18.4 per cent higher than the year-ago month (which was the weakest August since 1999). Nonetheless, it was the 10th consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains, while the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 1.65 million

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was the highest since February.

Yet challenges remain. Supply chain disruptions have been easing for more than a year but unevenly. I’m seeing an increase in new models on the road as deliveries recover, even as some buyers wait for vehicles that they ordered months ago. But the newest and biggest obstacle is interest rates.

Sales are increasing despite the highest borrowing costs in two decades and rising prices for vehicles. While higher manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRPs) are gaining attention, interest rates affect most buyers and all lessees. The relatively good news is the Bank of Canada left its trendsetting rate unchanged at five per cent in its September announcement, after quarter-point hikes in July and August. It noted that “economic growth slowed sharply,” as gross domestic product fell 20 per cent of a point when a gain of 1.2 per cent was expected by economists.

Bank of Montreal chief economist Doug Porter thinks the central bank is done with rate increases in this cycle. He predicts its next move will be a rate cut, although possibly not until mid-2024. But he also notes the hawkish side of the central bank’s statement, “explicitly leaving the door open” for a rate increase if there is an unlikely rebound in growth. CIBC chief economist Avery Shenfeld suggests “recent signs of flagging demand growth and cooling labour markets were good reasons for the bank to step to the sidelines.”

Meanwhile, the used-vehicle market is taking another turn as the bite of higher borrowing costs hits more households. Prices for pre-owned and off-lease autos spiked during the pandemic when new product wasn’t available and remain far above historic levels. But now the demand is also stoked by consumers

downshifting to something less expensive and owners keeping their vehicles longer or buying them at lease-end. Daniel Ross, the senior manager of automotive industry insights at Canadian Black Book, expects the trend to continue for 12 to 18 months.

Sales are one thing, revenue is another.

New-car revenue has outperformed unit sales and is above pre-pandemic levels. StatsCan reports BC and the Territories had $1.12 billion (unadjusted) in new vehicle sales in June. That’s about $20 million more than the year-earlier month and some $900 million above the June 2019 level, despite 3,020 fewer units. Factors could include higher margins, smaller discounts and rising MSRPs. The positives are there: rising supply, stabilized interest rates, consumer desire. So are the uncertainties: uneven production, economic weakness driving unemployment higher, large numbers of upcoming mortgage renewals at higher rates and volatile fuel prices. But if Canada scrapes by without major economic damage, your customers will be part of the story.

Revolutionizing Dispute Resolution in BC New VSA tool is proving to be highly effective

BY IAN CHRISTMAN, JD, MBA, PRESIDENT, VEHICLE SALES AUTHORITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA The Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia (VSA) has seen favourable results since the launch of Connector, its new online dispute resolution service.

Connector has provided a “chat-like,” voluntary and confidential channel for both dealers and consumers to resolve disputes. It supports both sides by empowering them to work collaboratively to achieve a mutually satisfactory agreement.

The process begins when consumers access Connector through MySelf Help, the VSA’s online information tool. Once a submission is made, an email is sent directly to the dealer through the business address that’s registered with the VSA. This invitation allows the dealer to create a free account in Connector, and to address the consumer’s dispute within 14 days. These negotiations remain entirely confidential, restricted between the dealer and consumer

in Connector. To make this process even smoother, the VSA’s consumer services team is available to provide guidance and support, addressing any questions a dealer may have throughout the process.

The success of Connector can be underscored by the speed at which agreements have been reached. Since its introduction, the average resolution time of 23 days is a stark contrast to the formal complaint process, which can take an average 65 days or more if an investigation is required.

In one case, a dealer reached an agreement with a consumer just one day after the dispute was opened in Connector.

In September, the VSA saw 18 new disputes in Connector and—as of writing this article—six have been resolved, taking an average of 19 days.

Connector has demonstrated its versatility by addressing a wide array of concerns around fees, deposits, financing, accident damage and mechanical condition. These disputes have been resolved in regions throughout British Columbia, including Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, Thompson-Okanagan and Kootenays.

Negotiations are usually the fastest way to resolve a dispute, and Connector has proven to facilitate these in an easy, convenient and informal way, where both parties are heard. The VSA encourages dealers to continue embracing this innovative, free resource, recognizing the positive impact it can have on their business and their relationships with consumers, as well as in enhancing overall public confidence in the motor dealer industry.

The VSA is focused on providing education and tools to assist consumers and industry with issue resolution.

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COVER STORY

Driving the Future Zero-Emission Vehicles

A Q&A with Hon. Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation Signals had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Josie Osborne, BC’s Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

Osborne has significant experience in local government, including serving as mayor of her hometown Tofino from 2013 to 2020, and sitting as chair and vice-chair for the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. During her time in local government, Osborne chaired the Tofino Housing Corporation and was a strong proponent for active transportation and regional transit. She has served as chair of the board for the Island Coastal Economic Trust, and in 2017, she was appointed to the BC Clean Growth and Climate Action Advi-

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sory Council. In the BC government, she has previously served as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister for Land, Water and Resource Stewardship.

SIGNALS: Hello, and thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to share some insights with us! You are a former marine biologist, a former mayor, an MLA, and now the cabinet Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, working with the very successful CleanBC Go Electric Vehicle Rebate Program. Tell our readers something that they may not know about Josie Osborne.

JOSIE OSBORNE: It’s not likely to be a big

surprise that I’m a huge fan of science fiction and have always been fascinated by space travel, real or fictional. I grew up watching Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica (the originals, of course!) and still love to watch all the Star Trek series. And, just to be clear, Kathryn Janeway is the best captain.

SIGNALS: What drew you to politics and motivated you to run for public office?

JO: Like many women, I had to be asked by friends and colleagues several times before I seriously considered running for local elected office. Politics is all about people, and one of my strengths has always been building

bridges between different parts of the community. I chose to run for mayor of Tofino to bring a positive, progressive voice to council and to help make better decisions by working together for our community. I surprised myself by how much I loved it, and it’s kind of snowballed from there!

SIGNALS: Signals is read by new car dealers, industry stakeholders, auto enthusiasts and others around the province and across Canada. What was the first car you owned?

