ACCOUNTABILTY OF STAFF MANAGEMENT (PAGE

ACCOUNTABILITY OF STAFF & MANAGEMENT – DO THE REAL MATH

By Bob Greenwood AMAM

IN THE PAST, BY THE AFTERNOON OF OUR 1-DAY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CLASS, THE STUDENTS WERE REALLY GETTING THEIR HEADS INTO THE NUMBERS OF THEIR BUSINESS.

It was great to see the participation and interest, so I thought I would go another step further and look at some real costs in a shop that most owners never consider or have calculated.

Many shop owners have a tendency to look at the business operating expenses and consume their time with that topic as a main cost reduction plan to increase their bottom line. The fact is most business expenses today in operating a professional service shop are either noncontrollable or common-sense expenses. We go through this in detail in our longer Management courses. We fail to acknowledge that Management must also be accountable to the business and make better use of his/her time. It is Management’s responsibility to go after the real problems in the business instead of nickel diming the business to death with expenses thinking it will save the business and bottom line in the long run. Nothing could be further from the truth. That been said, I think it is time to actually look at the most serious problem in every service shop business, namely, what unproductive staff really cost the business and calculate that cost as a true bottom-line loss.

For example: If a technician is averaging 5.5 billed hours per day but is being paid for 8 then that means 2.5 hours per day are a real cost to the business. If you are paying the person $25 per hour, then $25 times 2.5 = $62.50 per day times 20 days per month = $1,250 per month plus average shop payroll burden = $1,500.00

PER MONTH off the bottom line. ($18,000 per year from ONE person). Add to that, if you were charging $110.00 per hour labor rate on that individual, then $110.00 - $25 basic wage cost = $85.00 per hour lost in gross profit contribution from the lost labor billings that should have been achieved times 2.5 hours = another $212.50 loss per day times 20 days per month = $4,250.00 lost additional gross profit per month which would also drop down to net profit. Total cost to the business from ONE person being unproductive and unaccountable = $5,750.00 per month ($1500 + $4,250) or $69,000.00 per year.

So, from this one calculation we can see the actual cost to the business of only having one person not being held accountable for their time and productivity in the shop. Now let’s look at the entire shop as an average and keep it simple.

If the entire team were averaging 5.5 billed hours per day as a group average leaving 2.5 hours unaccounted for and you have 4 techs on the team at an average wage cost of $25 per hour per tech then that works out to a monthly cost of $1,250 times 4 = $5,000.00 per month plus payroll burden = $6,200.00 PER MONTH off the bottom line ($74,400.00 per year).

Now add in the lost billed labor hours that should have been achieved just for the basic 8 hours in time they were at the shop. $110 labour rate - $25 average wage cost = $85 X 2.5 unbilled hours = $212.50 X 20 days per month average = $4,250 X 4 technicians = $17,000 X 12 months = $204,000.00 per year net profit lost from the tech team when the lost unbilled labor contribution to gross profit is factored in for a total net profit loss of $290,400.00 to the company that is not obtained because the people within the shop are not held to be accountable for their time and productivity. This is serious money!!! and THIS is where management should be spending their time………fix the accountability issue in the business. Management must be accountable to the business by spending time wisely where it has a real effect on the bottom line. Fixing shop accountability is time very well spent.

Remember a competent technician should be billing 10 to 12 hours per day and an apprentice should be billing at least 5 to 6 hours per day; if they are not achieving those numbers then investigate fully “why not?” Do not guess, don’t listen to rhetoric, find out the facts. That is management responsibility to the company.

It is time and absolutely necessary today to focus on accountability in business by embracing all the processes and management education you have been shown/ taught/exposed to. If you “cherry pick” the processes or what you were taught, then it won’t work. If you “assume” the processes are being followed in the shop, then it won’t work.

Every owner/manager must “Inspect what you Expect” from your team and determine why something happened or did not happen or why that particular member of the team is not performing his/her position properly and focus on fixing it. This will be the quickest way to turn any business around.

