RVDA of Canada Reacts to Conservative Win

RVDA of Canada responded to the recent victory at the Canadian polls by conservatives.

“The ballots from the 41st general election are in and Canadian voters have elected a majority Conservative Government,” RVDA of Canada stated in a news release. “It has been seven years since a party has had a majority of seats in the House of Commons. Canadians will now not have to go to the polls until October 2015, under Stephen Harper’s fixed election date law. Stephen Harper is now the third Conservative Leader since Confederation to win three consecutive terms in office.”

The Conservative Party’s being in a majority government situation will play a key role in helping to implement significant elements of the party’s policy platform and agenda.

A noteworthy element of the Conservative’s agenda related to the RV industry is as follows:

• Announce and implement a Federal Tourism Strategy, to ensure consultation and collaboration among all industry stakeholders, including small-business operators, who form the backbone of the Canadian tourism industry.

Also of interest to the RV industry, the Conservative’s agenda highlights several issues related to small- and medium-sized businesses, including:

• Provide a Hiring Credit for Small Business – a one-year EI (Employment Insurance) break for some 525,000 Canadian small businesses.
• Legislate a One-for-One Rule – Every time the government proposes a new regulation, it must eliminate an existing one; and the government will give the Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism responsibility to ensure departments follow the new rule.

RVDA of Canada is well positioned to move forward to work with the Conservative Government. Over the past several years, the association has implemented a non-partisan approach in order to ensure excellent relations with a number of key MPs from all parties. The RVDA of Canada also remains committed to working with all newly elected MPs, in order to bring key RV issues to the top of their agendas.

Moving forward, the RVDA of Canada remains committed to continuing our efforts to ensure the RV industry and key issues of concern are brought to the forefront of the government’s agenda. As the new cabinet team is sworn in over the coming weeks, members will be updated on significant postings related to the industry.

RVDA of Canada Lobbies for RVs & Tourism

Representatives from the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) of Canada were in Ottawa Tuesday (April 12) to highlight the important need to recognize the RV industry as a prosperous tourism activity in Canada.

The promotion of the industry would be a valuable component of Canada’s tourism policies, highlighting new and exciting ways for Canadians to see the country at its best, RVDA of Canada stated in a news release.

“RVing and camping are large components of tourism, both within Canada and from outside Canada,” stated Alden Kowarsky, RVDA of Canada chairman of the board. “There is a crucial need for this to be recognized by the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) as a viable growth area for tourism in Canada.”

The RV industry continues to be a fast growing and favorable lifestyle for Canadian families. RV ownership is on the rise in Canada, with 90% of owners saying that their number one priority is seeing the country.

Annual RV sales figures have demonstrated that RV sales are up an impressive 18.4% across the country for 2010. A record number of Canadian families are discovering the fun and flexible travel that the RV lifestyle provides, and are taking advantage of continued affordability in the marketplace.

Tourism policy changes are needed, in order to support this momentum. The RVDA of Canada is recommending that the CTC include specialized messaging to target markets where RV rentals are being offered in Canada. Promotion of the industry should have a strong focus on an alternative way and a new experience to discover Canada.

“RVing really is for everyone; people of all ages, all family types, and all budgets enjoy the benefits of traveling in a recreational vehicle,” concluded Kowarsky. “More and more Canadians are opting to vacation with an RV, and we are calling on all Party Leaders to take a more proactive role in developing policies that support all travel and tourism.”

Along with increased recognition by the Canadian Tourism Commission, other key areas of concerns for the industry include the need to ensure the safe operation and use of all RVs across Canada; and a national inspection standard, to ensure all new and used RVs purchased across the border are in proper and secure condition for consumer and dealer use.

RVDA of Canada Notes 2010 Economic Review

The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) of Canada has published its economic review for 2010.

This review, for members only, analyzes the factors at play in Canada’s economy in 2010 as they pertain to the retail RV landscape, as well as what to expect for this year, according to an RVDA of Canada memo to members.

The annual economic review is intended to deliver a comprehensive look at the economic indicators affecting the RV industry in Canada in the past year. In addition to the annual review, we will also be releasing future quarterly economic forecasts. These reports are intended to provide you with current economic information, which can assist you in gaining insights into the changing economic dimensions of the RV industry and the economy at large.

RVDA of Canada Updates 2011-12 Show List

The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) of Canada has issued  its revised show schedule for the rest of 2011 and 2012. All shows are open to  the public.

Following is the revised list:

April

• Kitchener RV Show, April 1-3, Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud), Kitchener, Ontario; Contact: Larry Boyd, (888) 331-8885; Email: info@ontariorvda.ca; www.rvshowkitchener.ca.

October

• Toronto Fall RV Show, Oct. 29-31; Toronto Congress Center, Toronto, Ontario; Contact Larry Boyd, (888) 331-8885; email: info@ontariorvda.ca; www.torontofallrvshow.ca.