Any favourite vehicles you’ve driven over the years? Also, we understand you have recently purchased a new VW ID.4. Tell us more about it: How long you had to wait for the order?

What’s the range? What do you like about it and why did you choose it?

JO: I shared a silver 1977 diesel Rabbit with my boyfriend in the early ‘90s. It belched black smoke and we only drove it for a few months—mostly to go camping on the weekends—before it died. But it spawned a life-long love of Volkswagen and I have had several since then. It’s hard to leave a manual transmission, but I decided to go all-electric after living through the Kennedy Hill Safety Improvement Project on Highway 4, which saw the road closed for several windows each day. Travelling several times a week on that road taught me that I could easily accommodate the trip planning and charging time required for long-distance EV driving.

I had to wait 14 months for my ID.4 due to a lack of semi-conductors for the heat pump, but it was worth it. With over 400 kilometres on a full charge, I can easily travel from Tofino to Victoria, although I often stop at a fast charger along the way. Relying on public charging stations when I’m away from Tofino has not been challenging at all—especially since I get up really early and can take a morning walk while charging my car!

SIGNALS: In reading some biographical information about you, it’s apparent that you have a great appreciation for the environment. It’s the same kind of appreciation that many British Columbians and new car dealers share. Please speak to the value of the partnership that exists between your government and the NCDA in helping to put BC in a leadership position with respect to electric vehicle adoption across the country and in North America.

JO: We’re delighted to be partnered with the NCDA in helping British Columbia’s transition to clean transportation. New car dealers are on the frontline when it comes to the transition away from fossil fuels, so we rely on them to help share the advantages of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) with consumers.

And, of course, one of the main reasons for BC’s increase in clean energy vehicle sales is the vehicle rebate program available to consumers, delivered by the NCDA and funded

by BC Hydro in collaboration with the province of British Columbia.

SIGNALS: As you are the minister responsible for BC Hydro, our members and their customers want to know that our power grids are going to be able to handle increasing demand for electricity, especially with the growing demand associated with ZEV adoption. Can you explain how BC Hydro plans to ensure reliable and affordable capacity moving forward?

JO: Delivering clean and affordable power to British Columbians is a priority for our government and BC Hydro, and that’s exactly what is being planned now. Based on a recently updated forecast, BC Hydro is now moving ahead to acquire more clean electricity, about 3,000 gigawatt hours, as early as 2028.

This first call for power is anticipated in spring 2024 and will be followed by subsequent calls as the need arises. BC’s hydroelectric system positions us well to integrate renewables—like wind and solar—but it isn’t our only option for meeting future demand.

Conserving power is the best and most cost-effective way we can help meet future demand, so we can also expect to see BC Hydro ramping up its energy efficiency programs as well. There is also the option to build. For example, the Revelstoke generating station was built with the ability to expand when the timing is right.

Going forward, the recently created BC Hydro Task Force will be instrumental in planning how we can most effectively meet the future demand for power in the province.

SIGNALS: Many of our readers have experienced the realization that their office, dealership, home or condo can’t be upgraded with chargers installed without significant costs. What planning is taking place between

government and BC Hydro that will support those who want to go electric but can’t afford the entire cost of adding EV chargers to their home or business?

JO: The province, in partnership with BC Hydro, FortisBC and Natural Resources Canada, provides rebates for the purchase and installation of EV chargers across British Columbia. Rebate offers under the Go Electric EV Charger Rebate Program are helping to build the infrastructure that is needed in public spaces, homes (including multi-unit residential buildings) and workplaces. We expect this program to continue to support people who want to go electric but are struggling with the cost of adding an EV charger.

SIGNALS: Government and BC Hydro have made significant investments in creating a charging system that is there for drivers— where they work, live and socialize. But this requires an ongoing commitment, particularly in rural communities and along major routes. What can you tell our readers about the long-term planning taking place that will ensure the system is built in a manner that keeps pace with demand?

JO: BC has seen incredible growth in the use of electric vehicles—the number of EVs on the roads has increased by 1,900 per cent in the past six years. We are committed to maintaining this momentum by continuing to make key investments in public electric charging stations across the province. We’ve already invested $30 million in the public charger program over the past two years. BC now has one of the largest public charging networks in Canada with more than 4,800 charging stations. That compares to just 781 charging stations in 2016. Importantly, the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program prioritizes applications that fill geographic gaps or that are located in rural, northern and Indigenous communities.

Continued on page 18

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SIGNALS: An increasing number of consumers are contemplating the purchase of a zero-emission vehicle but price remains a determining factor for many. EV rebates have proven to be key to adoption. What can you tell our readers about your plans to continue the positive trend of growing EV adoption in BC and to make it easier for even more British Columbians to move to ZEVs? JO: Every ZEV on the road means a reduction in harmful pollution, resulting in cleaner air, cleaner water and quieter streets. Our government is all in when it comes to ZEVs and transitioning to a clean transportation economy. So, the CleanBC Go Electric programs will continue to provide funding for vehicle rebates across all vehicle classes, build out charging and hydrogen fuelling infrastructure, increase public awareness and encourage job training and economic development in BC’s ZEV sector.

SIGNALS: The Zero Emissions Vehicle Act requires 90 per cent of all light-duty sales in BC to be zero-emission vehicles by 2030, less than seven years away, and 100 per cent by 2035. However, the pandemic recovery, high interest rates and other challenges have impacted inventory and sales. We understand that other jurisdictions, including the UK, are talking about extending their targets. In BC, failing to meet targets will result in penalties that have the potential to significantly increase the cost of both new and used vehicles. What steps might government be contemplating to help ensure we have the best opportunity to achieve those targets, and are you considering extending targets as other jurisdictions are contemplating?

JO: The province has a number of programs that support the ZEV sales mandate, including the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program, which provides rebates to people based on their income, and therefore ensuring that the rebates are available for people and families who need them the most.

British Columbia’s ZEV mandate has been successful in ensuring that the province receives ZEV supply to meet increasing consumer demand. In the second quarter of 2023, ZEVs accounted for 20.5 per cent of all new light-duty vehicle registrations in BC— the highest adoption rate in Canada.

