Spring Car Cleaning News

It's been a long, cold winter but it's slowly coming to an end. It may not feel like Spring yet but our clients know it's that time of year again. With Spring comes change and this year is a big year for change. Car cleaning is a boom and with that being said Diamond Detailing has made a few new additions to provide our clients with the best possible services and quality.

We have added a new member to the Diamond Detailing team. We are so pleased to have Paul Brophy as the new shop manager. Paul is a professional automotive detailer with a long history of car care. He is a real asset to the detailing business and an even greater asset to Diamond Detailing. The business has continued to grow each year leaving me little time to expand the business in ways we feel would be beneficial. Having Paul on board will allow us to continue our high quality auto detailing and ensure that we can continue to move forward as planned.

It was inevitable that this day would come. Diamond Detailing has been on a continual upward swing since we opened 3 years ago in Guelph. Today, we are seeing a rapid increase to our already large client data base. As our reputation increases so does the growth in the industry. I've been saying this for years that the economy is weakening and as it does the demand for professional car cleaning strengthens. People have begun to realize that the days of buying new cars every couple of years has come to an end. People are buying more used cars than ever and keeping them longer. This has helped to increase the need for automotive detailing services. Consumers want to protect their investments and prolong the life of their vehicle's. In order to keep up with the demand Diamond Detailing needs to expand it's horizons.

Canadian Government Struggles With Biofuel Issues

Canadian Government Struggles With Biofuel Issues
By Glenn Swanson - The truth about Cars
April 30, 2008

Last year, the Canadian government initiated an "aggressive push" to produce fuel from crops. The 2007 federal budget included a C$2.2b support package for biofuels. According to a report in the Globe and Mail, "political consensus in favor of biofuels is suddenly breaking down." Member of Parliament (MP) Keith Martin thinks it's time to step back and "put a moratorium on it now so people can actually wrap their heads around the facts; the current biofuel strategy is deeply misguided." The president of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association claims "the issues that come up have nothing to do with food supply." Gord Quaiattin says concerned Canadian should blame rising oil prices for food costs. "Everybody's screaming about 'food for fuel'; it's too bad we can't have a rational debate in this country," sighs MP David McGuinty. Still, it may be too late to shut the door: the government has poured billions into a biofuel facilities fund. Fourteen plants are running already and six more being built- so this horse may have already left the barn.Globe and Mail »
read viewer responses about this article at The Truth About Cars

Better get ready for $2.25 gas

Everything from manufacturing to transportation will be affected
Nicolas Van Praet, Financial Post Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008

If you think gas prices are bad now wait until the price of oil skyrockets to $200 a barrel. A CIBC economist says this is a likely scenario and will affect everything from gas prices to the manufacturing ...

Gasoline prices in North America will soar over the next four years to $2.25 a litre, causing a massive jolt to the continent's manufacturing base not seen since the oil shocks of the 1970s, a leading economist is warning.
Jeffrey Rubin, chief economist and strategist with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, forecasts in a new report titled The Age of Scarcity that Canadians and Americans should brace for $2.25-a-litre gasoline, or about $7 a gallon, by 2012. That's nearly double the current nationwide average price for regular unleaded gas of $1.23. The price will top a record $1.40 this summer as it starts its climb, Mr. Rubin said.
As millions of people in emerging countries such as India and China buy their first cars in the months and years ahead, the economist argues, oil supply will fail to meet the new demand. And as they drive more, North Americans will drive less.
It is an eye-popping prediction from an economist who's been proven correct on his bold calls before. And it would have monstrous effects, widening the divide between Canada's have and have-not provinces and forcing up the price of anything that needs to be transported.
In the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, a 55-miles-per-hour speed limit was imposed on U.S. highways. Toyotas and Hondas became big sellers. And Alberta got rich. This time, Mr. Rubin said, hybrids will go "from marketing and PR fluff to the core of car production." People will move closer to where they work. And Alberta could get even richer.
"I think there will be fewer people on the road in North America in five years than there is right now," Mr. Rubin said in an interview Thursday. "For everybody who's about to get on the road by buying a new Tata or a Chery car in the developing world, someone's going to have to get off the road in this part of the world. There's just not enough gasoline to go around."
Gasoline, diesel and other transport fuels now account for over half of the world's oil usage and have driven more than 90% of demand growth in recent years, Mr. Rubin said in his report. By 2012, consumption of oil in the rest of the world will exceed that used by developed OECD member countries, he said, a nearly unthinkable prospect a little over a decade ago.
Global Insight, a major market research firm that specializes in the auto industry, estimates that for every $10 increase in the price of a barrel of oil, manufacturers of new vehicles lose 190,000 sales annually in the United States as people's financial priorities shift away from buying a new car. Based on Mr. Rubin's forecast that oil prices will soar to $225 a barrel by 2012, that works out to roughly two million vehicles that are not needed.
That's more than all the new cars and trucks sold in Canada annually, and about the same as all the vehicles Ford Motor Co. made at all its factories in the United States last year.
Automakers are not ready for this kind of dramatic change and would suffer a "huge blow" from it, said John Wolkonowicz, Global Insight's senior automotive analyst for North America.
"In the short term, it would create absolute hell," Mr. Wolkonowicz said, particularly for Ford, General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC. Detroit's carmakers would see more of their traditional profits from trucks eroded as consumers move quickly to more fuel-efficient cars, he said.
Transportation companies are already making major adjustments to respond to higher fuel prices. Airlines such as Horizon Air and Porter Airlines are choosing turboprop planes over jets. Railways are replacing older locomotives with more fuel-efficient ones. Carmakers have teams of engineers trying to cut vehicle weight and make better engines.
Oil at $225 per barrel would take those efforts to an entirely new level. But some see other solutions.
David Cole, chairman of the Centre for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., argued the industry is at the edge of a revolution in fuels that will see cellulosic biofuel made from non-food sources become economically viable and come on stream over the next few years. "I think this is really going to dampen the speculation on petroleum."
Global Insight's own forecast calls for the price of oil to come down from its run-up near $120-a-barrel this week. "We're not forecasting that or anything close to [Mr. Rubin's prognosis]," Mr. Wolkonowicz said. "We're forecasting prices are going to come down because higher prices will spur more exploration."
National Post, with files from Scott Deveau

