Well it’s about time
Canada’s Liberal minority government tabled their 2005 budget in parliament the other day. Because they basically sold out to the Conservatives their government survived. Nevertheless there were some interesting things in it that I wonder if the Conservatives noticed. Canada is a signatory to the Kyoto Accord, and while the Accord is more a public relations exercise than a real help in combatting global warming it is still a step in the right direction and one that Canada will have a very hard time meeting its commitments to.
Buried away in that budget was a little line item:
OTTAWA - Tucked discreetly into this week’s federal budget is a proposal that Ottawa impose a fee on purchases of new SUVs and other large vehicles while offering rebates to people who buy smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.
It’s about time eh! Typically the big three auto makers came back with a heaping dose of FUD
People in the auto industry say the Liberal proposal, if it’s implemented, could have a major impact on the new-vehicle market.
Families would be targeted: car dealer
Rob Fridfinnson, owner of Mid-Town Ford in Winnipeg, said the proposed fee targets the wrong people.
“It’s penalizing the family; families here that drive minivans, go to hockey games, practices; people that hook on a little camper in the summertime and go for a family trip,” he said.
Here’s a question for you Rob Fridfinnson, what the hell do you think families did for tranportation to and from those events before the introduction of the minivan in the 70’s? They did what many still do, they used cars. You know those other things you sell , 4 doors and a big trunk? But nice try at setting up a strawman there.
You have to wonder though if the Conservatives saw that item. After all this will hurt the big three but it will help the foreign auto makers whose cars are much more fuel efficient and we all know how much Conservatives to see for their big contibutors suffer.
Comment from pericat
Time: 3/2/2005, 9:29 am
The auto spokesperson is misdirecting even more completely than you noted: minivans are not SUVs and have never been involved in the SUV-rebate programs. They actually get good mileage, or used to, and their storage capacity isn’t fictional, the way it is with SUVs.
An SUV is as poor a substitute for a real minivan as it is for a passenger car.