ACROSS CANADA REPORT: A Tax Bill the Aftermarket Actually Wants

There is finally some movement on the mechanics’ tool tax issue: Private Members Bill C-205, calling for amendments to Income Tax Act for this purpose, has passed second reading in the House of Commons.

The bill should have a good chance, considering that 113 MPs voted in favor of (including the Ministers of Finance, National Revenue, and Industry) and only 13 against sending the Bill to the Standing Committee on Finance.

AIA has been lobbying the government for a number of years on this issue of allowing mechanics to deduct expenses incurred for tools that they require on the job. AIA is committed to working with this committee so that the bill can go back to the House of Commons for third reading. This could happen this fall. I guess it’s a matter of keeping our fingers crossed.

Also good news for the Quebec Division related to their efforts to influence the government of that province to conduct mandatory inspections for emissions on heavy-duty vehicles. The province has agreed to a six-month pilot project that starts on July 15.

Cy Russell in Manitoba reports that Wilson Reid, who founded Wilson Auto Electric and who was also instrumental in establishing Fort Ignition as the retail/service side of the business, has passed away. He was 90 years of age. It was while working at Brown & Murray in his early 20s that Wilson thought of the value of rewinding armatures and rebuilding automotive electrical components on an exchange basis. He will be remembered for the impact he had on the automotive aftermarket and for his community service.

NOTES FROM AROUND

Doug Dawson in Northern Alberta reports that the division hosted a presentation on Interactive Distant Learning at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. It was a very successful event and about 100 wholesalers and installers attended. Doug says there is a lot of interest in the IDL system.

The Atlantic Division is well under way planning for its 33rd Annual Golf Tournament, according to Division chairman Paul Fahey. It will be held at the Moncton Golf and Country Club Friday, September 8. The day before the tournament, the division will host an IDL presentation. A barbeque/corn boil and Casino Night will be held Thursday evening. Proceeds will go to the Marion Roberts and Arthur Paulin Scholarship Funds and Christmas Daddies. Following the tournament on Friday the division will hold the Chairman’s Reception.

In other Atlantic news, the Uni-Select Distribution Centre in Moncton is up and running with 85,000 square feet of warehouse space.

AIA’s counterpart in the United States, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), has a new president. Gene Gardner has retired and has been replaced by Al Gasper. AAIA will be conducting its fall meetings in Toronto and a joint meeting between the two organizations has been scheduled.

Last but not least, AIA is striking a task force that will make recommendations for future AIA Shows to the AIA board of directors. The task force will have representation from all of the AIA sectoral councils.

Note: If you have any information to contribute to this column please call Bob Blans at (905) 844-8616, Fax (905) 844-8731, E-Mail to blans@ibm.net or write to Across Canada Report c/o Jobber News Magazine, 1450 Don Mills Rd., Don Mills, ON M3B 2X7. In addition to AIA Division activities we are interested in hearing from you about the opening of a new business, change of ownership, expansions etc.