2012

January

• Toronto RV Show, Jan. 19-22, Toronto Congress Center, Toronto, Ontario; Contact: Larry Boyd, (888) 331-8885; email: info@ontariorvda.ca; www.rvshowtoronto.ca.
• 43rd  Annual Calgary RV Exposition & Sale, Jan. 26-29; BMO Center, Calgary, Alberta; Contact Dan Merkowsky, (888) 858-8787; email rvda@rvda-alberta.org; www.rvda-alberta.org/rvshows.asp/.
• Halifax RV Show, Jan. 26-29, Exhibition Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia; Contact Scott Sprague, (888) 454-7469; www.arvda.ca.

February

• Hamilton RV & Camping Show, Feb. 305, Careport Center, Hamilton, Ontario; Contact Larry Boyd, (888) 331-8885; email info@ontariorvda.ca; www.rvshowhamilton.ca.
• 32nd Annual Edmonton RV Exposition and Sale, Feb. 9-12, Edmonton Expo Center, Edmonton, Alberta; Contact: Dan Merkowsky, (888) 858-8787; email rvda@rvda-alberta.org; www.rvda-alberta.org/rvshows.asp.

March

• Toronto International Centre RV Show, March 1-4, Toronto International Center, Toronto, Ontario; Contact: Larry Boyd, (888) 331-8885; email info@ontariorvda.ca; www.torontointernationalrvshow.ca.
• Red Deer RV Show, March 1-5, Westerner Park, Red Deer, Alberta; Contact: Marty Veller, (800) 242-2593; E-mail: marty@vellner.com.
• Moncton RV Show, March 2-4, Moncton Coliseum Complex, Moncton, New Brunswick; Contact: Scott Sprague, (888) 454-7469; www.arvda.ca.
• Windsor RV Show, March 2-4, Windsor Expo Center, Windsor, Ontario; Contact: (888) 331-8885; email: info@ontariorvda.ca;  www.rvshowwindsor.ca.
• Central Alberta RV Show & Sale, March 8-11, Westerner Park, Red Deer, Alberta; Contact: Todd Plotnikoff (403) 356-9399; todd@westernrvcountry.com.
• Manitoba RV Show and Sale, March 8-11, Winnipeg Convention Center, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Contact: Jim Flood, (204) 452-1227.
• Montreal RV Show, March 8-12, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec; Contact: Serge Villemure (514) 338-1471;  www.salonvr.com.
• Quebec City RV Show, March 29-April 1, Centre de foires, Quebec, Quebec; Contact: Serge Villemure  (514) 338-1471; www.salonvr.com
• Kitchener RV Show, March 30 – April 1, Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud), Kitchener, Ontario; Contact: Larry Boyd, (888) 331-8885; Email: info@ontariorvda.ca; www.rvshowkitchener.ca.

October

• Toronto Fall RV Show, Oct. 26-28, Toronto Congress Center, Toronto, Ontario; Contact: Larry Boyd, (888) 331-8885; Email: info@ontariorvda.ca; Website: www.torontofallrvshow.ca.

Achlands-Grainger Broadening Canadian Niche

The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) of Canada announced a new partnership with Acklands-Grainger (AGI) to provide members with a new national member benefit program.

Acklands-Grainger is Canada’s largest distributor of industrial, safety and fastener products.

With 170 branch locations and five distribution centers across Canada, customer needs can be easily met, RVDA of Canada stated in a news release. Acklands-Grainger provides a broad array of products in very competitive prices in the following maintenance, repair  and operations (MRO) categories.

RVDA of Canada has negotiated on on behalf of its members two levels of pricing: customer specific pricing and catalog discount. The customer specific pricing focuses on core high volume items. Acklands-Grainger has developed this preliminary list in consultation with RVDA of Canada’s Program Development committee.

Items will continue to be added to this level of pricing as collective purchase volumes increase. Any items purchased in large volumes or frequency will also be added to benefit the overall program. The catalog discounts are items that are not captured under customer specific pricing and are eligible for a 10% discount. Inventory at each branch location is tailored specifically to the local market.

To view a complete list of products available, browse the catalog online at www.acklandsgrainger.com or visit a local branch.

Once an account is set up, items that qualify for the two discount levels mentioned above will be viewable. By setting up an account, inventory management solutions and customized billing processes can be implemented right away. Inventory management solutions include: vendor managed inventory, bar coding, on-site service and automated dispensing.

To sign up for an account and start taking advantage of the convenience of one-stop shopping and competitive pricing, complete the credit application form and forward to the completed application to Acklands-Grainger head office by fax at (905) 731-8151.

For complete details on this program, contact National Account Manager Harman Nijjar, by e-mail at nijjarh@agi.ca or by phone at (604) 571-6340.

RVDA of Canada Lobbying for Red Tape Cuts

The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) of Canada reports progress in lightening the restrictions on doing business in Canada.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, along with the Rob Moore, minister of state for small business and tourism, has announced consultations, as part of the Red Tape Reduction Commission, on ways to reduce the burden of complying with federal regulatory requirements, Eleonore Hamm president, stated in a memo to members.

“An online consultation is taking place, in order to allow for a wide range of Canadians in the business community to provide input to the commission, and help the government identify irritants and lasting ways to fix them,” Hamm stated in the memo. “The commission will make its recommendations to the government in the fall of 2011.”