Educate every staff member as to why accountability is necessary and as Professionals in this industry, we must take it seriously. If the business is not profitable then everyone’s income is affected and ultimately the commercial client is affected because the shop does not have the cash to invest in training and keeping on top of latest shop technology and equipment.

Stand your ground on this issue and stop babysitting the staff because you are afraid they might quit. That means they are holding you hostage. Professional people want accountability in the business because that will show everyone where they shine. The others are scared of accountability because they know it would show where they cut corners, prove that they are lazy, show how self-centered they are, as they only think about themselves and are only looking for a paycheck at the end of the week. They really do not care about the business or the commercial clients the business looks after and these people must be cut loose from the company. Many of us in the industry wish that these people would leave the industry all together.

Make every single person in the company accountable. I will guarantee you one thing; when you improve the accountability throughout your company it will have 5 to 10 times the effect on your bottom line than trying to save money picking away at individual operating expenses. Do the math and insert your own numbers into the equation I have provided in this article. Follow the math in your business, not your emotions, as the math does not lie and then you will truly be working smarter instead of harder.

Bob Greenwood AMAM – 1-800-2675497

FEDS ANNOUNCE PUBLIC SERVICE MANDATORY VACCINATIONS

INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS MINISTER D. LEBLANC AND TRANSPORT MINISTER O. ALGHABRA ANNOUNCED AUGUST 12 THE GOVERNMENT INTENT TO REQUIRE VACCINATION FOR THE FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE AS EARLY AS THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

ees in the federally regulated transportation sectors of air, rail, and marine to be vaccinated by no later than the end of October.

The vaccination requirement will also extend to certain travellers, including all commercial air travellers, passengers on interprovincial trains, and passengers on large marine vessels with overnight accommodations, such as cruise ships. The federally regulated trucking sector will not be included in this regulatory change.

For all other federally regulated sectors, including trucking, both ministers are “strongly encouraging” employers to continuously urge vaccination within their workforce.

FIX AUTO ADDS CAPE BRETON TO ITS ATLANTIC FOOTPRINT

OWNER BRENT SAMPSON ELEVATES HIS FAMILY’S 57-YEAR COLLISION REPAIR BUSINESS TO A NEW LEVEL

Halifax, July 27, 2021: Fix Auto, a leading international name in quality collision repair services, has reinforced its presence across the Atlantic region, welcoming a new location in the picturesque island of Cape Breton, in Nova Scotia.

Fix Auto Cape Breton, located in the River Bourgeois area of Cape Breton, builds on an existing collision repair business, previously called CSN Brent’s Auto Body, which has been operating in the area for the past 57 years. The shop is well reputed among customers and insurance providers in River Bourgeois and surrounding areas for offering quality collision repair and customer services.

Second generation owner Brent Sampson points out that the shop was established by his father and he got involved in the business very early in life. His interest in the repair business remains undiminished since. “Working alongside my father, I came to know the intricacies of running and operating a successful body shop business,” Brent explains. “I have worked in all possible roles at the shop and am always exploring ways to improve my shop’s operational efficiencies.

That mission led Brent to join Fix Network and take up the Fix Auto franchise for his area. He explains that the idea is incorporate some of the most advanced collision repair equipment in his shop and training his team in restoring vehicles of all makes and models to their original condition.

“Over the past few months, I have explored opportunities to expand the business from where my father started off,” Brent explains. “My wife and I visited Fix Network’s Milton training centre a few months back and met up with Fix Network’s President and CEO Steve Leal. Speaking to the team, we were impressed by their vision and direction and immediately decided that we wanted to be a part of this forward-thinking organization.”

Brent and his team soon aligned their business with Fix Auto to keep pace with the changing trends in the collision repair industry. “Joining a respected banner such as Fix Network ensures that our team can benefit from their ongoing training, operations and marketing support.

Our onboarding has been relatively easier, and we look forward to profitable growth in the coming months,” he added.

Welcoming Fix Auto Cape Breton into the network, Mark Weeks, Regional VicePresident – Atlantic, says, “Cape Breton is a thriving and growing community where Brent Sampson and his team enjoy a solid reputation for quality repairs and customer service.

