RVDA of Canada Update
A Special Report from Eleonore Hamm, RVDA of Canada.
The RVDA of Canada held its last board meeting on July 14, 2022 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. This year, we included a strategic planning session in conjunction with the board meeting. This is a very important event for us as the planning session enabled the national board to develop strategic objectives to carry our association forward for the next few years. Input from the respective stakeholders was also sought and will ensure that we are truly addressing our members/dealers needs.
Our revised goals are listed below:
Advocacy:
The RVDA of Canada is actively consulted in industry policy, political, and public matters, and is proactive in advocating policy that is in the common interest of RV Dealers across Canada.
Education:
The RVDA of Canada facilitates a variety of training, recruitment, and educational programs covering all areas of an RV Dealership for RV Dealers across Canada.
Engagement:
The RVDA of Canada has the necessary resources to provide expertise relevant to the RV industry to encourage the participation of all RV Dealers across the country.
Member Services, Benefits & Research:
The RVDA of Canada provides services and benefits to assist RV Dealers through access to endorsed cost-saving programs and by providing RV Dealers with resources relevant to their business activities including authoritative RV retail industry research.
Association Excellence & Collaboration:
The RVDA of Canada is a relevant national organization which continues to develop and revise its policies and procedures, advance its organizational structure and capacity, increase its resources to meet its changing needs, and work with the RV manufacturers and other groups in the RV industry on identified issues of common concern.
The RVDA of Canada Board will be holding its next meeting on November 7, 2022.
Government Relations
Update on the Luxury Tax Legislation
The Luxury Tax, originally proposed in the 2021 budget, received Royal Assent on June 23, 2022. The tax will came into effect September 1st. Fortunately, the legislation states specifically:
A vehicle does not include:
(g) a recreational vehicle that is designed or adapted to provide temporary residential accommodations, and is equipped with at least four of the following elements: (i) cooking facilities, (ii) a refrigerator or ice box, (iii) a self-contained toilet, (iv) a heating or air-conditioning system that can function independently of the vehicle engine, (v) a potable water supply system that includes a faucet and sink, and (vi) a 110-V to 125-V electric power supply, or a liquefied petroleum gas supply, that can function independently of the vehicle engine.
2022 Pre-budget submission:
The association submitted its recommendation to the standing committee on finance. The implementation of the RVDA’s recommendations will contribute significantly to the RV industry’s ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the continued success of the RV and camping industry in Canada. To ensure the long-term sustainability of the RV sector and to facilitate growth, we recommend that the federal government introduces a plan to support the much-needed skilled workers in our industry and in Canada as a whole. This plan should start with allowing future workers seeking their Red Seal designation to benefit from the $4000 Mobility Grant.
As an industry, we understand that there are significant investments that are required towards long-term sustainability. We encourage our federal partners to make strategic invests in improving and modernizing the infrastructure supporting camping and tourism businesses. Accessibility and basic servicing is what drives Canadians and RV owners to explore the most unique and pristine locations all around the country. It is imperative that the government increases the level of support towards building the foundations needed for a thriving, sustainable and innovative recreational vehicle industry.
Our recommendations are as follows:
Recommendation 1: Due to the geographic constraints of the existing programs, the Government of Canada should create an Apprenticeship Travel Grant that could be used by those who are required to travel to undertake an apprenticeship training program. This Grant should be targeted towards those enrolled in programs that are not offered in their city, town or province.
Recommendation 2: The labour mobility tax grant of up to $4000 per year to support temporary relocation within Canada by Skilled Trades People should be made available for those that are temporarily relocating to pursue their apprenticeship training and Red Seal certification. The requirements need to be changed so that skilled workers, who are looking to obtain the necessary qualifications to join a specific niche of the work force, are covered and supported.
Recommendation 3: Support and accompany provincial apprenticeship branches, in all parts of Canada, who are looking to offer of the Red Seal Program certification.
Recommendation 4: As RVing is a large component of tourism, both internationally and domestically, investment in camping and RVing infrastructure will play a crucial role in the overall contributions of the tourism industry. This will lead to future economic development and prosperity post-COVID-19. Upgrades in infrastructure are essential if we want to be able to ensure the future of this industry and make it more accessible to all Canadians.
