Friday, February 22, 2008

Flaherty's Flatulence



I can't stand it! Jim Flaherty says the Canadian Government has no intention of stepping in to do anything about the increased price of fuel. He says he has no position to do so because the price of gasoline is market driven. That is unbelievable! I don't know if its more unbelievable that he would have the nerve to say it, or that he believes it's that easy to pull the wool over the Canadian public's eyes! Is it that easy? Are we really that stupid?

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Canadian auto industry needs a major correction



The headlines scream, Queen's Park and Ottawa argue over who is more responsible to "support the auto industry" by reopening a Windsor Ford plant that has shut down...my question is, why?

Yeah, yeah, I know that there is a trickle down to local economies surrounding auto manufacturing plants. If the assembly lines are humming, pay cheques are being sent out, and everything from rents and mortgages to pizza and the local bowling alley gets a piece. But, people work in retail, and other services. People work as small business owners. People work in trades. If a local mom'n'pop shop hits hard times, should the government gallop in to help them out? No, because they don't employ as many people, goes the logic. And "the auto industry" is in trouble. Really?

Monday, February 18, 2008

Toyota drops Canadian prices - but not enough?



Toyota Canada lowers prices on five models.

It has become well documented that it is significantly cheaper to buy a car in the United States than to buy a similar car in Canada. And Canadians will typically demand pricing north of the border to better match those found south of the border. After all, we have free trade, right? And the cars are not travelling any further to sell in Canada as they are to sell in America, right?

Whether it's prices on books, or food, or clothes, Canadians love to cross the border and shop till we drop, especially if we can get to a state like Pennsylvania where there is no sales tax.

Problem is, it's not quite possible to expect similar pricing in these two separate and distinct countries, once we think about it.

Toyota production down - no kidding.



Toyota Canada lowers prices on five models.

Let's talk about production, sales, volume - I don't like it (as a business model for a car manufacturer, that is).

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Hargrove does not speak for all Canadian auto workers



J, I totally agree with you that Mr. Hargrove is out of touch. Here's a recent article in The Toronto Star - Auto industry is death-bound: CAW

First of all, let's not confuse "unionized workers" with all auto workers in Canada. There are plenty of non-unionized auto manufacturing operations going on in Canada. For example, Honda of Canada Manufacturing has just brought online a new manufacturing facility in Alliston, ON alongside it's main plant, which has continued to win awards for quality in producing Honda's Odyssey, Ridgeline, and other trucks, as well as Honda's Civic, Canada's best selling car for nine straight years and counting.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Hargrove's Union



I do believe Hargrove has lost touch with reality when it comes to what is best for the Canadian people. I think somebody should start a rogue union to knock the CAW off its perch. The CAW is a big part of the reason the auto sector is in the position it's in. The manufacturers need to be more flexible, and with their high labour and benefit costs, it's impossible.

I feel like this is a classic case of "absolute power corrupts absolutely". Here is a man who feels he should be the one to advise the government in foreign policy and economics. How is he qualified to know what is best (not that Harper is qualified either, but that's another topic)? Sure the tax levy would be a short term fix, but what ramifications would it have down the road? Would Toyota and Honda invest in Canada in order to tap this country's massive marketplace? Probably not. Come on Buzz, there are cities in China with more population than our entire country.

GM Just Doesn't Get It



D here - I chuckled this morning at the contrast between the two following articles:

Man's '91 pickup passes the 1M-mile mark

GM Posts Biggest Annual US Auto Loss

Part of the reason I chuckled is that it reminded me of Married With Children episode 817, in which Al Bundy - that lovable loser - stands to win a brand new Dodge Viper if the company can be there to make a big PR story by witnessing him roll his old Dodge over the million mile mark.

As soon as I read about this Wisconsin fellow taking his Chevy Silverado over the mark, I remembered poor Al failing and not winning his new car. I was curious what GM would do with this real life dream situation (surely it's not often that someone keeps a vehicle in roadworthy condition long enough to do this...?) Yes, there was somewhat of a media countdown when the fellow had but 1,200 miles to go; media crews were buzzing as he closed in, and GM had PR people on hand when he finally did it...and then the last line in the article says that the vehicle "could" (not "woud"?) be headed back to the manufacturer, as there is "some interest" in it.

What?