UK New Car Carbon Tax Scarfs $5b, Does Sweet FA for CO2

More Global warming fraud - government imposed carbon taxes will not reduce carbon emissions. Read the latest article in the Truth About Cars and The Daily Mail.
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UK New Car Carbon Tax Scarfs $5b, Does Sweet FA for CO2
By Edward Niedermeyer - THE TRUTH ABOUT CARSApril 24, 2008 - 320 Views
The Daily Mail reports that the UK's new carbon tax works spectacularly… as a revenue-builder. The recently-increased "showroom tax" costs consumers between $500 and $2k on cars based on their C02 emissions. According to her Majesty's Treasury, the carbon tax will add nearly $5b to the government's coffers. And here's the kicker: the gov's own figures will only decrease auto-related greenhouse gas emissions by… wait for it… less than one percent. Conservative Treasury spokesman Justine Greening discovered the discrepancy between the cost to consumers and benefit to the environment during that awesome fixture of the British Parliamentary government known as "Parliamentary answers." "This is a massive tax hike which will have virtually no impact on the environment," said Greening. "Despite their claims, the Government don't expect this move to change behaviour at all - it is just another eco stealth tax of the worst kind." Hear hear.

Original article and readers comments can be found here: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/uk-carbon-tax-works-for-increasing-government-revenue/

Pedal-powered cabs coming to Toronto

Apr 21, 2008 01:03 PM Curtis Rush Staff Reporter
A fleet of pedal-powered EcoCabs will hit the downtown Toronto core starting May 1, offering passengers a speedy — and free — ride to their favourite restaurant, nightclub, business meeting or even the Rogers Centre for a ball game.
Eight of the cars, which have a futuristic yellow outer shell, were introduced today at Dundas Square by William Kozma, president of GO Mobile Media.
There is no charge (although tips won't be turned down) because the cabs are supported by corporate sponsors. Lipton Green Tea is one — and riders are provided a free glass of green tea with their ride.
The cabs, which are about 10 feet long and four feet wide, can accommodate two passengers on the padded seats and a child under 12.
And the three-wheeled cabs will travel on the right-hand lane of city streets at a top speed of 12 km/h. The average speed in the downtown core will be about 6 km/h.
"The idea is to have the vehicles throughout the downtown core in the areas where there is the most congestion," Kozma said.
The EcoCabs will focus on an area of about six to 12 blocks downtown.
"The idea is not to replace the cabbies," Kozma said. "We're not taking people for airport runs or picking them up at hotels with their luggage. This is strictly short-haul distances."
The cabs will run primarily on the pedal-power of the driver. To go uphill, or when there is a particularly heavy load, a rechargable electric battery will kick in.
The free service may not be well received by local rickshaw drivers, who charge a fee for the same kind of service.
"There's no reason to nickel and dime consumers for a dollar or two dollars a block when you can just take them for free," Kozma said.
"I think that's really the future, and the environmental mandate is most important. If rickshaws still want to operate, I think that's great. I think they provide a valuable service, but I think the EcoCab fills a void both from a transportation need and from an environmental requirement."
Cabs like these have been a success in other countries, Kozma said. For instance, New York City has been operating similar cabs in the theatre district for a couple of years.
The company hopes to expand to Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton next year.
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I applaud Kozma for his entrepreneurial spirit for putting a plan together of this magnitude. What more could you ask for - a free service to the consumers, a free drink of green tea, creation of employment, an environmentally friendly business and it comes at the cost of the corporation not the consumer. It's about time these major corporations start giving back. Very refreshing to hear! We wish him well.