Modelling and analysis have determined that the sales targets are feasible; therefore,

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the province is not currently contemplating extending the ZEV targets. However, the province will continue to monitor the market and conduct regular formal reviews of the act and regulations to determine if any additional supports or changes to the targets are needed in the future.

SIGNALS: How do you unwind when you can find time to relax?

JO: A long walk on a Tofino beach or in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve will always be my favourite way to unwind, but when I’m not able to be home, I love exploring the many incredible trails and parks in Victoria and the Capital Regional District. And if the weather isn’t conducive to being outdoors, you’ll find me cooking!

SIGNALS: The Vancouver International Auto Show (VIAS) is an important display of the latest vehicle technology and makes and models, including zero-emission vehicles. After what will be a four-year absence, can you speak to the significance of the event’s return in 2024 and its importance in educating consumers on the advantages of ZEVs and other new technologies?

JO: In 2023, British Columbians are more aware than ever of climate change impacts and are looking to find simple ways to do their part and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The return of VIAS and its display of new zero-emission vehicles is timely and brings with it an opportunity for change. During the last Vancouver auto show, just over 20 models of zero-emission passenger vehicles were eligible for provincial rebates, many of which did

not meet the needs of British Columbians.

Now, more than 55 vehicles are eligible in the program, including sedans, sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and pick-up trucks.

The auto show will be able to showcase BC’s ZEV sector and many of the new ZEV options, which include improved features such as extended driving ranges and other performance benefits. But this event offers more than vehicle “show and tell.” Attendees will have the opportunity to test drive a wide variety of zero-emission vehicles, helping British Columbians find an option that works for their lifestyle and unique driving needs.

SIGNALS: We would like to thank you for giving our readers a better insight into your priorities and how you manage the various challenges that come with being a political leader. Do you have any final words to share with the more than 400 new car dealers who operate businesses in communities across the province?

JO: New car dealers have been essential to the zero-emission vehicle uptake across British Columbia. Dealers are on the frontlines of this transition; they routinely engage with British Columbians about their transportation needs, educate customers about zero-emission vehicle benefits, and share customer feedback with the province about the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program. I am incredibly grateful to the dealers for their passion and dedication to the industry, and I look forward to working with the NCDA as we strive to increase zero-emission vehicle adoption across BC to meet the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 commitments.

CLEANBC GO ELECTRIC

CleanBC: Fall Quarter Program Summary Record number of paid-out rebates The CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Program continues to see record applications and paid-out rebates. The average monthly submissions during 2023 (2,169, January to September) almost doubled compared to the same period in 2022 (1,130).

September was the fifth consecutive month with at least 2,000 submissions for rebates— the first time in the program’s history!

The total number of rebates (by unit # and $ amount) paid out during the January to September period were: » 12,963 units » $42,947,002

bZ4X 512

RAV4 503

IONIQ 5 412

Leaf 320

Tesla Model 3 Model 3 2771

ID.4 621

Chevrolet Bolt Hyundai Kona

Outlander 676 Kona 696

Tesla Model Y

Mitsubishi Outlander

Bolt 856

Model Y 2628

Volkswagen ID.4 Toyota bZ4X Toyota RAV4 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Nissan Leaf

New Eligible Vehicles Added Since Previous Quarter Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Nissan Leaf, Volvo C40 Recharge, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Ford F–150 Lightning, BMW i4, BMW X3, Volvo XC60, Volvo S60, Hyundai Tuscan PHEV, BMW 330e PHEV, Kia Niro PHEV, Kia Niro BEV, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Kia EV6, Audi Q4 E–Tron, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Hyundai IONIQ 6, Mercedes-Benz EQB 250+, Ford Escape PHEV, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Select, Hyundai IONIQ 5.

For more information on the latest eligible vehicles, visit newcardealersgoelectric.ca

newcardealers.ca

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LEGAL LINE

British Columbia’s Pay Transparency Act Pay secrecy days are over as of November 1, 2023

BY VERA SYRMA, ARTICLED STUDENT, AND MATTHEW WANSINK, SENIOR COUNSEL British Columbia’s Pay Transparency Act (the “Act”) was passed on May 11, 2023, imposing pay disclosure and reporting obligations on both public and private sector employers. The objective of this new legislation is to close the gender pay gap by empowering employers and their employees by providing them with factual information about their organization’s salary structure. The Act is part of the Government of British Columbia’s larger plan to close the gender pay gap, as BC has one of the highest gender pay gaps in Canada.

Beginning on May 11, 2023, employers in BC are prohibited from asking job applicants what they have been paid at positions with other employers or accessing that information through a third party, unless the pay history information is publicly accessible.

Under the new legislation, it is now illegal for employers to take any retaliation or disciplinary measures against employees who choose to reveal their compensation levels to others. An employee can make inquiries to the employer about that employee’s pay, disclose their pay compensation to another employee or a potential job applicant, and make inquiries about a pay transparency report (more on this below).

Further, the employee can ask the employer to comply with the Act and make a report to the Director of Pay Transparency about the employer’s non-compliance with the Act. Beginning on November 1, 2023, employers must disclose the expected salary or wage, or the expected salary or wage range for all publicly advertised job postings.

Pay Transparency Report The Act imposes an obligation on every “reporting employer” to prepare a transparency report containing prescribed information, on or before November 1 of each year. This requirement will be rolled out in different phases, with all public and private employers that have over 50 employees being subject to the reporting obligations by 2026. Presently, reporting employers include the Government of BC, and specified Crown corporations. For private-sector employers, the designation of a reporting employer will be triggered by the number of employees as follows:

By November 1, 2024: all employers with 1,000 employees or more will be required to post an annual transparency report; by November 1, 2025: all employers with 300 employees or more will be required to post an annual transparency report; and by November 1, 2026: all employers with 50 employees or more; will be required to post an annual transparency report.