We are confident that Fix Auto Cape Breton will further enhance Fix Auto’s reputation as a global aftermarket leader in this region.”

FILLING UP FOR SUCCESS

By Tim Terry

WE’VE SPOKEN IN T H I S SPACE BEFORE ABOUT THE FULL EXPERIENCE YOU GET AT A RACE TRACK.

The experience that a race fan has at a track varies based on what they feel like they should get out of it. For some, they want to go to a track, spend some time enjoying some great racing and return home until the next time. Some make a weekend out of it, bringing campers, motorhomes or tents and camp at the track to make an event out of the racing card. A race team or driver experience will differ from a race fan as they are a part of the show, scratching their need for speed in different ways than sitting themselves in the grandstands.

Plenty of these emotions and experiences are shared, regardless what side of the fence you are on. The common thread is that everyone enjoys the sport we love. Whether you are there to watch the rising stars in Late Models, working on your sibling’s Mini Stock or just there to see some great short track racing, the common bond is the sport. Outside of that, there are some other things that are shared, one of those things that I am famous for checking out at every track I go to.

That’s right, I’m talking about the refreshment stand!

Think about it though, besides one race track in the region, folks go to the track to see the competition, spend time with their friends and go to their “happy place.” A majority of folks do not go to the track to eat at the refreshment stand.

Though, speaking from experience, a good eat at a track can stick in the mind of a race fan and they’ll return with that in mind when they visit the track the next time.

We’ve chatted about it in these pages before but the best refreshment stand experience in the Maritimes, bar none, has been Valley Raceway. Chef Will Macintosh has redefined what it means to eat at a track and is the exception to the rule above. Several folks have been known to drive to the Melvern Square, Nova Scotia track, out in the middle of the woods, to pay admission and the bill at the food window to eat Will’s food. For those folks, the racing comes second.

Macintosh’s specialty is the Valley Raceway Burger. A double cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and his special Thousand Island-esque sauce. The beef is lightly seasoned and is sourced locally from Meadowbrook Meat Market in nearby Berwick. They also have different offerings on the menu, including fresh hand cut French Fries and even Deep Fried Mars Bars to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Now, most race tracks will play the cost card. They want to keep their margins high. A Valley Raceway Burger or something to that effect, is non-existent at any other track in the region. Simply

put, the attention to detail is not there. No other track will you find lettuce and tomato as options on your burger or any sauce. That does not go to say that burgers at other tracks are not delicious but they, as the kids say these days, “hit different” at Valley Raceway. With COVID-19, the track has yet to run a race in 2021 after sitting dormant last season but the dirt track crew is hopeful to get back on the clay surface later this fall.

Simply put, quality keeps people coming back. As much as it is the case with the racing product on track, the same can be said with the off-track experience as well. Scotia Speedworld, led by concession manager JC Fortes, has also set up their game when it comes to their burgers, dumping the frozen patties and getting their beef from Withrow’s Farm Market. A new bun, similar to those that fast food chain Wendy’s uses, puts the burger over the top as one of the best in Nova Scotia. The track even offers Kismit Kettle Corn as a sweet treat to go along with the biggest Weekly Racing Series in the Province. COVID has cut the Speedworld offering down and while you cannot find Onion Rings, poutines or Chicken Fingers on the menu yet, they have focused their attention on the limited offerings.

Not to be outdone, Lake Doucette Motor Speedway has a great barbeque burger that is a wonderful accompaniment to some great racing the Clare area track has to offer. Across the Northumberland Strait, Oyster Bed Speedway prides themselves on quality eats at their canteen. Like Scotia Speedworld though, public health has chopped the grandstands into zones and it ultimately has changed how they operate their refreshment stand.

In New Brunswick, all four paved ovals offer their own concession offerings. Speedway 660 stands apart as the track with the best French Fries in the region, winning “Fan Favorite Food” from Tim’s Corner Motorsports several times over. Speedway Miramchi continues to bring the heat with fresh burgers, poutines and even pizza!

Petty International Raceway has Peggy’s Trailer in the pits with several different offering, depending on the day, from spiral fries to mozza sticks along with your favorite race track foods. Shediac’s CENTRE For Speed continues to offer excellent canteen fair, including their famous bologna burgers, at an affordable price to their fans and teams alike.