Chrysler Opens Chinese Design Office

By Edward Niedermeyer The Truth About Cars

April 17, 2008 - 384 Views

Chrysler LLC announced today that it has opened a design office in China, a move the Detroit Free Press calls "part of a much larger expansion by the Auburn Hills automaker to beef up its product design efforts outside the United States." While Chrysler slashes as many as 25k North American jobs this year, it plans on recruiting 1k engineers outside from outside the United States. Chrysler's Chinese operations are expanding to include more local suppliers, in India the local engineering staff is set to double. Arguing that Chrysler is designing models specific to rapidly growing markets abroad, VP for product development Frank Klegon points to the success of its Mexico division (which is set to add 450 new staff). "They're already doing unique product for Mexico that's designed and developed in Santa Fe and for sale in Mexico by themselves," says Klegon. "It's a resource center that we're building upon. They started out as more of a vehicle development and test facility and moved them into design." But something doesn't add up here. If this is all about "unique products for unique markets," then why is Chrysler selling a rebadged (Chinese) Chery A1 in Mexico as a Dodge?Detroit Free Press »

Gas price shatters record

Gas price shatters record
by THE CANADIAN PRESS

NEW YORK -- Retail gasoline prices in the United States pushed past a record high yesterday as Canadian prices continued to rise as well, although a bit more slowly because of the strong Canadian dollar.

U.S. prices moved to more than $3.40 US a gallon - about 89 cents US a litre - yesterday, fulfilling expectations that they'll keep climbing toward $4 US a gallon as the summer driving season approaches.

Oil prices, meanwhile, fluctuated after setting yet another record high overnight. Analysts said investors were locking in gains from crude's ongoing rally and trying to determine whether prices have more room to rise.

At the pump, the average U.S. price of a gallon of unleaded gas rose 1.9 cents overnight to $3.418 US a gallon, according to a survey of stations by AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

In Canada, gasoline prices are $1.16 a litre and higher in most markets. They were around $1.18 yesterday in Edmonton.
Some industry analysts expect the cost of fuel to increase to between $1.30 and $1.40 a litre this summer.

Prices appear to be rising more slowly in Canada in part because the high value of the Canadian dollar is offsetting some of the higher costs from rising oil prices.

Since crude oil is traded in U.S. dollars, a rising loonie against the American greenback has eaten into a part of the increase. As well, gasoline imported from the United States is cheaper to Canadian consumers when the loonie soars.

Is the Canadian Government bribing you with your own money to stimulate weakened new car sales?

Is the Canadian Government trying to bride citizens with their own money to stimulate a weakening economy? In reading the article below titled : Feds to spend $90M on scrapping clunker cars posted Tue. Apr. 1 2008 5:23 PM ET by The Canadian Press it seems to me that this has nothing to do with emissions and everything to do with increasing new car sales.

OTTAWA -- The federal government has quietly given the green light to a national program offering drivers incentives get older, polluting vehicles off the roads. Environment Canada's annual planning report, released this week, earmarks $90 million over the next three years for a so-called vehicle "scrappage'' program.

The department has mulled the prospect of starting a national program since last year's budget set aside federal money for two years' worth of scrapping initiatives. But aside from yearly spending estimates, the planning report yields few details about the new program. It's not known, for instance, how the national program will work with the patchwork of regional scrapping groups that now receive federal funding.

Seven groups across the country get money from Ottawa to offer incentives -- ranging from rebates on new vehicles to free transit passes and charitable receipts -- in exchange for older vehicles. The groups then turn the rusty clunkers over to scrap yards, which crush and recycle them according to provincial guidelines. At least three of these groups say Environment Canada hasn't told them how -- or if -- they figure into the government's plans. "We're just waiting for the announcement,'' said Margaret Bernhardt-Lowdon, director of health initiatives for the Manitoba Lung Association, which runs a Winnipeg-based scrapping program called Bye Bye Beaters. "I'm kind of in the dark ... I'm certainly looking forward to hearing what they have to say, though.''Bye Bye Beaters, Halifax-based Steer Clean and the national Car Heaven program say they were unaware the department had set aside money for the federal scrapping program. "That sounds great, but to whom, and where, and why, and what?'' said Car Heaven's program manager, Fatima Dharsee, referring to the new program.

The department passed queries to Environment Minister John Baird's office, which offered no details about the national program. "We remain committed to implementing an effective vehicle scrappage program. When we have something to announce, we will announce it,'' Baird spokesman Eric Richer wrote in an e-mail. Environment Canada consulted with environmental groups, regional scrapping organizations and other stakeholders last year to explore the possibility of starting a national program. "All I know is they want to have one program available to all Canadians. Something very big and accessible,'' Dharsee said. The department e-mailed the regional outfits in January letting them know Baird was poised to announce the program. "We anticipate that minister Baird will make an announcement about the new program within the next few weeks,'' said the Jan. 21, 2008 e-mail, obtained by The Canadian Press. But more than two months later the department has yet to make that announcement.

The government estimates five million vehicles from 1995 or earlier -- predating today's tougher emissions standards -- were on the roads last year.These older vehicles make up just a fraction of the estimated 18 million vehicles in Canada, but they account for up to two-thirds of the pollution that causes smog.

Yes I agree; emissions should be reduced regardless of whether the global warming issue is valid or not. But why does it always come at a cost to the citizens not the industrial business sector and why does it always fall in the laps of the consumers? If the Canadian government was a responsible governing body then they should have developed a plan for this when air quality started to fall. Would it have been too much to ask that the entire country implemented carbon emissions for all vehicles at that point? Perhaps then, we would not be facing this issue now. Instead of bribing Canadians to junk their cars wouldn't it have been a good idea to have used the money earned from emission testing as grants to car manufacturers for the advancement of technology to develop affordable parts and methods to keep older cars running clean. People could then update older vehicles and keep them running in an environmentally friendly way.