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By November 2027, all employers in BC will be required to prepare and publish a pay transparency report, regardless of the number of employees, unless expressly exempted by regulation. Once the reporting requirement is triggered, every reporting employer must make reasonable efforts to collect the prescribed information from each employee and to collect such information once a job applicant becomes an employee. Employers are obligated to inform employees that employees’ disclosure of the information is voluntary; however, they must provide an opportunity for employees to disclose information at least once every calendar year.

The reporting employer must publish a transparency report on a publicly accessible website maintained by or on behalf of the reporting employer. If the employer does not have a website, a copy of the report must be made available to all employees at a conspicuous workplace, and open to members of the public upon request. While details on what must be included in the transparency reports are currently under development, an online reporting tool will eventually be available to

Dealers are encouraged to ensure their workplace practices comply with the provisions of the Act, and to stay informed of any new developments.

Importantly, review your employee compensation policies, HR recruitment policies, employee handbooks and educational training for managers. assist employers in preparing reports. The reports will show the gaps in pay for certain groups, for example, the pay difference between hourly wages, overtime and bonuses received by men, women and non-binary people, but will not disclose the real wage data.

The potential effects of the Pay Transparency Act remain to be seen.

The goal is to remove inequities in compensation policies, and some studies suggest that transparency laws increase job satisfaction and boost performance as employees develop trust in their organizations.

However, other studies point out that such policies may lead to lower overall compensation, compromise employees’ productivity and impact organizations’ ability to retain high performers. As such, new car dealers in BC are encouraged to actively track the impact of this new legislation on their businesses, and provide feedback to the New Car Dealers Association, so that the association can make constructive recommendations to government, as may be needed.

Key takeaway for employers: Dealers are encouraged to ensure their workplace practices comply with the provisions of the Act, and to stay informed of any new developments. Importantly, review your employee compensation policies, HR recruitment policies, employee handbooks and educational training for managers.

Should you have any questions about how the Act will affect your business, please do not hesitate to contact Clyde & Co Canada LLP or, after December 31, 2023, MEP Business Counsel.

DRIVING INSIGHTS | Ways to Win More Trades

BY THE RESEARCH & INSIGHTS TEAM AT CARFAX CANADA It’s well known that the used car buying process doesn’t start when a customer shows up at a dealership, and today’s customers are more prepared than ever with available information. When it comes to trade-ins, four out of five used car buyers will do some form of work to prepare for a trade-in. However, these prepared customers are twice as likely to turn down an offer. So how do you get around this?

How customers prepare for the trade: The most common way a customer prepares to bring their car in for a trade appraisal isn’t research at all, it’s picking up those old fast-food bags and getting out the vacuum! Among used car buyers who prepare for the trade-in process: 62 per cent do a deep clean of their car before it reaches your lot; 53 per cent put some thought into what price they want on the trade-in; and 35 per cent will finally get that oil change or fix that minor scratch or dent they’ve been putting off.

How do customers decide on price?

The factor that most influences whether a customer will accept a trade-in offer is how much they think their car is worth. Typically, these expectations are based comparable listings researched online. Used car buyers who research their expected trade-in price do so by: » Visiting their preferred listing site to find comparable vehicles (50%);

» » » »

Consulting friends and family for advice (29%); Going with their gut (26%); Getting an in-person trade-in appraisal (25%); and/or Searching for vehicle values online (22%).

What about customers who haven’t prepared?

If four out of five buyers prepare for the trade-in process, that means there’s 20 per cent of buyers who don’t. Our research shows that someone who did prepare for the trade is more likely to sell or dispose of their car some other way other than a trade.

What should you do?

Dealers should expect to see more informed customers armed with different sources of information who are likely anchored to a price. Match their process by starting with the list price, even if it’s based on a fully reconditioned car on an online listing, and then walk them down to a realistic trade-in offer while explaining the reasons behind the value difference. Remember, it’s the more prepared customers who are twice as likely to turn down your offer, so addressing and working with a customer’s preparation is essential.

Driving Insights takes your questions about Canadian car buyers, and turns them into answers! Get more insights at carfax.ca/insights.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Succession is not “Moving Out” Think of it as “moving up” Advisors often talk about the technical aspects of business transition (tax structuring, estate planning, shareholder agreements, et cetera), the importance of why one needs to let go (ensuring the successful continuation of the business) and the process of ensuring that the next generation is ready, willing and able to take over.

But we also need to expand on this by focusing on something that many people do not vocalize: how difficult it is for the founder to transition themselves (emotionally and psychologically), and how to actually do it when the founder has been the key decision-maker for so long.

The challenge we most often see in family businesses is transitioning from the founding generation.

Let’s re-frame the sense of “replacement” to a sense of growth and evolution.

If the current generation can think of succession not in terms of “moving out,” but instead “moving up,” it can make a substantial difference in the ability to make a transition sooner, with significantly increased odds of success.

At the same time, the next generation can themselves begin moving up and learning to lead sooner, which can lead to greater personal and financial success for everyone involved.

“Moving up” can look like many things: a senior board or advisory role; mentorship; sharing institutional memory/history; and helping

build the relationships with other stakeholders (customers, suppliers, service providers, et cetera).

All are key to a successful future. Remember, the founding generation built from the ground up by trial and error, and by doing so, they learned along the way.

Part of what “moving up” means is letting the next generation follow that same path and make their own decisions. Those who learn by doing and making mistakes along the way are often the most successful in the longterm.

Moving up also means facing the difficult task of not micro-managing or overriding decisions that you may not have necessarily made yourself, but to help guide and provide input on improved decision-making processes for the next generation. Overriding inconsequential decisions undermines both learning and credibility.

As a wise person once said, “The only constant in the universe is change.”

We grow and evolve by learning, and we learn by challenging ourselves.

Transition is inevitable in every business setting, so choose to be at the forefront of that change by moving up.

To learn more, contact Steve Ivacko, CPA, CMA, TEP, FEA, Partner, Family Offices Services, MNP at steve.ivacko@mnp.ca or 604 637-1505.

Unlock your auto dealership’s full potential You deserve maximum performance from your business. For more than 20 years, MNP has been helping auto dealerships of all sizes provide for the present and plan for the future. The right advisor can help you navigate the challenges of a competitive industry and drive consistent results.

