Ministry of Transportation - representing Car makers - not the public

If ever canadians have something to be pissed about its the ongoing hi prices we have to pay for everything, compared to our friends south across the border. The topic of todays beef - cars. I have bought my last 2 cars up from the US, and have jumped through the hoops put in place by the federal ministry of transport - Transport Canada and the RIV (registrar of imported vehicles).

now transport canada is conspiring with the automakers in canada to ensure that it is as difficult as ever to save money by buying your car in the US. for years transport canada have come up with their own idiotic regulations (which only slightly differ from US regulations) on the standards that automakers must meet to sell vehicles in canada. alot of automakers build to both standards so you can pretty much bring the US vehicle in without modification, but some - like BMW and Mercedes Benz, modify the canadian vehicle, to help protect as much as 40% premium price they charge (OVER THE US MODEL WHICH IS OTHERWISE IDENITICAL).

BMW and Mercedes are 2 examples of vehicle manufacturers trying to prevent canadians from getting access to the US market prices, by doing 2 things, which under any consumer protection laws should be illegal: 1. They charge thousands of $$$ to bring US vehicles up to "Canadian Standards" 2. They often will not let buyers know what is required to bring vehicles up to standard.

This is entirely the fault of TRANSPORT CANADA, for a number of reasons:

1. We should have harmonized vehicle standards with the US period. There is NOT ONE study anyone can produce to prove that canadians are any safer than americans behind the wheels of our cars. Therefore an aligned set of standards would make the most sense for consumers.

2. if you are going to put standards in place, DO NOT leave it to the manufacturers to develop the standards, implement them and then qualify the vehicles themselves...OF COURSE THEY DONT HAVE AN INTEREST IN LETTING PEOPLE IMPORT CHEAPER VEHICLES.

My advice is pick a vehicle brand that is import friendly, there is plenty of available information online...checkout importcartocanada.com for a start.

Here's a big FUCK YOU to the Canadian vehicle manufacturers who believe we deserve to pay a premium on our cars!