The plan devised by the Canadian Government may sound wonderful but once it is implemented they'll change the rules just as they do with everything else and before you know it they will make it MANDATORY to scrap all older vehicles. This is what most people do not realize - so for those that think it is a great plan and want to help the environment here are some things to think about before you support this plan.

People who can afford a new car sometimes forget about how decisions like this impact those that can't. As stated in the article 5 million cars are older vehicles - that means 5 million families may be without a vehicle because you did nothing to stop it. I am sure you know someone who drives an older car and is not able to afford new car payments - are you willing to drive them to work, their kids to school, to soccer, church and to the grocery store? If not, seriously consider not supporting this plan because it will become mandatory shortly after. Why - because the Canadian economy much like the US economy is in financial trouble.

Take the bus you say? Why should they have to take public transit when they worked hard to make their car payments and high interest rates to pay off their vehicle. Isn't that the idea to own a car outright? If not, maybe everyone should just rent cars! A car is suppose to be an asset but how can it be an asset if you keep flipping it every few years only to enter into a never ending payment? You don't own it then, the banks do and you never will . The continuous process of trading in to buy new only enslaves you to the masters who are getting rich. So while pseudo governments and capitalists profit from your decisions you struggle to get ahead.

The mainstream media is busy keeping everyone in a state of confusion about a recession. One day it states that we are facing a recession and the next it spells a tale that everything will be okay as long as you keep spending. Fact of the matter is... Canada is far from being safe. We are already starting to feel the impact of a recession that will most likely end in a depression. What many Canadian fail to notice or understand is how the NAFTA deal is affecting Canadians. Bottom line is we are the USA now - Canada as you know is no longer. Whatever economic difficulties the United States has - we have. I won't get into that too much - if you would like to research it for yourselves please visit Global Research who is dedicated to exposing the truth: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=region&regionId=2

Bribing you with your own money to get into something more expensive and beyond your means is a dirty tactic. By dumping your car that is already paid for and hopping into a new car you will most likely need to buy on credit. Hmmm... so by helping the so called emissions you are adding to the credit bubble and aiding in the downfall of the economy. But doesn't spending stimulate the economy? No, not if it is on credit. By purchasing on credit you are stimulating the pockets of capitalists who prey on you. It does nothing for the economy but bring it further down. They get rich while driving you and your country into the poorhouse. The more you spend on credit; the more money the Federal Reserve has to issue which weakens the dollar and just keeps adding to the credit bubble. If people keep buying on credit the problem can and never will be corrected. It is time to start living within our means and start owning our assets. Don't work your butt off for someone else because if we do hit hard economic times assets that have been financed are not yours to keep if you can no longer make the payments.

Failure to implement a Canada wide emissions program instead of junking good cars is cause for concern. My cars are all older and they all pass emissions with flying colors as do many of our clients. So what is the Government of Canada really saying with a plan like this - emissions testing is a fraud - it doesn't cut down emissions? If that is the case; what have Ontario citizens been paying for? It makes me wonder because it was only a year ago that the Ontario government was talking about cancelling emissions testing all together. If the Ontario Government believes global warming is valid why would they even consider stopping a program like emission's testing. Where has the profits earned by the government from emissions testing ? Certainly it didn't go to cleaning the air! This is a real concern as some provinces are considering charging all drivers a carbon tax - what is your money being used for? Is it really correcting the so called global warming problem if so how? Or is this another Y2K money making scheme conjured up by the elite. Yes there is an environmental issue just look around but is it caused by the things they would have you believe? Maybe they should stop spraying toxic chemicals of unknown origins in the air otherwise known as chem trails. Perhaps they industrial revolution needs to slow down and maybe we as citizens need to stop aiding it.

Stereotyping older cars as rust buckets or cars that are in poor mechanical condition is crap. Again all my cars are in supreme mechanical condition and the bodies are mint as are my clients with older cars. In fact as a automobile detailing centre we see the condition of cars both on the interior and exterior and have noticed that the majority of people with older cars maintain their cars better than those with new vehicles. We have seen more rust, broken parts and, mechanical problems on new cars than we have old. Go figure... older cars are made better, are easier to fix and cheaper to fix than new cars. Yes there are some cars like this on the road but in provinces that have vehicle safety laws you should see this problem. So again, why not implement a vehicle safety law across Canada. In my opinion stereotyping vehicles in this manner is just another way to make people feel they are not maintaining an image or status. By making a person feel as though they are being irresponsible for driving an older vehicle and have others look at them in this way it forces them to upgrade. This status thing is so out of whack and that is why we are in such an economic trouble today.