Chris Schaufele, CPA, CA National Dealership Services Leader 604.536.7614 | chris.schaufele@mnp.ca MNP.ca

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Signals Magazine Fall 2023

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Considering Constructive Dismissal Unexpected consequences of changes to the employment relationship

BY CHRIS DRINOVZ, KSW LAWYERS EMPLOYMENT & LABOUR GROUP The law surrounding constructive dismissal is full of potential pitfalls for employers, who may inadvertently constructively dismiss an employee and expose themselves to significant liability for failing to provide adequate notice. To successfully avoid these pitfalls, it is important for to have a basic understanding of the circumstances under which a constructive dismissal may occur.

At its core, constructive dismissal rests on assertion that employees are entitled to rely on the terms of their contract of employment remaining fixed and that fundamental changes to the employment contract cannot be made without the employee’s consent.

What is a constructive dismissal?

In the leading case of Potter v New Brunswick Legal Aid Services Commission, 2015 SCC 10, the Supreme Court of Canada articulated a two-branch test to determine whether a constructive dismissal has occurred. First, a constructive dismissal can occur through a single unilateral act that breaches an essential term of the contract of employment. Secondly, it can also occur where the employer’s conduct shows they no longer intend to be bound by the contract. A written employment contract is not required for this doctrine to apply, although the absence of a written contract can make determining whether a breach has occurred more challenging.

The first branch requires that the unilateral change must substantially alter an essential term of the employment contract. There are two stages to this analysis. First, it must be shown that there was a unilateral change by the employer. Second, it must be shown that a reasonable person in the employee’s situation would feel that the breach was a substantial change to an essential term. This is a highly fact-driven exercise, and will depend on the exact circumstances of the change.

The second branch requires a finding that the employer has shown they no longer intend to be bound by the employment contract. The key question is the employer’s perceived intention; for example, whether a reasonable person in the same circumstances

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as the employee would view the employer as intending to no longer be bound by the contract. This does not require a single act but can occur through the cumulative effect of past acts.

The consequences of failing to correctly determine if a constructive dismissal has occurred can be significant.

From the employer perspective, for example, a good faith change to the work location of a long-term employee could result in paying up to 24 months of salary for failing to provide adequate notice.

When does a constructive dismissal kick in?

Once an employee has been confronted with a unilateral change to the employment relationship, they must choose to accept the change, or reject it and refuse to go to work.

Until the employee has indicated, by action or by word, that they do not accept the change, there is no constructive dismissal. An employee will typically be allowed a “reasonable” period of time, typically two or three months, to decide whether they wish to accept the repudiation of the contract. In certain cases, a delay of six or even seven months has not found to constitute condonation. However, an employee is not entitled to wait forever before asserting constructive dismissal, and delaying too long will result in a court finding that an employee condoned the change to the employment relationship.

Examples of constructive dismissal

Employer takeaways

A non-exhaustive list of conduct that Canadian courts have found to constitute constructive dismissal is found below. It is important to note that this conduct is only sometimes, but not always, sufficient to establish a constructive dismissal:

It is important for employers to understand that every case is fact-specific and what is a constructive dismissal in one case may not be one in another. Because of this, one of the challenges that confronts employers contemplating a change to the employment relationship is that it can often be unclear when the line has been crossed and grounds for asserting a constructive dismissal actually exist. This is where our legal team can help!

The consequences of failing to correctly determine if a constructive dismissal has occurred can be significant. From the employer perspective, for example, a good faith change to the work location of a long-term employee could result in paying up to 24 months of salary for failing to provide adequate notice.

» demoting an employee to a position of lower prestige and status or changing their remuneration significantly;

» failing to provide a promised promotion; » requiring an employee to perform fundamentally different work or removing duties;

» changing work location, such as a transfer to another city, province or country;

» changing hours of work; » engaging in abusive behaviour that renders continued employment intolerable;

» failing to prevent harassment by co-employees;

» breaching privacy, such as through unwarranted surveillance;

» suspending an employee (even if for discipline);

» temporary lay-off, when a lay-off is not explicitly authorized by the employment contract.

Note to Readers: This is not legal advice.

If you have any questions about a labour or employment matter or require assistance with workplace investigations, revising your employment contracts, or legal disputes, please reach out to Chris Drinovz at cdrinovz@kswlawyers.ca or Mike Weiler at mweiler@kswlawyers.ca.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Bulletproof your Business with Risk Management Advisors A quick guide to risk services Running a business involves dealing with various challenges, especially when it comes to managing risks. Risk services help you prevent losses, identify potential risks and provide practical solutions to make your business safer, more efficient and less costly.

A risk services consultant will help you figure out how to recognize, measure and minimize risks in a way that’s customized to your business.

In the world of risk services, we focus on three key areas: people, property and profitability. People includes everyone connected to your business, such as employees, customers and partners. Property refers to your buildings, inventory and assets. And profitability covers things like being prepared for emergencies, ensuring the safety of people and complying with regulations to minimize financial loss.

Risk services consultants are like business safety experts. They identify potential problems, evaluate what you’re already doing to prevent them, suggest solutions, put those solutions into action and keep track of how well they’re working. They can save you money by

efficiently handling insurance claims and connecting you with a network of experts, such as adjusters, lawyers, auditors, accountants and engineers. These professionals have the knowledge and skills to help you in unique situations. HUB International, for example, is known for its excellent risk management team and helps many dealerships in BC. One crucial area of risk is emergencies, such as fires or extreme weather.

Auto dealerships face some extra challenges when it comes to emergencies because they often have lots of people around; customers unfamiliar with the layout of the building, evacuation difficulties and staff changes.

Risk services consultants create plans for dealing with different emergencies, including: crisis management; procedures for fires and extreme weather; bomb threats and acts of terror; suspicious packages; gas leaks or power outages; violence, bullying and suspicious individuals; and protecting against online threats.

Some risks are necessary for a dealership to operate, but you can still manage them wisely. HUB International’s Risk Services team has valuable information to help you create plans to minimize risks in essential business activities, like building maintenance, fire protection, handling hazardous materials, using automotive equipment safely, general shop and electrical safety, tire service and lifting procedures.

