On September 21, at the request of the Economic and Social Development's Commissioner for Employers, France Daviault, Senior Director of Stakeholder Relations for AIA Canada, presented on the challenges and opportunities of apprenticeship in the automotive to the Labour Minister, her staff, and organizations that are part of the Employer and Employee forums at ESDC. To prepare for the meeting, Daviault held an Industry Cluster call to identify the main points to be relayed to the Minister. An invitation to participate in the call was sent to various stakeholders and, as a result, 13 participants from both collision and mechanical provided insights and feedback. 

This event was significant to AIA Canada as the national lobbying body for the aftermarket for two reasons: it proved that AIA is seen as the go-to resource for governments on issues that impact the automotive sector, and it also highlighted AIA's new approach to government relations - one that pulls together members and stakeholders to participate in a focused, issue-based conversation that informs, comments and positions with government.  

The new technologies looming in the automotive industry will create massive change - probably the biggest in its history since Karl Benz first developed the three-wheeled horseless carriage over 130 years ago. The core of this change centers on the convergence of four new technologies: Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric - CASE platform. Users will be able to access their mobility cheaply through pay-as-you-go systems and not ever have to worry about their vehicle again.

How will these technological changes affect the automotive aftermarket industry in Canada? What is the timeline? Most importantly, what can the industry do to take advantage of opportunities and avoid any pitfalls?

 

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Should OEMs be obligated to issue a notice of a defect OR be obligated to fix a defect on their dime? Proposed legislation seeks to widen OEM responsibility.

Read about it here.

Interested in learning more about government relations at AIA? Are there issues happening in your region that impact the aftermarket that we should know about? 

Reach out to Erin Chreptyk at erin.chreptyk@aiacanada.com  or follow GR at AIA on Twitter at  @AIAOFCANADAGR . 

AIA Canada is pleased to present the first recipients of the 2017 University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UofAF) Scholarship Award:

Nathan Chun Kit Siu - Carleton University
David Warnez Woolridge - University of Windsor
Gregory Gordon Maki - Superior SVI High School
Ashton Joel Buller - University of Alberta
Emily Marian Shibata - University of British Columbia
Alexander L.E. Tatti - UBC Allard School of Law
Kevin Zhang - McMaster University

The I-CAR requirement for annual collision technician training is 6 'credit hours.' Other recognition and certification programs are in the same ballpark. This is a prescription that has worked well for decades, as major technological changes (unibody construction, all-wheel drive, fuel injection) have come along with a respectful pace and allowed the repairer community plenty of time to react. However, the whirlwind release of hybrids, new metals, plastics and composites, active braking, sonar and radar etc. is at last, driving recognition that technicians need training, training and more training.  

This article reveals the OE perspective.