So if you are still thinking about buying a new car; here is one final point to consider - nanotechnology! New car parts are being made with nanotechnology, complete interiors, exteriors, glass and engine parts. Diamond Detailing Guelph's Finest Automotive Detailing Technician does not use any chemical or product that contains nanotechnology for the safety of our customers and our own protection. We feel the dangers associated with nanotechnology are so great that we now protect ourselves with the appropriate gear when working on any new car made with this technology. If you are unaware of the health dangers of nanotechnology please read my other posts: http://guelphautodetailing.blogspot.com/2007/05/nanotechnology-dangers-in-automobile.html
and if your really curious as to what other daily household, cosmetic, stationary products and cars you may be using that have nanotechnology visit: http://www.nanotechproject.org/inventories/consumer/browse/products/

I'm fully in favor of stimulating new car sales as the car industry does represent a major portion of the economy but perhaps the Canadian Car manufacturers need to tend to their pricing problem rather than the Government bribing and enslaving citizens to buy new and put themselves into further debt . Cars manufactured here and shipped to the United States are sold to the dealers at a remarkably lower price than the same vehicle being sold here. Today we are seeing rebates and so called Canadian pricing incentives but they still do not match prices of the cars being sent to the USA. Why is that? Perhaps if car dealers and consumers stop buying cars across the border we could stimulate our own economy but instead Canadian tax payers keep paying to bail corporations out of trouble? As we bail out one to stimulate the economy we end up picking up the tab in another area like the Ontario Health Care tax. When does it end? It doesn't - at least until you stop allowing your government to take away your hard earned money, your rights and your freedom ? It is time to start researching issues before you support them. Find out the real agenda's behind them, question authority, demand answers and see to it that you order the change. Don't take the word of your government because they haven't done a very good job up till now of telling you the truth. Instead they change laws under your nose and don't tell you till it's too late. Give the dog an inch he'll take a mile. What's next - maybe you should scrap your old house too so you can buy new? Just some food for thought.

Used car sales what's in the future for Canada

As talks continue across the globe about the ban on older vehicles one country has followed through. While this new law may be inviting from an environmental point of view it doesn't come without major implications especially in a time where the economy is so fragile. The banning of older vehicles will only add to the decline of car sales and therefore damage the economy further. If other countries follow suit this will take money out of every ones pocket - everyone accept large greedy consumer financing companies. Small used car lots and large automobile dealerships will feel the wrath - when they feel it the economy will feel it as a whole also. A move like this will force more people to buy new; meaning that we will only be adding to the current credit crisis. For the middle and lower incomes citizens a law like this will leave them without affordable transportation, force them into further credit debt or leave them car less.

Our environment is a major concern - perhaps a Federal law for annual vehicle safety's and Federal emissions laws should be imposed before we start banning vehicles based on age and we should look deeper into converting older cars to bio-fuel.

I find it interesting that this ban comes at a time when Canada/US/Mexico are in their final stages of their Globalization NAFTA deal, in a time when the car economy is weak in the USA and Canada and that this law takes place in a country where our automotive manufacturers have moved after closing the doors here. This sounds much more like an economic strategy than an environmental strategy.


See the following articles:

Mexico abruptly restricts car imports
By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 03/02/2008 12:37:30 PM PST
http://www.contracostatimes.com/nationandworld/ci_8429774


Texas—Some are dented, scratched and rusty. Others rattle and belch under faded paint jobs. But the "'98" soaped onto their windshields and a surprise change in Mexican import rules have turned a single year's worth of used cars into pick of the used-car lot.

Beginning Monday, only cars made for the 1998 model year—none older and none newer—can be legally imported into Mexico. Car dealers were given notice only a month ago.

Until now, used cars 10 to 15 years old were scooped up at auction by South Texas used car dealers and rapidly sold to Mexicans hungry for affordable transportation and "la novedad"—or novelty—of unfamiliar makes and models.

Cars newer than that were banned from imports as unwelcome competition for Mexican car dealers, and anything more than 15 years old was seen as a potential environmental and safety hazard.

But now, under pressure from Mexico's new car dealers who say "vehiculos chatarra," or jalopies, undercut their sales, the Mexican government is allowing only 10-year-old used cars to be legally imported into Mexico.

All of a sudden, 1998 Luminas, Astro vans and Ranger pickups are sought-after trophies.

The Mexican Association of Automobile Distributors, which pushed for the change, said it was needed to "stop the accelerated conversion of our country into the world's biggest automotive garbage dump."

The Mexican Consulate in McAllen said the change was made "to
restrict the entry of vehicles that compete with the Mexican car industry."
A mile north of the Rio Grande, 80 percent of the customers at Walester Auto Sales are Mexican. But this past week, only one out of the 24 cars on the dirt lot boasted the magic "1998."

That vehicle was a white Chevrolet Blazer with a "Redneck" sticker on the windshield and a vanity plate of a silhouetted couple embracing in front of a tropical sunset. It was priced at $3,200.

With the sudden change in demand, such 1998 models are appreciating for the first time since they rolled off the lot, their prices rising by $500 to $800, while dealers cut prices on slightly older models in a frantic effort to move them out before Monday's deadline.

"At this point we have a lot of merchandise that was going to Mexico that now will stay," said Elena Garcia, who owns Walester with her husband, Armando Garcia, who was in Florida scouring auto auctions for more vehicles.

At Gutierrez Brothers, a few Mexican car dealers milled about, shaking their heads at the limited selection.

"The worse thing we can do is buy something that we don't know if it can go across (the border)," Juan Gutierrez said. "If a 1997 worth $3,000 can't cross, it's not even worth $1,500."