Recommendation 5: Make a public and significant commitment to the electrification of campgrounds across Canada. Better access to electricity for RV drivers is an important driver of tourism and will contribute immediately to the transition towards electric recreation vehicles and zero-emissions campgrounds.
Recommendation 6: Empower regional communities that are seeking to create, update or modernize camping and RV infrastructures. If smaller communities see investing in tourism as a great way for them to grow their local economy, the government needs to accompany them in such endeavour.
Recommendation 7: The government must continue to provide financial supports and look for new ways to break up the bottleneck of supply issues and must ensure the border does not close again.
Recommendation 8: The proposed $1.9 billion for the National Trade Corridor Fund to make Canada’s transportation infrastructure more efficient and effective. This will make resources more readily available to private transportation and trucking companies so that they can better adapt to new technologies, while increasing the flow of goods in and out of Canada.
New Endorsement Program
PermaSeal Tire Sealant – DriveOn Protection
The RVDA of Canada is pleased to announce that it has formed a new endorsement partnership with DriveOn Protection for PermaSeal Tire Sealant. PermaSeal Tire Sealant utilizes the latest nanotechnology to create the only green, water soluble, permanent fix tire sealant available today. It is a product so unique; it brings a new solution to tire pressure maintenance problems.
PermaSeal not only repairs punctures up to 1/2 an inch, the formula also permeates the micro cracks and fractures caused by highway wear and tear, rock fractures, and tire liner bruising. Permaseal prevents leaks and potential blowout situations by preventing pressure buildup between the micro-fractures and layers of the tire. PermaSeal comes complete with a fully insured manufacturer’s warranty.
This product is great for our consumers. It not only provides RVers with peace of mind when travelling so that they don’t have to worry about flat tires. But it also improves fuel economy and tire life which is very relevant these days.
PermaSeal has been thoroughly lab and road tested for proven performance. It is also non-toxic, biodegradable, non-flammable, and easy for dealerships to install.
Education
Trouble Shooter Clinic + Parts Seminar: Oct. 31 – Nov. 4, 2022
The 2022 Trouble Shooter Clinic and Parts seminar will be held at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton, ON. We registered more than 100 RV Service technicians and fixed operations personnel for this training event. The clinic offers 5-days of training for service technicians and 2 days of training for fixed operations personnel.
5 training schedules are available to service technicians with one schedule designated for those with less than 15 months experience in the RV industry.
The Parts seminar focuses on a mix of product and technical information and parts management as well as sales & marketing. We hope to expand this course next year.
Fixed Operations Online Courses
Based on the instructional materials and competency profiles developed in partnership with The Ohio State University’s Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE), five online courses are complete or in development. Working fixed operations subject matter experts and their dealers are giving freely of their time to help instructional designers to create the courses. The fixed operations online course program will help RV service management, parts, and warranty employees increase efficiency and reduce RECT. Launched in late summer 2020, the Service Writer/Advisor course continues to gain traction with close to 450 enrolments. The Parts Specialist course is the most recent addition. Topics in the course include:
- Store merchandising
- Inventory management
- Online sales
- Seasonal promotions
- Over-the-counter sales
- Marketing parts and accessories
Both courses provide front-line fixed operations people with the knowledge required to meet and exceed customer expectations. The customer service content reinforces and drives home the top skill sets required of these dealership professionals.
Later this year, the four-module Parts Manager course will be available. Topics covered in the Parts Manager course include, managing:
- Customer relations
- Human resources
- Financial resources
- RECT
Fully interactive and easy to navigate, the Learning Center’s fixed operations online courses feature audio voice-overs and progress checks, and conclude with timed, comprehensive final assessments. Students who complete the courses may print Certificates of Completion. The fee is $150 US per student, per course. 2023 to early 2024 will see the completion of the last two online courses from the CETE/Learning Center partnership – courses for Warranty Administrators and Service Managers.
For more information, please contact:
Eleonore Hamm, President
Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) of Canada
Suite 145 – 11331 Coppersmith Way
Richmond, BC V7A 5J9
tel: (604) 718-6325
email: eleonore_hamm@rvda.ca
www.rvda.ca
