Dear Mr. Coons,

As  we are all aware, current legislation does not permit the importation of vehicles less than 15 years old from countries other than the USA.   From an objective point of view, there can only be 3 possible reasons for such restrictions:

1). To protect the safety of Canadian persons.

2).  To protect the security of Canadian jobs.

How ironic it is that we recently witnessed our own Prime Minister over in Europe commemorating the 90th anniversary of the assault on Vimy Ridge - just one of the many battles over several wars where decent Canadian men paid the ultimate sacrifice to fight tyranny.

Yet here we are 90 years later, in many ways far less “free” than we were a century ago, living in a society where law-abiding citizens are still subject to the whims and petty antics of an unrestrained, self-serving bureaucracy. A bureaucracy so firmly convinced that without their protection, we would simply be incapable of making responsible decisions about our own lives, even down to deciding what kind of vehicle to drive.

Make no mistake - we’re not talking here about hordes of maniacs racing through the streets on grossly over-powered for the weight, inherently unstable vehicles without basic safety equipment such as seat belts, windshield wipers, bumpers, etc. No, the Hells Angels have no reason to fear loss of their favorite mounts – motorcycles – because the powers that be are fine with that.

What we honest, law-abiding citizens have done to incur the wrath of the regulators is chose to drive and own a range of fun, unique, enjoyable and well-built vehicles from that bastion of great manufacturing prowess – Japan. And we all know what Detroit would have us driving if it hadn’t been for the Japanese, right? “How many tailfins will that be with your Corvair, sir?”

In 1986, Transport Canada decided that it would not be a crime against humanity if hobbyists and enthusiasts were allowed import specialty vehicles for their automotive driving pleasure. After all, with so many people enamored by the variety of shapes and purposes for which vehicles are made, who would mind? Fast forward 21 years or so later, and again people are re-discovering the cool styling and features of cars from a previous generation. The only thing that has changed is that these cars are much better built, coming from Japan as it were, when compared to the early 70’s stuff from Detroit.

Now, most people would tell you that it’s better to have a well-built car than something of lesser construction. And yet, here we are being told by Transport Canada that we must arrest this trend of nostalgic admiration of bygone years for exactly that reason – the cars are too good! That’s right – as unbelievable as it may seem, our protectors have determined that there really can be too much of a good thing – that too many old cars are a threat to public safety. Right.

And if you find that bit of reasoning a bit hard to comprehend, fasten your seatbelt because the twists and turns of the Government’s argument get even more bizarre. As a remedy for “too many, too good old cars” they have proposed increasing the age of exemption for importing used vehicles from Japan and Germany from 15 to 25 years. You read that right – in Transport Canada’s pretzel logical way of thinking, its safer to have more 25 year-old vehicles on the road than “too good” 15-year old vehicles. Go figure.

Consequently, this being 2007, if the bureaucrats idea to amend the rule allowing individuals to import 15-year old vehicles were amended to only allowing 25-year old vehicles in, the newest vehicle you could import from Japan or Germany would be 1982. Or in other words, you would no longer be allowed to import a 1986 Mercedes as intended you should be able to 15 years hence when the law was originally written. And this, simply because the cars are too good?

When I think back to how those brave young men gave their lives so that we could be free of tyranny, how could they have know the biggest threat to our freedoms would come not from the Kaiser of Germany, but rather, one of a homegrown variety.

WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG, BAD GHOST?

Common wisdom holds that people fear things they don’t know or don’t understand. Take change, for example: When change is thrust upon us and the outcomes are uncertain, we tend to fear the worst.

Now, a lot of people I’ve been talking to have been wondering who, exactly, is so afraid of these cute, economical, reliable pre-loved imported vehicles that they want them banned? Many theories abound, from al Queda trying to undermine our economy to Jimmy wanting to limit competition. Only one thing certain here is that SOMETHING BIG is going on behind the scenes that nobody wants to come clean on.

Personally, I’ve kind of narrowed it down to a few likely of culprits:

1. Those poor, over-worked civil servants who just can’t stand the thought of someone else making a buck while it’s the superannuated bunch who have all the real work to do. (If you think that I’m kidding, just remember - they who can’t get laid off already have jobs for life and pensions that last even longer). This could well acccount for the pettiness of their efforts to barricade enthusiasts and those who bring these delightful, foreign vehicles in for them.