Some race tracks, whether due to COVID-19 or other operation hurdles, outsource their refreshment operations. Riverside International Speedway has tapped Cabana’s to take care of keeping race fans fed over the past two seasons and their offerings have been some of the best around. With bringing outside operations into a race track, it opens up for different offerings and with Cabana’s comes Fish and Chips. One of the only tracks to offer it on a regular basis, it is an affordable, delicious and different option than the typical burgers and sausages - and yes, they offer those too!

Like Riverside, the CENTRE For Speed has been known to bring in a food truck or two over the Summer to accompany their own in-house concession stands. KC and Sons Fish and Chips have stopped in a couple times over the 2021 season and it isn’t odd to see a truck offering sweets like Mini Donuts at the track - something that isn’t usually seen at racing venues

around the region.

The question is - what track will stick their neck out and give us something completely different? There are tracks around North America serving different eats but who will be the first to bend that fine line between profit margins and quality to give the fans something unique. Sure, you’re likely not going to find a salad at a track in the Maritimes anytime soon but we’re awaiting that next breakthrough innovation that will give us something new to talk about in these pages.

Of course, several fans like myself have favourite stops to and from the track in the region. If I’m going to a race at Scotia Speedworld, I usually hit up the Wooden Door Bistro at the Quality Inn Halifax Airport behind the track.

They even have a chicken parmesan type dish named after multi-time track champion Dave Matthews. Moncton race fans have been known to visit St. Louis Bar & Grill after the race to support longtime motorsport fan Keith Mackintosh. A Lake Doucette run wouldn’t be complete for me without a stop at Rudder’s Brewpub on the waterfront in Yarmouth.

This sport is all about creating lifelong memories and some of those finest bench racing moments are crafted around a supper table after a good hard day of racing.

While COVD has changed the way these tracks operate in every facet, the return to normal or “living with COVID” we hope to get to in 2022 is sure to see changes. From basic operations to something that might seem trivial to most like refreshment stands, there is a lot that goes into planning a show.

With COVID provincial guidelines, the restrictions in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland are all different.

At press time, New Brunswick does not have any restrictions on events or mass gatherings while the other three Provinces have mandated major venues like race tracks to group their fans into separate bubbles or pods. This creates a situation where each pod needs washroom facilities, its own entrance and exit gate along with access to concession stands.

As the racing season winds to a close, get out and enjoy a race at your local short track. Before you know it, the snow will be flying and we’ll be dreaming about the smell of race fuel, burnt rubber, the sight of door-to-door racing and, of course, the taste of race track food. I’m already thinking about my next Scotia Speedworld cheeseburger as I type this.

Until next time, keep the hammer down and we’ll see you at the track!

BLACKBERRY IVY TO PROVIDE SECURE VEHICLE-BASED PAYMENTS

BLACKBERRY WILL UNLOCK THE LARGE MARKET FOR VEHICLE-BASED PAYMENTS AND E-COMMERCE

On August 11, BlackBerry Limited announced a new solution to deliver highlysecure vehicle-based payment capability to unlock a connected car payments market that is projected to reach over €530 billion by 2030. This vehicle-based payment solution will create new opportunities for automakers to offer a vast array of payment services and develop previously untapped revenue streams. The solution will create a “digital fingerprint” for the vehicle, allowing it to securely connect to a bank’s payment network, validate, and autonomously pay for a wide range of frequently used services, including fuel, tolls, parking, insurance, maintenance, and other “wallet” capabilities.

Historically, vehicle-based payment processes have been complex and leverage legacy banking primitives such as physical credit cards or multiple smartphone apps to communicate with each individual merchant and service provider.

BlackBerry is delivering this solution through a partnership with Californiabased financial technology solution provider Car IQ which leverages BlackBerry IVY’s in-vehicle edge computing and direct access to vehicle sensors.

