Canadian Legislative Updates

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EcoCAR Challenge Winners Announced

The Government of Canada has offered its congratulations to the Canadian teams that participated in the 2010 EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge finals in San Diego, Calif. The Canadian teams included the University of Victoria, which placed fourth overall and won four awards; the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, which placed sixth overall and won two awards; and the University of Waterloo, which placed eighth overall and won one award.

Throughout the competition, engineering students from 16 universities across North America were challenged to re-engineer a General Motors-donated vehicle to minimize the vehicle's fuel consumption, petroleum use and emissions, all the while maintaining its utility, safety, and performance.

A combined total of $500,000 was contributed to the program over three years from Natural Resources Canada and Transport Canada. Last year, the University of Victoria placed second in the competition.

Reminder to NAFA Ontario Members: Motor Vehicle Dealers Act

NAFA Ontario Members are reminded that, as of January 1, 2010, changes to the regulations of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act will alter to whom formerly leased vehicles may be sold.

Specifically, under the new regulations, fleet lessors may only sell previously leased motor vehicles to the following persons or entities:

1. To the lessee.
2. To someone that drove the vehicle during the lease.
3. To an officer or director of the lessee, should the lessee be a corporation.
4. To a partner of the lessee, if the lessee is a partnership.
5. To a Motor Vehicle Dealer.

The act also allows for leased vehicles to be sold at auctions under certain circumstances.
 
NAFA members would be well served to consult the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council's website (www.omvic.on.ca), which has a useful series of backgrounders and information clips on the changes to regulations. Detailed questions can also be forwarded to NAFA's Canadian Legislative Office at (866) 935-9969 or by e-mailing Alana Fontaine at nafa@impactcanada.com.