If you’re interested in working with HUB to reduce risks in your business or want to learn more about how they can help, contact Wayne LeGear at 604-269-1944, email wayne.legear@hubinternational.com or visit hubinternational.com.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

A SPECIAL OLYMPICS BC SNAPSHOT

Celebrating the Winners and Nominees of the 2023 Special Olympics BC Awards BC’s New Car Dealers are among Special Olympics BC’s longest-standing champions.

It’s our privilege to share stories showing the difference you make by supporting Special Olympics. You help create experiences of joy, friendship, empowerment, skill development and health improvements for thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities in 55 BC communities.

Special Olympics BC (SOBC) is delighted to congratulate this year’s winners and nominees of SOBC’s six annual provincial awards!

These inspiring athletes and volunteers were nominated by their peers to recognize their accomplishments, spirit and contributions to Special Olympics.

Thousands of SOBC athletes and volunteers across the province help inspire greatness within our organization and community.

SOBC is sincerely grateful to BC’s new car dealers for making this possible through their life-changing support. This year, winners and nominees were celebrated during a virtual awards ceremony in September, helping to kick off SOBC’s 43rd year of life-changing sport, youth and health programs.

Torben Schuffert from Smithers is the recipient of the Athletic Achievement Award.

Schuffert has excelled in multiple sport competitions and is known for his hard work ethic.

He is a supportive and inspiring teammate on and off the field, helping build confidence in other athletes through positive interactions.

“Special Olympics is important because it keeps people fit and active. It has benefitted me to be in a group more, and to be more valued. My favourite thing about Special Olympics is having fun with my friends, and making new friends every year,” Schuffert said.

Cranbrook’s Kevin Phillips is the deserving winner of the Grassroots Coach Award.

Phillips is passionate about empowering athletes with intellectual disabilities and has played an instrumental role in developing the cross-country skiing program in his community.

“The real plus of working with Special Olympics is the athletes themselves and the people you meet. We don’t really see the disabilities at all—we see ability,” Phillips said.

Gale Jones from Smithers took home the

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Signals Magazine Fall 2023

Athletic Achievement Award winner Torben Schuffert’s athletic success is rooted in his outstanding work habits and positive attitude.

Howard Carter Award. The award is presented in memory of Howard Carter, who was an upstanding member of the automotive community and a great friend to SOBC. A SOBC coach for 10 years, Jones always has a smile on her face and she genuinely cares about the athletes she coaches for who they are as people.

“Our athletes are so inspiring. They bring their joy of competition and their hopes of inclusion to every practice and event. They work so hard at achieving their goals, big and small, and always celebrate each other’s achievements,” Jones said.

Richmond’s Phoebe Lau is the recipient of the President’s Award. Lau is a kind and compassionate volunteer who brightens the lives of everyone she encounters. She leads Richmond’s youth programs and has dedicated her time and skills to supporting multiple teams for provincial games.

“Volunteering with SOBC is rewarding because seeing the smiles and happiness of the athletes and how hard they play at competitions makes it all worth it,” Lau said.

Creston’s Claire Lemaire is the winner of the Spirit of Sport Award. She consistently demonstrates the attributes of dedication and team spirit with great listening skills, a

willingness to tackle challenges and a passion to give her best effort.

“With Special Olympics, my life is fuller.

I feel happy when I know I can do different sports everyday, thanks to all the volunteer coaches and all the local community members,” Lemaire said.

Vancouver Police Department Detective Constable Cam Mackay is the recipient of

Spirit of Sport Award winner Claire Lemaire is an active athlete speaker who spreads joy throughout Special Olympics BC!

the BC Law Enforcement Torch Run Award.

Mackay has worked hard to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics BC through a variety of fundraising events.

“Special Olympics BC athletes have been inspirational all along the way. I’ve really enjoyed my time at all the events,” Mackay said.

SOBC’s sport, youth and health programs have made a profound impact on athletes, volunteers and supporters. Everyone at SOBC is deeply grateful to BC’s new car dealers for their generous support, which has changed lives all over British Columbia.

With SOBC sport programs underway this fall, there are many rewarding volunteer opportunities available across the province.

SOBC volunteers build friendships, develop skills and experience the joy of making a difference in their communities. To learn more, go to specialolympics.bc.ca.

Members of the BC automotive community can also make an impact by supporting the 2024 Auction for Athletes. To get involved, please contact Heather Maciver, SOBC Vice President, Fund Development & Communications, at hmaciver@specialolympics.bc.ca.

President’s Award winner Phoebe Lau engages with everyone from a place of genuine compassion.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

AutoVerify—A New Way to Support Pre-Qualification Enhancing the car-buying journey, without disrupting it At TD Auto Finance, we have the goal to be Canada’s number one auto lender and funder of choice. To make this vision a reality, we need to continually find ways to enhance a customer’s car-buying journey—all while keeping dealerships as an integral part of the process.

We’re excited to share that we’ve begun to work with AutoVerify to support a digital pre-qualification process and bring dealerships high-quality leads. AV Pre-qualify—a new tool from AutoVerify—solves a recurring pain point: customer uncertainty around how much they can afford to spend on a vehicle. AV Pre-qualify lets car shoppers find out if they pre-qualify for credit online—directly from a dealership, manufacturer or marketplace website.

It’s a win-win for both dealers and customers. Customers’ experience is enhanced through an understanding of what they can afford before they visit a dealership; and the dealer receives a lead that contains more detailed credit information than is available from any other tool on the Canadian market.

This information helps dealers operate more efficiently so they can focus on what they do best: selling cars.

We’re proud to be the exclusive financing partner for this tool, and happy to work with a company whose vision aligns with ours: where

other digital solutions may want to disrupt the entire financing process, we don’t.

Dealerships are a critical part of the car-buying journey and an important part of our growing industry. This solution keeps dealerships squarely in that journey. As the only truly full-spectrum lender in Canada, we believe we’re in the best position to provide a complete range of financing options to customers.

Dealerships are a critical part of the carbuying journey and an important part of our growing industry.

