Your Monthly Minute from the Automotive Industries Association of Canada for November 2016

Voulez-vous recevoir ce courriel en français? Faites partie de notre liste d'envoi française.

Your Monthly Minute

November 2016

Dear AIA members and supporters,

Knowledge is POWER. Through the AIA Monthly Minute, important industry information is at your fingertips. Feel free to pass it along to others in your network, and most importantly, enjoy the content that is developed with you in mind.

Mapping Out the Labour Market in Our Industry

The aftermarket automotive industry faces challenges with accessing current, timely and practical data about the supply and demand of labour in the industry.

The advancement of technology increases the complexity of our vehicles, and in turn the skills and talent required in the industry are changing. AIA recognizes the importance of having access to useful and timely labour market information to support these changes, so we're embarking on a project to develop an online tool that will track labour in the industry.

The online tool will provide a significant impact for the industry as it will:

Identify the availability of workers in the industry by region and occupation;
Improve the connection of people and jobs;
Support the development of educational programs;
Allow the industry to anticipate future labour shortages;
Determine the skills needed to meet the growing changes in the industry as a result of technological automotive vehicles.

Call for Participants!

This project, formally known as Aftermarket Labour Market Intelligence (ALMI), will consist of two (2) core phases, with the final product expected to launch in early 2018. Here's how you can get involved in the development of this tool that will be essential for industry employees and employers, job seekers, and students!

Phase #1:

Survey: Help us identify the human resources challenges in your workplace
Focus groups: Come chat about the initial findings
Interviews: Talk to us about your HR Challenges

Phase #2:

Participate in the user-testing workshops of the online tool

Please contact Nermin Ibrahim, ALMI Project Coordinator, to get involved:

Tel: 613.728.5821 ext.239

Email: [email protected]

Is the Access to OE Repair Information Working?

In 2009, the Automotive Industries Association was a signatory on what was a historic agreement for the aftermarket industry in Canada. The Canadian Automotive Service Information Standard (CASIS) came into effect six years ago after many years of lobbying and hard work by many industry stakeholders. The agreement ensures that the automotive aftermarket has equal access to OE repair information, allowing service and repair shops to fix vehicles and conduct 'flashes' or updates. Six years later, the agreement remains unchanged. Recently, AIA conducted an informal survey of a few repair shops asking them about their knowledge of the agreement and their use of the OE repair sites. The results of this tell us that there may be gaps in information on the agreement or that there may be barriers to accessing the information on the OE sites.

This is where we need your help. In 2017, the AIA is launching an online survey and we want to hear from you!

We want to understand what works or does not work for you as a service provider when you have a vehicle in your shop that requires a reprogramming or update. Your feedback will allow us to make recommendations to the CASIS Task Force, a group that includes the 4 agreement signatories. Otherwise, the agreement will stand as is.

As new technologies continue to emerge it is very important for the industry to understand our current abilities to service traditional vehicles. The survey results from this project will also tell us what we need to do as an industry to prepare for the future.

Stay tuned for your invitation to participate in the survey!

To get involved or to learn more about this project, please contact Chanel Ghazzawi, Research & Policy Manager: [email protected] .

What is E-tailing in the Automotive Aftermarket and Why You Should Care?

Few can resist the urge of shopping from the comfort of their home - be it shoes or vehicle parts and fluids. But you have invested in a store front and hired a knowledgeable salesperson who can talk about five different brands of brake pads before pausing for breath! So how does e-tailing affect your business? It is after all one of the fastest growing retail sectors in the automotive aftermarket.

AIA Canada's soon-to-be-released report 'Consumer Behaviour Series: e-Tailing Report' takes a closer look at this channel, providing insights into the minds of 2000 Canadian car-owners.

Join our mailing list to be the first one to know when the report comes out.

Grab Your Copy!

To download or purchase your copy, click here.

NEW: AWAKE Mentorship Program!

Are you in a new job or just starting out your career in the automotive aftermarket? Or are you looking for someone to bounce ideas off? Or maybe you are looking to learn more about improving your skills on the job? Or perhaps, you are an experienced professional looking to give back to the industry?

If you said yes to any of these questions , AIA Canada's AWAKE (Advancing Women in Automotive Knowledge Exchange) mentorship program is what you are looking for.

Want to find out more about being a mentor, mentee or just how you can help with this project? Contact Luciana Nechita, Director of Public Affairs for details.

Upcoming Division Chairs Meeting

AIA Division chairs will be meeting in Ottawa on November 23 and 24 at the AIA National Office. Items to be discussed at this meeting include the planning of regional events in 2017, the High Fives for Kids Foundation, membership recruitment and retention, a review of new research, and programs and services that are available to AIA members.

Canada Night a Huge Success During Industry Week


	Winner of the 50/50 Draw Kaya Pierre, Ottawa ON

AIA was at Industry Week in Las Vegas to meet with members, sponsors and stakeholders. President Jean-François Champagne participated in a meeting with his US and Mexico counterparts to discuss bilateral initiatives, and Senior Director France Daviault met with various US stakeholders and service providers to discuss potential new programs in Canada.

Once again, Canada Night was a huge success with over 1,100 guests attending the sought after event! During this year's Canada Night $800 was raised for the High Fives For Kids Foundation through a 50/50 draw.

