As it currently stands in Canada, right hand drive vehicles (RHD) are allowed to be imported so long as they are 15 years old or older. I’m not quite sure why newer RHD vehicles aren’t allowed, but they aren’t. It has something to cars 15 years old or older being considered antiques and thus, they are considered rare. Therefore, it is unlikely that they will be driven very much, so any environmental or safety concerns are negated.
Anyway, the Canadian Automobile Dealer Association is lobbying the federal government to essentially ban RHD vehicles indefinitely. What do they have against RHD vehicles? Well according to their press release:
“The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), which represents over 3,300 dealers nationwide, is calling on the federal government to close a regulatory loophole that allows thousands of dirty and unsafe right hand drive (RHD) vehicles into Canada every year.”
Wait, what? Dirty and unsafe? That’s a little presumptious isn’t it? Besides, there are PLENTY of dirty and unsafe cars around in Canada anyway. In fact, name mostly any 15 year old model from any domestic car company and I guarantee you they are just as dirty and unsafe. 1995 Dodge Neon anyone?
This is obviously just a case of a special interest group (and yes they are an interest group) protecting their interests at the expense of another market. Obviously preventing more used cars from being sold or imported gives NEW car dealers more of an advantage.
Let’s just hope Harper and his band of fools are smart enough to realize this as well.
[Canadian Automobile Dealer Association]