National Automotive Trades Association of Canada Unites Regional Groups

In a precedent-setting meeting on October 15th, mechanical and collision repair trade associations from across the country met to rejuvenate the National Automotive Trades Association of Canada (NATA). Executive Vice-President of NATA, John Scissons of the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers, (SAAR) welcomed guests to Regina, where NATA delegates have not been for over 10 years.

“This is a fitting location to again ramp up enthusiasm for a national voice for repairers and their provincial and regional associations. We can now emphasize the needs and concerns of repair associations and their members from coast to coast”, said Mr. Scissons.

NATA is a federally chartered 58-year old organization, with current representation on the Board of the Canadian Automotive Repair and Service Council (CARS), along with the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association (CVMA), the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada (AIAMC), the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) and the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA).

CARS President Dan Bell commented, “The National Automotive Trades Association was one of the founding board members of the CARS Council, and has been a very important voice for the independent repair sector over the years. As the repair and service industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, it is important for networks, such as NATA, to exist to coordinate the efforts of its members. CARS would like to congratulate NATA on its growing membership and wishes the organization much continued success in the years ahead.”

The National Automotive Trades Association of Canada currently represents:

* Automotive Retailers Association of British Columbia (ARA)

* Automotive Service and Repair Association of Alberta (ASRA)

* Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR)

* Automotive Trades Association of Manitoba (ATA)

* Hamilton district Autobody Repair Association (HARA)

* Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO)

* Collision Repair Association of Nova Scotia (CRANS)

NATA President is British Columbia’s Rob Lang; NATA Executive Vice-President is John Scissons from Saskatchewan; NATA Secretary/Treasurer is Bill Burkimsher of Ontario.