He had to unload about 1,000 cars last month at sharply reduced prices just to avoid getting stuck with them in March.

Gutierrez said his buyers at auto auctions across the country tell him that when a 1998 rolls into the garage, 20 buyers line up where there used to be a handful.

Mexico bans all imported used cars from U.S. except 1998 models
Posted Mar 3rd 2008 7:32AM by Chris Tutor posted on AUTOBLOG

All you people with a 10-year-old car – drive it, drag it, push it or pull it! Mexico is paying top dollar!

Starting today, the only used cars the Mexico government will allow across its borders for resale are those exactly 10 years old. That means your 1998 Hyundai Accent has appreciated in value for the first time since you drove it off the lot. But your 1997 Astro van is, believe it or not, worth even less than it was last year, and you 1999 Daewoo Nubira drivers will have to wait until next year to cash in.

There are two main reasons for Mexico's seemingly arbitrary automotive adjudication. First, its new-car dealers are tired of trying to compete with all manner of relatively inexpensive, recent-model used cars from the U.S. Second, the government says cars older than 10 years are wreaking havoc on the country's air quality.

Until now, it was legal to import cars into Mexico that were between 10 and 15 years old. The Mexican Association of Automobile Distributors fought for the newer, more restrictive law to, as quoted by The Detroit News, "stop the accelerated conversion of our country into the world's biggest automotive garbage dump."

Canadian consumers buying state-side veicles

Being in the automotive detailing industry we can see a swing in the car buying market. For months, the Canada dollar has been strengthening against the American dollar tempting Canadians to head south to purchase a new vehicle. This new trend in automobile buying is cause for concern to the Canadian economy. Both the slumping exports combined with declined consumer spending in Canada has made a serious impact on the economy forcing Canadian automotive dealerships to put special Canadian pricing discounts and rebates into effect. But,something more noteworthy and something everyone should consider before buying a car in the United States are the new changes taking place at Canadian dealerships.

If you plan on buying a car in the USA be aware that Canadian dealerships have imposed a new rule in their service departments that states that no cars purchased from the US can be serviced for warranty work or fixed at Canadian automotive dealerships.

Globalization a threat to the Canadian Automotive Economy

Living in Guelph I am sure our readers are aware that Guelph is a major center for automotive parts manufacturing and our factories are packing up, moving down to Mexico or just plain closing the doors leaving people in Guelph jobless. As a citizen and an automotive business owner I urge all Canadians to start researching the long-term effects of NAFTA and globalization, create awareness and take your country back because Globalization a threat to the Canadian Automotive Industry, the Canadian economy as a whole and the freedom of Canadian citizens.

As some of you may or may not be aware the Canadian government has been passing several small bills in an effort to move globalization forward. The Canadian government in conjunction with the United States government has been slipping small bills through and making changes in law under the nose of the people to avoid the disagreement of the people and by dissecting these bills into small pieces they do not breach the Charter of Rights or should I say the don't alarm anyone as to the breaches. The majority of these changes have gone un-noticed by the citizens and have of course by-passed any media attention. Please read the following article written by Global Research :

Agenda for the North American Summit
By Andrew G. Marshall
URL of this article: www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8224

Global Research, February 29, 2008

The next North American Summit is set to be held on April 21-22, 2008, in New Orleans, as a fitting memorial – returning to the location where the state turned its back on the people, literally leaving them to die; and where they now meet to turn their backs once again on the people, leaving them in the dark and their countries near death.

In preparation for the next North American (leaders’) Summit, the designated ministers from Mexico, the United States and Canada, met February 28 under the auspices of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP). Industry Canada issued a press release February 28, 2008, which stated, "This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA has been a tremendous success: trade and commerce among our countries have grown exponentially." Then the press release made the statement that, "Trilateral merchandise trade is approximately $900 billion in 2007, significantly contributing to economic growth and increased standards of living in all three countries." Given the past few months of economic turmoil, record-breaking oil prices, a collapsing US dollar, and fears of a "1930’s style Depression," it’s a little premature to be saying our standard of living is on the rise.

After giving lip service to, "respecting the sovereignty, laws, unique heritage, and culture of each country," it states, "we have reviewed progress achieved since Montebello and have directed officials to" five key areas of integration, "Competitiveness, Safe Food & Products, Energy and Environment, Smart & Secure Borders, [and] Emergency Management and Preparedness."

Competitiveness:

The press release states that they will direct officials to, "Continue to implement the strategy to combat piracy and counterfeiting, and build on the Regulatory Cooperation Framework by pursuing collaboration through sectoral initiatives, with an emphasis on the automotive sector." So, it’s now time to cement together the already extremely integrated automotive industries of Canada and the US, as currently the Canadian "auto and parts makers export more than 85 per cent of their production south of the border."

It was recently reported that, "More than three-quarters of Canada's exports — including oil, minerals, lumber and passenger vehicles — are sold to Americans. The U.S. housing collapse already has slashed sales of Canadian lumber. Now, as a historic decline in home values causes American consumers to retrench, U.S. auto sales this year are headed to a 10-year low, according to TD Bank Financial Group in Toronto."

