2022 BC Budget adds more incentives for electric vehicles
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Official Suppliers
The NCDA helped lead a fundraising effort to ensure people and communities received necessary resources and support.
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The Government of BC is releasing its hydrogen strategy for how hydrogen will support its climate goals and create new jobs.
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Courtesy of WARDS Auto
The franchised car dealership system’s future is healthier than some skeptics say, according to Alex Vetter, CEO and president of Cars.com, a major online marketplace for selling and buying vehicles.
British Columbia has committed more money to getting its residents to choose new zero-emissions vehicles.
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NCDA’s News Release – Today’s provincial budget, which includes a significant commitment to further clean energy initiatives, will help ensure BC’s continued success in electric vehicle (EV) adoption – read it here.
Provincial Budget Overview
From the Province of BC – news releases and backgrounders are available here.
BC Chamber Commentary
In response to the BC Budget, the Chamber noted it relies heavily on the successful roll out of BC’s vaccination program and curbing transmission, which will enable businesses to open and stay open. See the release here.
On a post pandemic vision for recovery, see the Chamber’s Op-Ed in the Vancouver Sun: “Finance, tax and regulatory reform is needed and must support and encourage economic activity and growth instead of deterring it.”
Read more (click here)…
On the latest health orders and travel restrictions, see the Chamber’s news release supporting business amid new restrictions.
Read more (click here)…
The federal government’s first budget in two years proposes a new tax on luxury goods such as yachts, personal aircraft and cars. Read more details here.
Other budget highlights were announced including extending COVID-19 emergency benefits, EI reforms, foreign homeowners tax and more. Details here.
The pandemic has shown that Special Olympics BC’s year-round programs and empowering community matter now more so than ever. For many athletes with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics is the only place where they have friends, where they are active and healthy, where they are first and foremost seen for their abilities and talents. For many of them, the pain of exclusion was already far too familiar.
Now more so than ever, Special Olympics BC athletes need the support of our longtime friends in the New Car Dealers community. By supporting the 2021 New Car Dealers Foundation / Special Olympics BC Auction, you can have a lasting impact by helping Special Olympics BC reopen all of our sport and youth programs in 55 communities throughout our province. You’ll help renew all of the friendships and opportunities that matter so much to our athletes, who are still too often forgotten and left behind by society.
This year’s online auction will run May 27 to June 2, making a difference for Special Olympics BC and the life-changing work of the New Car Dealers Foundation. Please consider donating, bidding, and spreading the word about the auction and its opportunities to change lives.
To get involved, please go to www.specialolympicsauction.ca.
Courtesy of BC Government News
Drivers are reminded that winter tire regulations remain in place until April 30, 2021, on many highways to account for early spring snowfall.
Winter tire regulations are in effect for most B.C. highways, so people should ensure their vehicle is equipped with tires with the mountain/snowflake or mud and snow (M + S) symbol when travelling on designated routes.
Tires must be in good condition and have a minimum tread depth of 3.5 millimetres. For rural highways and mountain passes, tires with the mountain/snowflake symbol provide the best traction and handling.
Two years ago, regulations were extended to April 30 from March 31 on select highways, most of which are in the Interior and northern parts of the province. Road conditions can change quickly, and snowfall is still possible in these regions.
With Highlights from Canadian auto dealer
The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) made their first foray into the world of online events with this year’s annual CADA Summit, which took place on Feb. 3, 2021. Read more about the event here.
It was a jam-packed agenda that featured a mix of pre-recorded presentations, videos, some live sessions, and live questions and answers with some of the presenters. The event kicked off live with opening remarks from Michael McGhee, Senior Vice-President and Head of TD Auto Finance Canada — the event’s exclusive sponsor.
CADA Chairman Trevor Boquist offered some remarks and introduced a provincial roll call featuring video greetings from provincial dealer association leaders from coast-to-coast. This added some levity and a sense of community at a time most attendees were likely watching from their homes, or from businesses operating amid a lockdown.
Tim Reuss, CADA President and CEO thanked TD Auto Finance for its sponsorship, and kicked off the day’s events by giving a preview of the lineup.
Guest speakers included:
- Stephen Poloz, former Governor of the Bank of Canada
- Dennis DesRosiers, President, DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC)
- Jerry Dias, National President, Unifor
- Flavio Volpe, President, Auto Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA).
- Political and social commentator David Frum
During the CADA Summit, the Dealer Satisfaction Index Survey (DSI) award winners were also announced.
More details will be provided in the March issue of Canadian auto dealer.
Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economy Recovery and Innovation, issued the following statement on the release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey for January 2021:
British Columbia was able to create 2,800 jobs in January, according to the latest Labour Force Survey. We’re also seeing the positive trend toward full-time employment continue.”
“Since the economic low point of the pandemic in April, B.C. has seen nine consecutive months of job growth, bringing employment levels to more than 98% of pre-pandemic levels.
Federal Government Health Updates
783,589 confirmed cases to date in Canada and 20,136 deaths.
Total recovered: 711,708 (91%).
What’s happening in Canada and around the world today? Read here.
New updates on vaccines for Canada announced today and support for the first COVID-19 vaccine to be produced in Canada – read here.
BC Public Health Updates
New cases reported today: 429. Of these cases:
- 112 are in Vancouver Coastal Health
- 202 in Fraser Health
- 27 in Island Health
- 51 in Interior Health
- 35 in Northern Health
Total cases in BC who have tested positive to date: 68,366.
Hospitalizations and deaths: 294 are hospitalized and 82 are in ICU due to COVID-19.
- 8 new deaths to report today. Total to date: 1,218.
- 61,129 people with COVID-19 have fully recovered (89%)
State of Emergency
BC extends its state of emergency to Feb. 16, 2021. Read more here.
BC Vaccine Roll-out
- To date, 140,452 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 5,097 of which are second doses.
What’s happening today in BC regarding COVID-19?
Other resources and updates regarding BC’s COVID-19 response – visit here.