“We are delighted to demonstrate the value of BlackBerry IVY’s end-to-end offering for this market through our partnership with Car IQ,” said Peter Virk, Vice President of IVY Product and Ecosystem, BlackBerry. “Access to sensor data and edge computing will allow for an incredibly secure in-vehicle payments solution.”

“We are excited to accelerate the timeto-market of our latest in-vehicle payment solution and to capture share of the connected car payments market by leveraging the BlackBerry IVY platform,” said Sterling Pratz, CEO and founder of Car IQ. “With BlackBerry IVY we can now fully embed our solution on a common platform in the vehicle, allowing us to not only provide the highest level of security, but also greatly reduce complexity for banks and merchants.”

“Fleet managers, shared vehicle operators and individual vehicle owners will benefit from greater convenience and secure management of transactions as the next wave of connected vehicle technology integrates more closely with merchant platforms for cashless and cardless payments,” said Lee Colman, Chief Production Officer of global automotive technology analyst firm SBD Automotive.

He added, “Undisputable identification of the vehicle and/or driver leveraging seamless vehicle sensor technology at the point of sale underpinned by security creates further efficiencies for the entire fleet value chain.”

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOVA SCOTIA AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR COUNCIL

By Nikki Barnett, Operations Manager

THE AUTOMOTIVE SEC TOR COUNCIL (ASC) HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY BUSY THIS YEAR, LAUNCHING MULTIPLE PROJECTS TO HELP ADDRESS LABOUR MARKET CHALLENGES IN A WAY THAT WILL MAKE A LONG-TERM POSITIVE IMPACT IN INDUSTRY.

Activities cut across human resource planning, attraction & retention and Training.

Are you looking for training? A brandnew training portal, Marketplace, was launched in June 2021. This platform is for motive power industry employers and employees in NS to access online training. The ASC has leveraged their partnership with developer Bluedrop Training & Simulation to build this platform to offer courses that are responsive to the motive power industry’s critical needs. Courses will range from business management, human resources, and safety to technical and certification, currently under development.

Worker Passports will allow employers and employees to view, download and share certificates of course completion. Feedback and testimonials from training participants and site visitors will help steer ASC for future course material on this dynamic Marketplace platform. Please visit automotivens.skillspass.com to register.

Are you looking for employees? The Automotive Sector Council Motive Power Career Portal launches in the fall of 2021. The portal is not just a job board and resume builder but also a personality assessment tool. Job-seekers, apprentices and students who sign up learn about their attitudes and aptitudes, learn about career paths in the motive power Industry and are matched with open career opportunities that closely match their strengths and interests.

Once signed up, there is information on training pathways and careers in industry incorporating expanding services and new technology. For employers who post jobs on the portal, they don’t just receive applications and resumes, they will receive an applicant’s job fit score and likelihood of success in the role. Applicants with a higher fit score are likely to onboard faster and stay longer, reducing the time and cost employers spend on recruitment. For more information and to sign up, visit Autotrades.jobtimize.com/ landing/

Would you hire a summer student? TestDrive 2021 is wrapping up for another year. The ASC’s TestDrive program began in 2012 and offers grade 10-and-11 high school students the opportunity to experience motive power trades in Nova Scotia.

Students can earn three co-op credits, 300 apprenticeship hours towards trade certification, training experience at Nova Scotia Community College and a paid summer work placement with an employer. The experience creates career awareness for students and starts them on a path to apprenticeship.

The program is currently offered in four regional school districts where, in the fall, high school teachers may arrange class presentations. Student applications are accepted in the winter. Employers in the motive power industry are financially incentivized to employ students. Grant applications for employers will be available this winter. For more details, please visit AutomotiveSectorCouncil.ca/TestDrive.

The Tire and Maintenance Technician (TMT) is a brand-new certification created by industry for industry. The Automotive Sector Council in partnership with industry representatives and employers from Nova Scotia’s motive power industry identified the core skills required to work as a certified TMT.

Job seekers with an interest in the motive power industry, with or without formal training, can be assessed for required competencies and fit with the new industry position, trained and certified within a few months for this entry-level position. The applicant’s assessment process, Recognizing Prior Learning, is a new approach to assessing and earning credits for individuals with what they may have already learned at work, through study, in community, through personal activities and at home.