We’re also happy to offer an incentive to try out this program: as a dealer, for every month you send TD Auto Finance five qualifying leads through AV Pre-qualify which are funded, you may be eligible to receive an additional $750 in bonus reserve. Conditions apply.

We hope you’re as excited about this as we are. Reach out to your TD dealer relationship manager today for more information on this industry-leading tool!

TD Auto Finance is proud to be the only truly full-spectrum lender in Canada. No matter what your customer’s circumstances, our specialized sales, credit and funding teams are here to help find solutions for nearly every circumstance!

Contact us today.

1-855-TDAUTO1 (1-855-832-8861)

® The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

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Signals Magazine Fall 2023

SPONSORED CONTENT

Hats Off to BC Car Dealers!

It’s time to rev up your customer game Kudos to all the dealers who watched our first six brand new videos on the SiriusXM Dealer Training portal and scored free SiriusXM entertainment this summer! Now, if you haven’t yet, here is your second chance to get lucky…

SiriusXM is calling all Canadian dealers to rev up their customer game, and complete their full SiriusXM Dealer Training, including all modules on SXMDealer.ca/Training by December 8, 2023.

This will help you build customer engagement and loyalty by tuning up your knowledge of the country’s leading audio entertainment platform and all its features, subscriptions and perks.

While completing your SiriusXM Dealer Training, you’ll gain hot tips for a smooth customer journey and enhanced vehicle delivery, and learn more about the SiriusXM

streaming app and the SiriusXM dealer app; your customer’s questions on at-home streaming and data privacy; and the next generation of in-vehicle audio entertainment—SiriusXM with 360L. Tune in to the best beats for free—each training video is under three minutes long, and for every training module you watch, you’ll secure 90 days of free SiriusXM streaming with the SiriusXM app.

With over 425 channels of ad-free music, play-by-play sports, hilarious comedy, exclusive news and the latest hot chatter, you’re going to need some great speakers, and the first 150 dealers who complete all their training modules will receive a JBL speaker!

Score a prize! Complete your full SiriusXM Dealer Training by December 8, and you will also be entered for a chance to win a grand

prize: one of three spectacular Solo Stove® fire pits, essential for any hosts looking to make the most of the outdoors!

It’s time to start, continue, finish or refresh your training on SXMDealer.ca/Training for a chance to win all these perks and prizes!

As for the best-in-class dealers who’ve already completed their full training this year, you will automatically be entered into the grand-prize draw.

Any questions? Reach out to your SiriusXM regional manager, Darin Boudreau, at: darin.boudreau@siriusxm.ca.

For more exciting programs and exclusive contests and to stay on top of relevant news and programming updates, follow @SiriusXMAuto on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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WITH SPECIAL THANKS

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS AND PARTNERS

The New Car Dealers Association of BC would like to acknowledge these fine companies for their support of the association’s activities.

Premier Partners

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS

SILVER LEVEL

CADA 360 programs are unique. Each program is designed under the guidance of a dealer committee, and participating dealers become stakeholders in the programs. “It all comes back to you” is more than a tag line: it’s a guarantee to association members. The end result is a powerful combination of industryleading business solutions for health and wellness benefits and exceptional dealer representation.

CADA also supports the development of automotive leadership through its partnership with the Automotive Business School of Canada. cada.ca/web/cada/insurance/cada

First Canadian Financial Group is a national, privately chartered life insurance company that offers life and disability insurance coverage on consumer loans through automotive dealership financial service offices.

Since September 1988, the First Canadian Financial Group has been marketing its insurance, mechanical breakdown protection, and protection product programs through automotive, RV, and marine dealers across Canada with tremendous success. firstcanadian.ca

Michael Mason & Co. has been manufacturing and supplying for the automotive industry since 1967.

It has products for every department within your dealership. Michael Mason & Co. fabricate products at factories in British Columbia, Canada. michaelmason.ca

ADESA Vancouver’s auctions provide registered dealers, brokers, automobile manufacturers and rental agencies as well as corporate and government fleets with a complete vehicle marketing solution in British Columbia. adesa.ca/vancouver CARFAX Canada, a unit of IHS Markit, is Canada’s definitive source of automotive information, delivering vehicle history, appraisal and valuation. Drawing on billions of data records from thousands of unique sources, its products enable used vehicle buyers and sellers to make in-formed decisions. Formerly known as CARPROOF Corporation, CAR-FAX Canada is dedicated to transparency, and is trusted to provide im-partial and comprehensive information to dealerships, vehicle manufac-turers, consumers, major auctions, governments, insurance providers and police agencies. carfax.ca J.D. Power’s Power Information Network (PIN) is the largest source for retail transaction data. PIN has the broadest electronic point-of-sale data from dealerships describing the sale, the vehicle, the buyer and the deal. JD Power PIN has 16,000+ participating franchises, covering 42% of all U.S. and 25% of Canadian retail transactions. jdpower.com Kijiji Autos has over 6 million unique visitors to its platform each month, making it Canada’s most visited online automotive marketplace. Our strategy of putting the consumer first has resulted in us building a robust and purposeful destination where Canadian’s feel safe to interact. Kijiji Autos makes sure your inventory is being noticed. No matter the size of your dealership, there is a package to help unlock its full potential. kijijiautos.ca

BRONZE LEVEL SiriusXM is the country’s leading entertainment company. SiriusXM creates and offers commercial-free music, premier sports talk and live events, comedy, news and exclusive talk and entertainment. SiriusXM is available in vehicles from every major car company, smart phones and other connected devices as well as online. siriusxm.ca

The New Car Dealers Association of BC is a proud member of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA). The CADA is the national association representing new car and truck dealers. Acting as the voice of the dealers at the national level, CADA serves as an advocate to government, industry and the public.

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Signals Magazine Fall 2023

Associate members of the New Car Dealers Association of BC provide vital products and services to dealer members, allowing them to do business with greater cost effectiveness, environmental responsibility and general efficiency. Welcome to our new members!

