Despite the pandemic, the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) wrapped up what it considers to be a productive year of advocacy efforts at Queen’s Park, with wins in areas such as cutting red tape, lowering the cost of doing business, and eliminating the College of Trades.
“The TADA has been successful in getting results to cut red tape, lowering the cost of doing business and promoting the skilled trades to find the next generation of auto technicians,” said Frank Notte, Director of Government Relations for TADA, adding “These policy changes are long overdue and will position auto retail to emerge stronger following the pandemic.”
A major milestone for 2020 and a longtime priority of TADA was the elimination of the College of Trades, which the association said has done little to promote the trades. The creation of a Skilled Trades Panel to advise on the replacement of the Ontario College of Trades will offer a new approach when it comes to providing services — such as compliance with compulsory training and certification requirements, among other things.
“Ontario’s new car dealers are thrilled Minister Monte McNaughton is moving Ontario past the College of Trades,” said Notte. “Minister McNaughton has done more in the past year to support the trades than the entire College of Trades has since opening its doors in 2013.”
The TADA can also count the Grant for Apprentice Learning (a $5.8 million commitment) as one of their achievements to Ontario dealers. It is meant to support people that are ineligible for Employment Insurance (EI) while attending in-class training. And there is $2.5 million for 2020 and $7.5 million for 2021 going towards the launch of the new non-repayable Tools Grant.
Dealers in the province can also expect more cutting of red tape, such as the clarification that New Vehicle Information Statements (NVIS) can be used in place of valid registration when a vehicle with dealer plates is on the road — helping to reduce the administrative burden and costs associated with this step for businesses and courts.
“Ontario proposes to permit people to drive motor vehicles with dealer plates without a registration permit when purchased at auction,” said the TADA. “Making it easier for people to buy and sell vehicles at auction would create new opportunities for small businesses and reduce the administrative burdens on business and customers.”
Ontario is also proposing to allow the use of a dealer plate on a light duty commercial vehicle for private use, with goods. This can mean a pickup truck displaying a dealer plate and carrying goods of a personal nature.
The TADA also said the 2020 Ontario Budget reflected advice during pre-budget consultations to lower or freeze the cost of doing business for automotive retailers. This includes “reducing property taxes on job creators and levelling the playing field by lowering high Business Education Tax (BET) rates for over 200,000 employers, or 94 per cent of all business properties in Ontario, to a rate of 0.88 per cent,” according to TADA.
The move is creating $450 million in immediate annual savings, and it represents a reduction of 30 per cent for many businesses currently subject to the highest BET rate in Ontario.
Other wins include making permanent the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption increase from $490,000 to $1 million, and the announcement by the government that WSIB rates for 2021 will remain frozen at the 2020 rate.
