DRIFT Tuners Inc.

The Government of Canada has amended the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations to make it easier for Canadians to import vehicles from the United States built on or after September 1, 2007, that are already equipped with an electronic immobilization system or that can be fitted with one.“Our government remains committed to ensuring the safety of Canadians on our roads and highways,” said the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “This amendment clarifies the process for importing vehicles from the U.S. with respect to electronic anti-theft immobilization systems.” The amendment will also allow Transport Canada to immediately begin clearing the backlog of cases involving Canadians who recently purchased certain new U.S. models. These vehicles could not be imported because they were not certified by the manufacturer to meet the Canadian standard for anti-theft electronic immobilizers.

As of September 1, 2007, the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations require that all new cars, vans, light trucks and SUVs sold in Canada or imported into Canada be equipped with electronic anti-theft immobilizers meeting a defined Canadian standard.

Canada requires these systems in response to the public’s desire to reduce auto theft and to protect innocent parties from injury and death that can result from car accidents caused by thieves. In addition, the insurance industry has brought forward evidence that mechanical immobilizers can be defeated using simple tools. Electroanic anti-theft devices are more secure. The amendment will offer more flexibility to Canadians wishing to import vehicles and will continue efforts to ensure safety on our roads. This amendment will modify section 12 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations as it pertains to importing vehicles purchased in the U.S. The government’s intention to introduce the amendment was first published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on December 1, 2007. Interested parties were given 15 days to comment. Final notice of adoption will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on December 26, 2007, at www.canadagazette.gc.ca.

While the provincial and territorial governments have jurisdiction over after-market additions to motor vehicles, Transport Canada develops standards and regulations for new vehicles manufactured or imported for use in Canada. Before buying a vehicle in the U.S., Canadians should check with the Registrar of Imported Vehicles about the rules and process for importing vehicles (www.riv.ca). Transport Canada’s Registrar of Imported Vehicles program verifies that new vehicles sold at the retail level in the U.S. and imported for use in Canada meet Canadian safety requirements. Imported vehicles may have to be modified to meet requirements for daytime running lights, child tether anchorage systems and anti-theft immobilization devices.

For further information: Karine White, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa, (613) 991-0700; Media Relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, (613) 993-0055; Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.

The Import Vehicle Owners Association of Canada - (IVOAC), believes that Transport Canada is using the safety of right-hand drive (RHD) imports as a “red herring” to promote a hidden agenda. At this time there is no empirical or statistical evidence supporting any safety concerns reported from countries that experience high volumes of imported vehicles in which the steering wheel located opposite to domestic norm. With the opening of the highway between RHD Great Britain and left-hand drive (LHD) Europe, a mixture of both driver positions is now common in Europe. Also of noteworthy interest, is the fact that in several RHD countries such as Japan, there is no evidence to suggest that the importation of LHD vehicles from Europe have caused any safety concerns. These findings or lack there of, should be taken into consideration in Canada as well.

The IVOAC does not see how we as Canadians could possibly experience such adversely different driving conditions that it constitutes neglecting the consensus already establish by prominent countries such as Britain and Japan. The IVOAC also believes that there is no evidence from any reputable study that RHD vehicles have made the roads of Canada unsafe for the general driving public.

The IVOAC, which was formed in January 2007, is a collection of import owners and enthusiasts, who feel their rights, are being violated by government officials. Since inception, the IVOAC has endeavored to comply with both provincial and federal safety concerns. The members of the IVOAC have worked hard to produce a report and several documents outlining our concerns. This report has been posted on our web site and has been formally sent to Transport Canada. We have also set up a forum on our web site where all members can participate in this matter.

If there is no evidence that RHD vehicles pose any safety risk then why is Transport Canada using this as an excuse? Are unknown parties pushing a hidden agenda? In this regard, Transport Canada has falsely stated in a study that the import age restriction for vehicles in Australia, who previously required that vehicles had to be at least 15 years old (on the other hand, that was concerning only the imports made on a personal basis and not those done by the registered importers), had been extended to 30 years in 2005. As a matter of fact, the length of time had only been slightly increased as a result of pressures

from the major Japanese automakers and the registered importers. Is this also occurring here in Canada? Are the domestic manufactures along with their powerful union behind this? Is the limited number of vehicles being imported by a small number of importers a big enough threat? The IVOAC has not seen anything to provide proof of any safety concerns with regards to RHD, and therefore see any labeling of this issue as a cover for other motives.

Post Hurricane Katrina, the weather, climate change, and the environment have become hot topics in the minds of most Canadians. One of the major contributors to this problem is the fuel inefficiency of the large gas guzzling North American automobiles. Over the last year this has led to a growing unpopularity of these vehicles among the Canadian public, in which The Imported Vehicle Owners Association of Canada (IVOAC) has played a significant role in the rising popularity of Asian and European imports. In addition to the smaller fuel-efficient imports, larger diesel powered trucks have become popular with the import community. Bio-diesel, within the last year has become a goal of many of these users, as they have become aware of the benefits of lower green house gas emissions (GHG). As bio diesel becomes more readily available it will become common for these diesel-powered trucks to be converted over to take advantage of this new, lower GHG emitting fuel. IVOAC believes that Transport Canada should not change the current 15-year import rule to 25 years because this will go a long way in lowering GHG emissions.