ACCOUNTING

Canadian Western Bank

Dealer Solutions North America

MNP LLP Accounting

Gus Masi // 403-570-3200 // cwbank.com

Rick Kingdon // 778-245-1041 // dealersolutionsna.com

Chris Schaufele // 604-542-6768 // mnp.ca

CIBC Commercial Banking

National Business Brokers

AUCTION SERVICES ADESA Auctions Canada

Phil Lehn // 604-665-1318 // cibc.com

Amy Burgess // 1-800-576-9875 // nationalbusinessbrokers.com

First Canadian Financial Group

OFFICIAL NCDA BILL OF SALE PROVIDER

Darren Johnson // 250-217-5955 // firstcanadian.ca

John Macdonald // 604-232-4403 // adesa.com

General Bank of Canada

EBlock Nicole Sergio // 416-853-5626 // edealer.ca

Marley Begg // 780-974-2829 // generalbank.ca

Manheim Auto Auction Company (Cox Automotive Canada)

iA Auto Finance

Jack Sulymka // 905-875-3522 x5441 // manheim.com

AUTOMOTIVE SCHOOLS BCIT - School of Transportation Mubasher Faruki // 604-454-2234 // bcit.ca/transportation

Georgian College (Automotive Business School of Canada) Joe Lauzon // 705-728-1968 x1234 // georgiancollege.ca

Michael Mason & Co. Steve Batchelor // 250-384-7304 // michaelmason.ca

PAYMENT PROCESSING, MERCHANT SERVICES Moneris

Denise Buott // 905-815-9510 // iaautofinance.ca

iA Dealer Services

Brittney Page // 1-866-836-3375 // moneris.com

Vicki Yan // 604-882-8220 // iasal.ca

PRINT AND DESIGN SOLUTIONS

LGM Financial

Harv Craven Design

Amanda Tracey // 604-806-5300 // lgm.ca

Harv Craven // 604-308-2812 // harvcravendesign.com

National Bank Darren Kiley // 604-209-8957 // nbc.ca

PROPERTY SECURITY

CO-OPS

RBC Automotive Finance Group

Radius Security

Consolidated Dealers Co-Op

Eric Jensen // 604-656-2963 // rbc.com/canada.html

Mike Baxter // 604-232-2405 // radiussecurity.ca

Janette Tooley Andrade // 905-264-7022 // consolidateddealers.com

Scotiabank Western Dealer Finance Centre

Leader Auto Resources LAR Inc.

Bramin Karsanji // 604-644-1782 // scotiabank.com

RESEARCH AND SHOPPING WEBSITES

Bob Grewal // 778-773-1727 // larnet.com

Scotia Dealer Advantage

Shawn Vording // 866-835-8612 x2966 // carfax.ca

Western Dealers Co-Auto

John Hiscock // 416-288-7800 // scotiabank.com/scotiadealeradvantage

Mike Reid // 780-468-9552 // wdcoauto.com

TD Auto Finance

DMS PLATFORMS

Richard (Rick) Bessex // 778-628-7458 // TDFS.com

Tekion

HEALTH BENEFITS

Connor McCardle // 1-833-935-4662

Reynolds and Reynolds

INSURANCE SERVICES

John Caulfield // 519-319-2264 // reyrey.com

AllWest Insurance Services

Serti Information Solutions

Renee Nielly // 604-733-7383 // allwestins.com

Pascal Lafleche // 514-493-1909 // serti.com

HUB International Insurance Brokers

TELECOM Bell Mobility Cameron Gerrie // 289-442-3701 // Bell.ca/EPP

Neal O’Donoghue // 866-603-8666 // insuranceinsight.ca

Mario DeGrace // 403-629-2953 // sxmdealer.ca

Optiom

EV CHARGING SERVICES Matthew Watkiss // 604-340-6244 // flo.com

LEGAL SERVICES

Foreseeon

Clyde & Co Canada LLP

Julien Gagnon // 1-866-233-0247 // foreseeson-evse.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES

VEHICLE ALIGNMENT SYSTEMS Dan Martin // 780-340-3456 // hunter.com

Canadian Black Book

Matthew Wansink // 604-408-2022 // clydeco.ca

Dwain Samuels // 416-817-8444 // canadianblackbook.com

KSW Lawyers

Consultant Auto 360 Kim Normandin // 514-394-1955 x508 // solutionsmedias360.com

Michael J. Weiler // 604-336-7423 // ksw.bc.ca

BMO - Bank of Montreal

Snap-on

Hunter Engineering

Michelle Wong // 800-613-3705 // optiombc.com

FLO

TOOL SUPPLIER Ray Lavender // 416-662-9951 // snapon.com

Insurance Insight

Sirius XM Canada

Kijiji Autos

Randy Shepherd // 403-999-8854 // autotrader.ca

Wayne LeGear // 604-269-1944 // hubinternational.com

ENTERTAINMENT SOLUTIONS

Robert Karwel // 416-294-2790 // jdpower.com

Trader Corporation

Fab Biagini // 604-688-7208 // zlc.net

Greg Wallin // 778-838-0639 // cdkglobal.com

JD Power

Kristin Macintosh // 647-962-1510 // Kijiji.ca

ZLC Financial

CDK Global

CARFAX Canada ULC

Cox Automotive Canada

Bradley Warren // 604-417-0229 // bmo.com

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Calla Financial Services

Baker Tilly Dealer Acquisitions

Smart Program Inc.

Nick Calla // 604-921-4048 // callafinancial.ca

Peter Heasty // 416-368-7990 // bakertilly.com

Jerrod Lucas // 780-975-3412 // thesmartprogram.ca

New Car Dealers Association of BC

NCDA_BC

Jack Sulymka // 416-254-4037 // coxautoinc.ca

NewCarDealersAssoc

NCDA_BC

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CADA 360 IS DESIGNED TO HELP DEALERS IN EVERY WAY. CADA 360 products not only help with real dealer needs – proceeds from these products are used to fund lobbying and advocacy for our entire industry at both the provincial and federal level. When you buy CADA 360 it’s good for all of us.

CADA 360 Products include: • Employee Benefits • HR Automation • Garage Insurance • Group Home and Auto Insurance • Retirement Savings To find out more call 1-800-463-5289 or visit CADA.ca