The Red Tape Reduction Commission has been created with the following mandate:

• Identify irritants to business that stem from federal regulatory requirements and review how those requirements are administered in order to reduce the compliance burden on businesses, especially small businesses. The focus is on irritants that have a clear detrimental effect on growth, competitiveness and innovation.
• Recommend options that address the irritants and that will control and reduce the compliance burden on a long-term basis while ensuring that the environment and the health and safety of Canadians are not compromised in the process.

She continued, “On behalf of the RV industry, the RVDA of Canada has prepared a written brief, which has been submitted to the commission. As an RVDA of Canada member, we are urging you to make your voice heard, and tell your story by also submitting a response. By personalizing your response, this will enable political leaders to better understand this key red tape burden facing the industry and why an amendment is needed.”

Hamm encouraged members to visit the “Government Relations/Advocacy Initiatives” link on the member side of www.rvda.ca to view the RVDA of Canada’s official submission. Members may contact the national office if they need a reminder of  their User ID and password.

To make a submission, members may visit http://www.reduceredtape.gc.ca/how-comment/how-comment-eng.asp. The online consultations will close on April 22.

For more information contact Hamm at (604) 718-6325 or eleonore_hamm@rvda.ca.

RVDA of Canada Touts Show Booth Contest

The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada (RVDA of Canada) is encourgaing its members to spruce up their exhibits for this winter’s RV retail shows.

Each year, in late winter, provincial and regional RVDAs organize RV retail shows for their members. Many hold a contest for the Best Bulk Booth at each show, the national association notes in its current member newsletter, The RVDA of Canada Bulletin.

The RVDA of Canada awards the National Best Bulk Booth Award to the member dealer who has been determined to have the most distinctive, best-planned and best-dressed bulk booth among the provincial/regional winners.

The 2010 winner was Rangeland RV & Trailer Sales, Balzac, Alberta.

The board of the RVDA of Canada chooses the national winner at its April board meeting, with the winner:

• Noted in the national newsletter.
• Awarded a plaque in honor of the achievement.
• Winning one free primary delegate registration to the RV Dealers International Convention/Expo in Las Vegas.

Bulk space is defined as a booth over 1,000 square feet.

RVDA of Canada members should check with their provincial/regional RVDA for local information on shows and judging.

RVDA of Canada Launches Advocacy Survey

The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) of Canada is now more focused on advocacy than ever before.

“In the RVDA of Canada’s continued advocacy efforts, our goal is to advance and resolve issues of concern to our members, and keep them informed of government policies and priorities,” the association states in its current newsletter.

“In order to ensure our lobbying efforts best represent member concerns, we are launching a new National Member Advocacy Survey. The purpose of this survey is to gain important feedback with respect to your priorities on the advocacy front in Ottawa,” the association continued.

Survey results will play an important role in helping to shape RVDA of Canada’s key messages for the Government Relations Day in April.

The following is a brief list of issues that the RVDA of Canada feels are important.  It is asking members to rank these issues from 1 to 7, with 1 being the most important issue to 7 being the least important issue:

• Equitable treatment on the sale of used RVs.
• Continuing initiatives to help reduce the tax and regulatory burden on small- and medium-sized businesses.
• The need for RV-friendly signage.
• Increased investment in Canada’s tourism policies to support the RV industry.
• Cross-border issues, including provisions to allow RVs to use the commercial inspection lanes to accommodate the larger size of the vehicle; and initiatives to ensure that RVs purchased across the border receive a safety check.
• Upgrading Canada’s federal parks’ ability to handle modern RVs in campgrounds.
• Regulatory issues within the RV industry, specifically with regards to obtaining countrywide certification for RVs.

Results are due in by Feb. 14.

RVDA of Canada Web Classes Start Jan. 11

RVDA of Canada has partnered with Okanagan College to offer recreation vehicle technician upgrade courses online.

All courses will be conducted online exclusively, RVDA of Canada noted in a recent e-mail. To be eligible for a certificate of completion, students must complete five mandatory courses and four (out of nine) optional courses. Classes are typically held two evenings per week. Class size is limited to a maximum of 15 dealerships with one instructor. The virtual classroom will be very interactive and the instructor will be available to students via phone or e-mail outside of class hours.

Pricing per course includes registration for up to three students per dealership location. All students are required to have passed grade 11 math and English or to write a proficiency exam.

Recreation Vehicle electrical systems starts on Jan. 11.

Recreation Vehicle appliance systems starts on Feb. 22.

Return complete registrations to Nancy Ankerstein by fax at (250) 862-5469 or by e-mail to nankerstein@okanagan.bc.ca.

For technical questions, please contact Al Cohoe at Okanagan College by phone (250) 762-5445 ext. 4488 or by e-mail to acohoe@okanagan.bc.ca.

Canada RVDA Chairman Touts Bilingualism

Editor’s Note: RVDA of Canada Chairman Alden Kowarsky wrote the accompanying piece on the value of bilingualism in the RV industry. His comments appear in the current issue of the RVDA of Canada newsletter.

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