2. A more likely scenario, however, is the official effort to cut off the supply of imported vehicles is part of a much larger plot to integrate North America’s economic and security ties. In short, since the USA has a 25-year rule, we must have a 25-year rule. Yes, Virginia, this whole cluster could be something as simple as plain old hegemony. And I’m not even xenophobic!

There’s just one problem with this latter scenario: Even though Canada produces far more energy per capita than the US, thanks to the miracle of higher income and sales taxes, we pay approximately double the price per litre than our American cousins.

How’s that you say? Well, gas costs approx. 35% less per litre after converting from gallons to litresand converting from US Dollars to Canabucks. Add to that the fact that we pay on average 15% higher income taxes, and before you can say George’s Bushed, you’re paying twice as much pre-tax income for the same unit of motion lotion.

That’s right, folks: It’s our oil, but we get to pay more for it in our essential needs such as transportation. Kind of makes you proud, doesn’t it? After all, it’s the Canadian way.

The solution is quite simple: For gawd sakes, WRITE PHONE CALL your MP and tell him/her/it that since you have to pay world prices for energy, you want world choices for your vehicle needs. Please, don’t be afraid of the Big Bad Government Ghost! Let them know who’s actually paying the bills, and who’s really the employee!

Japanoids in the news

Kudo’s to David Jubb of The Japanoid Auto Store in New Westminster, BC. David managed to steal the airwaves with a feature on CTV highlighting these exciting, economical cars from Japan. If you didn’t have the opportunity to see him on the news, check it out on the link below. Apparently, response to the news item has been so impressive, CTV wants to follow the story as it evolves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpXqaPr7mnI&mode=related&search=

Few aspects of life are as impactful as our mobility. Transportation, as a need, is right up there at the top of the list of other essentials such as Food, Water, Air, Clothing, Shelter and Communications. Without mobility, getting to work, school or the grocery store makes life considerably more difficult. Mobility can take many forms including walking, biking, buses, trains and planes.

For day-to-day living, however, the automobile has become an indespensible tool. It allows us to maximize our personal productivity, under a wider range of conditions, in a way that no other method of mobility can. Because there are so many ways for each of us to live, an entire range of vehicles have evolved. This allow us to optimize the vehicle experience to best meet each of our individual needs.

In much the same way freely determining people harbour the right to choose the foods, clothing and music they listen to, we prefer the opportunity to select the vehicle type which most closely approximates our needs and budgets. Contrary to what the unelected intelligentsia would have us all believe, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having freedom of choice when it comes to selecting a vechicle. Just as we would all expect to have freedom of choice in what we read, say, think, eat and wear.

Many factors enter into the equation when selecting a vechicle. Obviously cost is a big factor, but so is size, fuel economy, safety, color and design. Sometimes a vehicle is selected based on the ability to perform a specific task, or group of tasks. Other times the detemining criteria may be handling or ride. And, yes, often a vehicle purchase can be a fashion statement.

People the world over love vehicles for many reasons. For one thing the modern automobile, with it’s incredible technology accomplishments delivered at a price the average worker can afford, represents a crowning acheivement of the post-industrial era. This kind of accomplishment is both noteworthy and admirable. Quite possibly, however, the biggest reason people love their vechicle so much is the feeling of empowerment they receive.

Being able to go where one wants, when one wants, the way one wants, has become so endemic to the human condition that we’ll never be the same. Oh, sure, public transit is fine if you need to go from A to B and it just so happens that there is a bus or train going there at the same time anyways. But, if you need to go to a different place or a different time than the few who are able to adjust their lives to conform, the sense of loss is just too great a price for most people to pay.

That’s why personal automotive transportation is here to stay. The vast range of individual mission requirements, and the high cost to personal productivity, means that vehicle manufacturers are going to be forced to provide us with greater, rather than fewer transportation choices.

Therfore, CAVI has been formed to work on behalf of importers who are striving to meet the vehicle needs of Canadians that domestic suppliers have overlooked. By ensuring that we, who face world prices for energy, have a world of vechicle choices available to us, our opportunities to individualize their transportation experience and enhance personal productivity are increased.