MINISTRY SERIOUS ABOUT VEHICLE BODY
REPAIR SHOP INITIATIVE IN ONTARIO

Over 100 inspectors attend day-long training program

Over 100 inspectors from the Central region of the Ontario Ministry of Labour attended a full day training session to update them on their planned autobody shop inspection blitz.

Ontario Ministry of Labour occupational health and safety inspectors and employment standards inspectors will conduct a sweep of about 800  vehicle body repair workplaces in York, Durham, and Peel regions, Dufferin and Simcoe counties and the City of Toronto.

Auto body, auto refinish and collision repair shops will be visited with a new type of inspection.

" The goal is to answer the complaints from our member shops that others around them are not meeting the same minimum standards and no "level-playing field" is evident and the reality that shops can not bear the multiple inspections from various ministries and would rather have one complete inspection , as long as their competitors received the same and then have the inspectors move on to other shops after confirming compliance" says John Norris, of the collision repair trade association.

This Ministry of Labour led initiative will also include an employment standards review, an environmental review (hazardous waste storage and does the facility have a current Certificate of Approval for their booth), and a review of the trades qualification of their production staff.

The Ministry has also listened to shops complaints and concerns and has:

-targeted shops based on telephone lists in the phone book, not who is WSIB registered

-started a training program to update their staff on specific features and activities at shops

-will be offering a series of workshops across the regions to bring support and help to shops that need assistance

-reviewed a plan to inspect "underground" facilities during evening and weekend hours

-reviewed a proposal for an in-depth inspection of mobile operators

A number of trade associations will be assisting in providing help and assistance to shops and the Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA) will be active in providing further assistance.

For more information, please contact your collision repair trade association at  1 866 309 4272 or info@ciia.com   More information is available on the industry help site at www.autobodyhelp.ca

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FORD OF CANADA NOW CANADIAN USER FRIENDLY

As a continuation of the co-operation that exists between the affiliate associations of the National Automotive Trades Association and the 19 car companies in Canada, Ford today advised that their parts and service web site is now available to Canadian service and repair shops.

Ford signed an agreement on September 29, with the association , at an Ottawa news conference that obligated Ford to make their service and repair information available across Canada and moved to ensure that happened within three days.

Car companies have until May 1, 2010 to make this information available , but many car makers already have done so and all will have made information, training and tools available by May 1, 2010.

A copy of the national voluntary agreement is available at www.ciia.com or www.natacanada.com

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NEW MASSIVE OPPORTUNITIES NOW OPEN FOR
COLLISION REPAIR SHOPS IN CANADA

OEM voluntary agreement now means shops can access information

On Tuesday September 29, 2009, the federal Industry Minister announced that the original equipment automakers and importers had signed an agreement with the aftermarket association representing the service and repair providers in automotive repair in Canada.

To shops that may sound very positive , but they are asking what this means for them.

With all 19 car makers and importers signing the agreement, all shops, association members or not, will be able to access all the information that previously only a car dealership possessed.  All information including the structural information, metal strengths, training and tools will be available. Your association has ensured a complaint resolution program is available that quickly can handle any inquiries, that a number of sub-committees are properly populated in order to address specific issues, and that new information is available in a timely fashion (when the dealer receives it) at a commercially available price and time frame.

"NO longer do shops face the spectre of having to turn more and more cars away or send partially completed cars to the dealership, unless they want to.  This means that shops can now concentrate on certain makes and models as their marketplace allows and do the work themselves.  Consumers will now have a choice on where to repair their vehicles, repair costs will decrease and insurance companies will get the claimant's vehicles on the road faster," said the collision repair association's John Norris, who worked on the agreement.

The agreement has been called a "living document" that can replace Bill C-273 or the "Right to Repair Act" currently waiting for federal Committee review.  The agreement can be modified to meet any future issues or technological changes.   The agreement can be accessed at www.natacanada.com

As cars require more electronics in repair needs and less "nuts and bolts", the need for information, training and tools to fix these cars becomes critical to the future survival of many shops.  Some manufacturers already had information available, but this agreement now covers all manufacturers and importers.

For more information , please contact your association at  1 866 309 4272 or info@ciia.com

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