So my question is, if it’s the integrated economies between Canada and the US, specifically in the auto industry, that with a falling US economy threaten Canada’s own economy to such a great extent, why is the solution more "deep integration"? Looking at this from a perspective of looking out for the interest of Canada’s economy, if the ailment we are facing is a result of our near-total dependence and integration with the US economy, why is the cure more of the same? If you stick your finger in an electric socket, you get shocked. If, after doing that, you decide to continually put your finger in the same socket over and over again, expecting different results, you’re insane.

Safe Food & Products:

Of this the SPP press release stated that the ministers would advise officials to, "Strengthen cooperation to better identify, assess and manage unsafe food and products before they enter North America, and collaborate to promote the compatibility of our related regulatory and inspection regimes."

Of course, this has already started to be integrated, as it was reported in May of 2007 that, "Canada is set to raise its limits on pesticide residues on fruit and vegetables for hundreds of products," and that, "The move is part of an effort to harmonize Canadian pesticide rules with those of the United States, which allows higher residue levels for 40 per cent of the pesticides it regulates."


Energy and Environment:

Here the ministers state they will advise officials to, "Develop projects under the newly signed Agreement on Science and Technology; and cooperate on moving new technologies to the marketplace, auto fuel efficiency and energy efficiency standards."

On July 24, 2007, it was reported that, "The first trilateral framework agreement on energy science and technology was inked Monday by the energy ministers for Canada, Mexico and the United States," focusing on, "ways to increase cooperation on research and development and to reduce barriers to the deployment of new technologies in biofuels, gas hydrates, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, clean coal, and electricity transmission." It further stated that, "the three countries will exchange scientific and technical personnel to participate in joint studies and projects." The news report further stated that, "The ministers discussed increasing the region's energy security, recognizing the critical contribution that an integrated energy market makes to the North American economy."

Smart & Secure Borders:

Here the press release reports that ministers will aim to, "Strengthen cooperation protocols and create new mechanisms to secure our common borders while facilitating legitimate travel and trade in the North American region."

Creating "new mechanisms" is the most important part here. On January 22, 2008, it was reported that, "B.C. is about to become the first province to use a high-tech driver's licence. For an extra fee, it will enable drivers to cross the border into the U.S. without a passport and still comply with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security concerns," and that, "The enhanced driver's licence or EDL has a radio-frequency identification chip that will broadcast a number linked to a computer database, allowing a border guard to assess data and flag security issues as drivers approach the booth." It then stated that, "Name, address, place of birth, citizenship and photo will appear with a quick scan of the coding of the back of the licence."

On February 28, 2008, it was reported that BC made this move "in conjunction with Washington State," and that, "Ontario and other provinces with high-volume border crossings are expected to follow suit in the near future. Under the U.S.' Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), passports will be required for all travellers entering the U.S. starting June 2009, but RFID-enabled EDLs are being introduced on a voluntary basis as an acceptable alternative to speed up border crossings." The report elaborated that, "the Real ID Act enacted in 2005 calls for the harmonization of drivers' licences across states in the U.S," which are, in turn being harmonized with Canada’s licenses, and that the real agenda with this is to create a North American ID card. Andrew Clement, a professor of information studies at the University of Toronto was quoted in the article as saying:

The EDL scheme is seen as a way to sneak it [the ID card] through the back door by turning state licences, through U.S.-wide harmonization with biometrics, into de facto identity cards. And the Privacy Commissioner has pointed out that Canada's EDLs will be made compatible from a system point of view with Real ID standards, so Canadians will in fact be enrolled in the U.S. apparatus via licences. There are several steps to get there but this seems to be the direction it's heading towards

On top of this, it was reported on February 14 that, "the Garden River First Nation (an Ojibway Tribe of North American Indians), headquartered at the eastern boundary of the city of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, Canada, has signed an agreement to license and use Veritec's 2-D VSCode(TM) Biometric technology for multi-purpose cards which will serve as Tribal Member ID, Border-crossing (from and to Ontario, Canada) control and passport-backup ID cards," and that, "[t]he technology stores the individual's fingerprint minutiae." So, while BC is introducing this as a (for now) voluntary move, it’s being introduced elsewhere first for First Nations peoples, then, undoubtedly, for everyone.

Emergency Management and Preparedness:

Under this heading, the press release states that SPP minister will work to, "Strengthen emergency management cooperation capacity in the North American region before, during and after disasters."

This comes right on the heels of the announcement that, "Canada and the U.S. have signed an agreement that paves the way for the militaries from either nation to send troops across each other's borders during an emergency, but some are questioning why the Harper government has kept silent on the deal." It was further reported that, "Neither the Canadian government nor the Canadian Forces announced the new agreement, which was signed Feb. 14 in Texas," and that, "The U.S. military's Northern Command, however, publicized the agreement with a statement outlining how its top officer, Gen. Gene Renuart, and Canadian Lt.-Gen. Marc Dumais, head of Canada Command, signed the plan, which allows the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency."

