Executives with the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association, one of its members, and the Global Automakers of Canada consider the re-election of Ontario Premier Doug Ford with a majority government last week a win for the province’s car dealers, motorists, and overall manufacturing.
TADA’s Director of Government Relations Frank Notte told Canadian auto dealer that Ford’s second consecutive term will allow him to continue some of the progressive initiatives he began in his first term and pledged to maintain if elected again.
“The TADA is pleased it’s another Ford majority government,” said Notte. “He’s been the biggest supporter of auto dealers we’ve ever seen and a minority Parliament would have likely caused world-class gridlock. By being re-elected, Premier Ford brings much certainty so we can continue on the path he’s created.”
Notte said Ford has focused on lowering the cost of vehicle ownership by promising to cut the gas tax, scrapping tolls on some highways and ending a program that required provincial drivers to submit their vehicles for emissions tests. He also is committed to building a new highway and connecting it to existing highways.
A key initiative Ford’s government put forward earlier this year was to invest $23.9 million in the Digital Dealership Registration program to allow eligible car dealerships to register new vehicles online and issue stock, including permits and licence plates. The move is intended to improve the consumer experience by removing layers of the registration process.
“We know they are going to re-introduce pretty much the same budget again, so that provides much certainty making sure that program becomes fully implemented,” said Notte. “The danger was if another party came to power they might have viewed it differently.”
Shahin Alizadeh, President/CEO of Downtown Automotive Group in Toronto, said Ford is probably the most “pro common sense” Premier the industry has ever had, by creating legislation that “cuts through the clutter.”
“I would endorse the TADA’s position wholeheartedly,” he said. “Doug Ford’s re-election is good for business generally, not just our business.”
David Adams, President of Global Automakers of Canada, said Ford’s re-election avoids the industry having to educate a new administration. He said the PCs have come to understand in the last four years the importance of the automotive sector provincially, and federally, by attracting foreign business.
“They recognized where the puck is going and to stay with the puck and not where it’s been,” he said. “I think they are working very well with the government in Ottawa to make sure we are doing things in a co-operative and complimentary way to attract foreign investment to Canada and to the province in a way that is streamlined as seamlessly as possible,” he said.
He said the one thing that will be helpful for the automotive industry is Ford reinstituting a financial rebate for purchasing EVs. He completely removed the incentives worth up to $14,000 from the previous government upon election in 2018, saying he won’t offer incentives to millionaires who want to buy EVs.
“I’ve heard the Premier say more than once he’ll let the people of Ontario decide the issue,” said Adams. “I think that’s something the Government has to take into serious consideration and also looking at the role EVs are going to play in their own climate change ambitions as well.”