The IVOAC, which was formed in January 2007, is a collection of import owners and some dealers, who feel their rights, are being violated by government officials. Since inception, the IVOAC has endeavored to adhere to the above environmental concerns. The members of the IVOAC have worked hard to produce a report and several documents outlining our concerns. This report has been posted on our web site and has been formally sent to Transport Canada. We have also set up a forum on our web site where all members can participate in this matter.

Transport Canada is rightfully concerned about environmental issues as is shown by the Advanced Technology Vehicle Program (ATVP). The ATVP study concluded that, “diesels are an available technology that can cut fuel consumption by 40%. However, there are no diesel engines currently available in light-duty trucks in Canada. This is a large market segment with typically high fuel consumption”. Transport Canada claims to adhere to the Transport Canada’s Environmental Protection program that states, “Transport Canada strives to reduce the environmental impact of employee activities such as workplace commuting and business travel.” IVOAC disputes the fact that no diesel light trucks are available in Canada because three common makes of diesel powered, Japanese domestic imported trucks and vans, produced by Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Toyota are available in Canada. If Transport Canada changes the 15-year import rule to 25 years and restricts fuel-efficient imports from entering the country, the two above mentioned polices will be more difficult to meet.

They are in excellent mechanical shape with low mileage, but used right-hand-drive vehicles from Japan are raising safety concerns in British Columbia. Provincial officials are concerned the vehicles might be dangerous in passing situations and have asked Transport Canada to step in. Mike Woods, manager for vehicle inspections in the province, said that while there’s no evidence of accidents caused by right-hand-drive vehicles, officials need more time to determine their safety record.

“There is some concern, and the Insurance Corp. of B.C. is probably looking at that quite closely, and I’m certain that the Insurance Bureau of Canada is also looking into it,” Woods said. Some officials worry the cars may be dangerous when passing because the driver’s range of vision is limited on the outside of the road.

All cars imported from Japan where motorists drive on the left-hand side of the road are at least 15 years old because federal laws place restrictions on newer cars. However, B.C. officials have asked Transport Canada to extend that to 25 years in an attempt to reduce the number of right-hand-drive cars entering the province.

About 175 Japanese right-hand-drive cars are registered in B.C. every month a number that has grown steadily, provincial officials say. One of them is owned by Thomas Nottelman, who imported his 16-year-old Toyota Corolla and several other cars from Japan. Because Japan has tough mechanical regulations and regular inspections, he said, its second-hand cars are prized.

Many of them have “never seen an accident, they’ve never seen dirt, they certainly don’t have any rust, and they’re exceptionally low mileage,” Nottelman said. “So you can’t buy anything comparable here, unless you happen to find a little old ladies car.”

A report by the CBC last December, set off alarm bells within the Canadian import vehicle community. Transport Canada, under pressure from the Motor Vehicle Inspection Branch of BC, is proposing to change the 15-year import rule to 25 years. This change by Transport Canada, will force Canadian consumers to wait 25 years before they can purchase an import, will in turn deny Canadians the opportunity to purchase a quality used imported vehicle. This seems to be based on two highly questionable and biased studies by Canadian Association of Road Professionals (CARSP) and Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), which questioned the safety of these, mainly right hand drive imports from Japan. This decision, if implemented, will have a serious impact on both the owners and vendors of these quality vehicles.

This led to formation of the Import Vehicle Owner’s Association of Canada (IVOAC) in January 2007. The IVOAC is a collection of import owners, and some dealers, from across Canada who feel that their rights have been violated by government officials. Since inception, the IVOAC has endeavored to disprove the above mentioned studies and has provided viable factual information. The members of the IVOAC have worked hard to produce a report and several documents outlining our concerns. This report has been posted on our web site (www.ivoac.ca) and has been formally sent to Transport Canada. We have also set up a forum on our web site where all members can participate in this endeavor.

The IVOAC believes that Transport Canada should reconsider its current position and not repeal the 15-year import rule. The IVOAC believes that we deserve to have the reasons presented to all Canadians and to have those reasons supported by factual evidence rather than speculation and manipulation. Making a quick decision on this issue only appears to be taking advantage of our lack of awareness on this issue. The IVOAC, as a cognizant and committed community (import owners), have consistently made efforts to work with those involved on this issue. We have been trying to find solutions in compliance with both federal and provincial regulations and we feel that we have not been met with the same respect. The rejection of this purposed change will allow Canadian consumers the freedom of choice in their purchase of a vehicle.