AIA Canada Reinstates the Automotive Service Provider Council

AIA Canada is pleased to announce the reinstatement of the Automotive Service Provider Council. The new ASP Council's mandate is to bring together the automotive service and repair sector with the aftermarket parts manufacturing, distribution and retail networks to develop inclusive and comprehensive strategies to address industry concerns such as skilled labour, emerging technologies, public image, and market trends.

Current members include representation from provincial automotive associations, warehouse distributors, manufacturers, and major retailers. Ensuring that there is regional representation from automotive service providers participating in the Council is the first priority for this group. Once all recommended automotive service providers have been contacted to confirm their participation, a Chair will be elected from this sector of the industry.

Changes to the AIA Quebec Division Committee Announced!

AIA Canada is pleased to announce that as of October 25 André Latreille has taken on the role of chair for the AIA Quebec Division.

Mr. Latreille joined NAPA in 2010 and presently serves as the regional manager of its Dedicated Sales Force in Quebec. Previously, he worked for 15 years for Ultramar where he developed marketing and sales programs aimed at motorists.

Fluently bilingual, André is a professional manager with many outstanding accomplishments in the sales, marketing and business development fields. Throughout his career, he has contributed to the success of companies such as Sergaz, Couche-Tard and Texaco, drawing on his strategic business acumen, his staff management capabilities and his knowledge of sales.

He has been a member of the AIA Quebec Division executive committee since 2011 and was its first vice-chairman from 2014 to 2016.

Congratulations and thank you to André on your new role with the AIA Quebec Division.

Thank You Bernard!

AIA Canada would also like to take this opportunity to thank Bernard Lefebvre, the Division's outgoing chair, for the countless hours and his relentless commitment to the Division and AIA Canada. We are happy to share that moving forward, Mr. Lefebvre will be staying on as a member of the Division's executive.

Southern Alberta Division Makes Donation to Veteran's Food Bank

Members from the Southern Alberta Division (Glynn Jones, Continental ContiTech; Ron Kolody, Uni-Select Canada; and Frank Hutchins, Grand Prix Automotive Distribution Inc.) presented a cheque for $4,000 to the Veteran's Food Bank in Calgary, Alberta. The monies raised were from the Division's charity golf tournament this past September. Up until two weeks ago the food bank's shelves were bare until the local media picked up on their story. Since then they have had a tremendous response and their shelves are now full, and they have had enough cash donations, which should get them into the New Year.

If you'd like to learn more about the Veteran's Food Bank or the Calgary Poppy Fund contact [email protected] or call 1-403-265-6304.

Road Safety Advancements to Increase Rear Visibility for Drivers


Photo by ShashiBellamkonda / CCBY 2.0

Following a similar requirement made in the United States in 2014, Transport Canada recently announced the requirement for all light vehicles manufactured after May 2018, including passenger cars, light trucks, three-wheels, small vans, and buses to be equipped with rear view cameras.

For more information, visit Transport Canada.

AIA Canada Expresses Concern for Bill 203

AIA Canada recently submitted a letter to Alberta's Standing Committee on Families and Communities regarding Bill 203, Fair Trading (Motor Vehicle Repair Pricing Protection for Consumers) Amendment Act expressing concern that there are numerous elements of the Bill that require significant amendments for industry growth and prosperity to be achieved.

AIA Canada expressed in its letter that the Bill, as written, would lead to serious misinterpretations, costly administration for businesses, and unintended economic impacts. We believe that more stakeholder consultations need to occur.

To read the full letter, click here.

Zero Emissions Vehicle Standard Adopted in Quebec

Bill 104, an Act to increase the number of zero-emission motor vehicles in Québec in order to reduce greenhouse gas and other pollutant emissions, was unanimously adopted by the Quebec National Assembly on October 26, 2016. Automakers that sell or lease more than 4,500 new vehicles per year on average across all models will be required to meet a zero-emission vehicle sales target.

For more information on Bill 104, click here.

Recent News on the Asbestos Ban

Recent news shows that despite the promise to ban the use of asbestos in Canada, progress has not been made to do so, continuing the damaging effects to labour groups and families affected by asbestos.

AIA Canada wishes that the progress to ban asbestos is expedited in order to prevent the import of automotive parts containing asbestos. Earlier this year, AIA Canada joined the many voices calling for a ban on the import of automotive parts that contain asbestos, a known killer that causes diseases, suffering and death - all of it preventable. Worker safety is a priority for our members and it is our position that the automotive industry should strive towards an asbestos-free industry.

More than 2,000 people die every year in Canada from diseases caused by exposure to asbestos and exposure to asbestos is the number one cause of occupational death in Canada.

Movement to Phase-out Lead Wheel Weights

In 2014, public consultations on proposed options to phase-out lead wheel weights in the Canadian market were brought forward. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has selected a proposed risk management instrument as a by-product to these public consultations. As a result, a report outlining the proposed instrument will be shared with stakeholders for comment in winter 2017.

ICYMI

Arthur Paulin Scholarship Promotes Careers in the Automotive Field

AIA Canada recognizes Arthur Paulin who served on the AIA Board of Directors for more than nine years along with Presidency of AIA for two terms. Arthur was a strong supporter of education and with this in mind, AIA believes that its support in assisting future members of the automotive industry through scholarship is an ideal way to honour Arthur Paulin.

The Arthur Paulin Automotive Scholarship Award provides monetary assistance to deserving students who wish to further their education in the automotive field and applications are now being accepted.

Deadline: November 30, 2016

Click here to download and complete the application form.