MINISTRY WON’T INTERVENE
We are sorry to report, despite weeks of lobbying efforts by the UCDA, the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement has finally indicated they do not intend to delay or cancel the OMVIC fee increase on September 1st.
While we have made modest progress with the Ministry in other areas, which we will report on in our next Front Line newsletter, this remains a bitter disappointment for our members.
While the increase of the transaction tax from $12.50 to $22 on Sept. 1st, will bring millions more into OMVIC’s coffers, it remains unclear how this will benefit dealers who fund OMVIC or the consumers they sell vehicles to. It will certainly cost everyone more.
At a time of great economic uncertainty, tariffs, and spiraling costs, this is one of the most tone-deaf moves we have seen in many years.
Tellingly, the Ministry advises, of the 8,000 dealers invited to comment on the OMVIC proposal, only 200 took the opportunity to do so.