Soon after this was announced, in the Canadian House of Commons, "the NDP couldn’t get an answer out of Defence Minister Peter MacKay on why his government didn’t release details about a new agreement recently signed with U.S. military," and that:

According to what little is known of the agreement (the actual document hasn’t been made public and no word if it ever will) it will be up to civilian authorities on whether military assistance is needed and whether U.S. troops will cross the border to help in Canada in the event of a terror attack, flu pandemic, earthquake or some other domestic emergency. Same goes if Canadian troops were needed in the U.S. to deal with similar situations.

Calls for Further, Faster Integration:

The day of this press release from the SPP Ministers, the Canadian newspaper the Globe & Mail reported on the previous night’s debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in which they both threatened to leave NAFTA if they didn’t get certain concessions from Canada and Mexico, and the article stated that if NAFTA was torn up, "Canadians would lose their jobs; companies would go out of business, [and] our standard of living would decline." However, it is actually that, "NAFTA has been responsible for growing poverty, the creation of a new underclass called the ‘working poor,’ and the concentration of wealth in the hands of fewer and fewer people."

The Globe & Mail article reports that regarding Obama’s comments toward NAFTA, "CTV reported last night that the Obama camp contacted the Canadian embassy to give them a heads-up about the upcoming rhetoric and to reassure them there was no cause for concern." Continuing on the idea of a theoretical end to NAFTA, the article states that, "Our politicians can wait with fingers crossed, hoping that Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, if one of them does become president, won't follow through," or, "we can act, as we have acted in the past, to revitalize the Canada-U.S. relationship and turn crisis into opportunity."

It further states that, "Since 1993, when Jean Chrétien and Bill Clinton ratified NAFTA, Canadian prime ministers have largely ignored issues of economic integration," which is, of course, an obvious lie. However, it does give mention to, "Incremental efforts at harmonizing regulatory regimes - the once-much-vaunted Security and Prosperity Partnership - have been quietly shelved, left to the bureaucrats to work on, unperturbed by deadlines." So the problem, according to the Globe and Mail, is that the process of integration is not happening fast enough.

The article then went on to attack those who have attacked the North American Union, stating, "the American economy deteriorated and manufacturing jobs disappeared, prompting xenophobic fears over immigration and trade. Anti-trade zealots such as CNN's Lou Dobbs promoted paranoia. Their poisonous message has filtered throughout the industrial heartland of the United States." In explaining a solution to this "crisis", the article states, "The challenge today is the same; the answer is the same. Prime Minister Stephen Harper should propose a second round of Canada-U.S. trade negotiations."

The purpose of proposing a new trade negotiation agreement would be for the next President of the United States, presumably a Democrat, and if the Democrats want new environmental regulations, "Then let's propose a bilateral carbon market based on a cap-and-trade agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions." This idea would likely follow upon another trend being set in British Columbia. As reported by the Leader-Post, "Driving and other fuel-dependent activities are about to get more expensive in British Columbia as B.C. becomes the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce a consumer-based carbon tax," and that BC Finance Minister "Taylor said the new carbon tax will begin July 1, starting at a rate that will have drivers paying about an extra 2.4 cents per litre of gasoline at the pumps." It elaborated, "The tax will apply to virtually all fossil fuels, including gasoline, diesel, natural gas, coal, propane and home heating fuel. It will increase each year until 2012, reaching a final price of about 7.2 cents per litre at the pumps."

The article finishes by stating, "An activist government will get ahead of the story, with proposals to advance both economic and security integration with the United States as soon as the new president takes office."

Funny, that sounds like what every government since Mulroney’s has been doing, so how is doing more of the same, activist? Brian Mulroney, who signed onto the initial Canada-US Free Trade Agreement with George HW Bush, has since been rewarded with a seat on the International Advisory Board of the US-based Council on Foreign Relations. Chrétien signed onto NAFTA with Clinton. Paul Martin signed onto the SPP with Bush and Fox, Harper went further with the SPP with Bush and Calderon. Now, Harper is urged to go further with the next American President. So, what else is new?


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What does it all mean to the citizens of Canada?

By the year 2012 Canada will not be the Canada you once knew. We will be a part of a union the North American Union which means that the United States, Canada and Mexico will become one union just as Europe has done. That means that Canada will take on the problems associated with these other countries such as national debt, unemployment, old age pension, laws, housing & credit bubble, re-evaluated currency, loss of freedom due to new laws imposed by Homeland Security and loss of rights. What was once a debt free country with a steady dollar will be no more. We will join forces with a debt ridden, unemployed, bankrupt country that is toxic and has drained it's natural resources.

Laws such as the one passed under the Mulroney Government in 1987, on the eleventh hour Canada signed a Free Trade Agreement with the US regarding the export of Canadian freshwater to the USA (for more detailed info on this issue read: Water and Free Trade: The Mulroney Government's Agenda for Canada's Most Precious Resource by Wendy Holm)is a good indication of the sneaky tactics being used to trick Canadians. These types of laws are being changed daily without the consent, knowledge or support of Canadians. The United States has drained it's land and it's people for everything it's worth and now it plans to do the same here. Ask yourself what benefit there is in joining a union with a country like the USA (who by the way devised this agenda) when they could handle their own matters. Is it for the promise of a stronger economy? If it is then I would advise you to do further research on the European union to see where it to is headed. Unionization is a temporary bandage on a festering wound that will within a few years explode and when it does the problems will be 10 fold.