AIA visits Ontario’s legislature

Ontario premier Dough ford, left, with AIA president J.F. Champagne.

Automotive aftermarket collision and repair members got their change to raise issues with Ontario’s leaders in Toronto recently.

The Automotive Industries Association of Canada was on Queen’s Park as part of its 2019 Ontario Advocacy Day.

The Association was joined by members from both the collision and repair sectors of the automotive aftermarket.

The day focused on exposing the industry to the government, which was elected last June. They raised issues around the industry’s importance and challenges such as the future of vehicle connectivity and telematics, the right to repair, and education and workforce development.

“Taking the automotive aftermarket’s message directly to politicians and policy makers through events like this is a vital part of AIA Canada’s mission,” said Jean-François Champagne, AIA Canada’s president. “The day was a resounding success. Especially well received was the messaging on access to vehicle data, since it touches on multiple issues such as jobs, consumer choice, innovation, and a fair and competitive marketplace.”

Formal meetings were held with more than a dozen members of provincial parliament across the three major political parties, senior policy advisors and parliamentary assistants from various ministries, including transportation, training, colleges and universities, labour and economic development.

Premier Doug Ford attended the luncheon reception as well as other ministers.