Marc Bourassa, Chairman, Canadian Automobile Dealers Association
When he finishes his term next year, CADA Chairman Marc Bourassa will become the longest serving Chairman in the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association’s 75-year history.
That’s because he stepped up to the plate from his role as First Vice-Chairman to take on the Chairman’s role a few months earlier in the usual one-year term. Bourassa replaces outgoing CADA Chairman Harry Mertin, who retired.
“I’d like to thank Harry Mertin for his contribution to the association. He’s done a great job on the executive committee,” said CADA President and CEO John White in an interview with Canadian auto dealer. “May he enjoy a long, prosperous and healthy retirement.”
White said he looks forward to working with Bourassa. “I’m excited to have Marc coming in as acting Chairman” said White. “He’s a great thinker and has a balanced approach to business. He’s open minded and has contributed nicely in his years to CADA.”
In an interview with Canadian auto dealer, Marc Bourassa also thanked Mertin for his valued service to the association and dealers. “I have been working with Harry Mertin at CADA. That guy is an amazing leader. I have learned so much from him,” says Bourassa. “Thank you Harry. I hope life will be great for you — you deserve it.”
Bourassa, whose father opened a Pontiac store in 1972, said he always knew he’d end up in the auto business. He first earned a degree in mechanical engineering, then spent 20 years working with his family’s dealerships in a variety of roles.
In 2008, he then ventured out on his own and now runs two successful Montreal-area dealerships, BMW West-Island and Cadillac of Laval.
Vehicle recall legislation
In the interview, Bourassa discussed several of the big files the association is working on in the coming months, including the new proposed federal vehicle recall legislation: the Strengthening Motor Vehicle Safety for Canadians Act that was introduced by the Senate in May.
“This is a big file for us,” said Bourassa. “We want to make sure that any new Canadian recall legislation won’t impact dealers.”
Bourassa said the current legislation does not appear to place any added burden on dealers, and they want to ensure the liability remains with the manufacturers. “CADA is on the case and we will follow that file very closely,” he said.
Bank Act Reform
CADA is also sticking by its guns on its position on keeping banks out of the automotive leasing business, and will lobby against any changes to the federal Bank Act. “We did a survey among our dealers,” said Bourassa. “More than 95 per cent of dealers said it was the status quo and didn’t want anything to change.”
The association doesn’t want dealers to be competing for customers with their main financing partners. CADA has lobbied before against changing the Bank Act and it will be up for review again in 2019.
CADA 360 Services
Bourassa is also a big fan of CADA 360 services, which include employee benefit plans, a garage insurance program, home and auto insurance, retirement savings plans and employee incentive programs.
Bourassa said the program’s renewal rate of more than 90 per cent shows he’s not the only dealer happy with CADA 360. “I would like to say thank you to all dealers who use CADA 360,” he said.
Bourassa was effusive in his praise for the people working for CADA. “We have an amazing group of people working hard for Canadian dealers,” he said, adding that apart from the dealers who serve in various roles, the senior management team are top notch, including its new leader CADA President and CEO John White. “John is amazing,” said Bourassa, adding that replacing Rick Gauthier, who retired from the position, was a tough task. “He was the best replacement we can find and we are so pleased with him.”
With lots of issues on his plate and more on the horizon, it looks like Bourassa will need all the extra time his Chairmanship will provide him.