It identifies any gaps in knowledge and skill and recommends any necessary additional training. Training components are delivered online and hands-on. If individuals complete the assessment and any recommended training, they may be certified by an Industry assessor. The Tire and Maintenance Technician pilot program intends to assess 8-10 diverse candidates beginning April 1, 2022, and every subsequent tire season moving forward. Soon, the program will be recruiting keen experienced individuals in the sector to train as assessors.

Details will be published in the next issue of the Auto & Trucking Atlantic. For more information and to inquire about hiring graduates, please visit AutomotiveSectorCouncil.ca under Get Started.

Are you looking for employees this tire season? The ASC’s Pathways to Success is about to begin its first pilot. Pathways to Success is a preparation training program, in partnership with equity-seeking groups, for diverse jobseekers to enter the motive power industry workplace.

Jobseekers with interest in the industry, with or without formal training, can be assessed for fit, trained and certified within a few months for this entry-level position. If individuals complete the assessment and recommended online and in-person training, they may be certified as Tire and Maintenance Technicians.

The program was designed to increase recruitment and retention in the Motive Power Industry while reducing barriers to entry. The pilot program has a goal to assess 8-10 candidates by September 13, 2021 and ready for employment by October 11, 2021. For more information, application and to inquire about hiring graduates, please visit AutomotiveSectorCouncil.ca.

Not sure who the Automotive Sector Council are? Check us out at AutomotiveSectorCouncil.ca

DRIVERLESS CARS ON THE ROADS MAY BE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK

By Adrian Giorgio

WHILE IT MAY SEEM LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE JETSONS, DRIVERLESS VEHICLES ARE BY NO MEANS SOMETHING OUT OF A HANNA-BARBERA PRODUCTION FANTASY.

Although the concept has created controversy and debate over utility, convenience and ethics, the implementation and sale of these advanced automobiles is within grasp. This means no human involvement would be necessary for a safe and efficient experience, with multiple companies vying for the earliest release to the general public.

In early May of 2021, GM’s CEO Mary Barra said that it could be achieved within the decade. By rapidly developing and funding Cruise, a self-driving start-up, GM hopes to best Tesla in achieving Level 5 transport. GM even has the upper hand with regards to current features, possessing a hands-free option known as “Super Cruise” that Barra declared “could enable hands-free transportation in 95% of driving scenarios.” The ultimate goal is to take Cruise’s current work, which is designed for robotaxis, and make it available for mass distribution. A tall task, given the notoriety and success of some of their biggest competitors.

While Tesla is known for churning out software updates at a rapid pace, Elon Musk’s reputation for productivity and efficiency may be at risk in the near future.

BBC quoted IHS market analyst Tim Urquhart with regards to Elon’s audacity “It’s a typically bold claim by Mr. Musk…even if Tesla can reliably roll out the technology in a production environment, the regulatory environment in all the major markets is way behind allowing completely autonomous vehicles on the road.” While that may sound skeptical and perhaps rather bleak, Mr. Urquhart’s assessment does seem to coincide better with Barra’s timeline of the project. Perhaps Tesla’s eagerness will be its downfall here, yielding to alternative forms of conveyance. Extant non-traditional transportation services already offer convoys of autonomous cabs. Forbes enthusiastically revealed the progress of organizations like Waymo, who are neither testing nor in a beta phase. The suburbs outside of Phoenix (Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Tempe) have had access to robotaxis since October 2020, after having already experienced Waymo Via, a self-driving strategy for trucking and last-mile delivery. That’s quite the speedy development, making them a more than formidable opponent for conventional auto manufacturers and delivery services.

We may not yet be propelling our sedans and mini-vans through the air to get to soccer practice, but the concept no longer resembles a futuristic caricature of reality as much as it once did.

ALL EV EXPANDS ACROSS ATLANTIC CANADA WITH FOUR NEW DEALERSHIPS

ELECTRIC CAR DEALERSHIP ALL EV CANADA HAS ANNOUNCED FOUR NEW STORES ACROSS ATLANTIC CANADA, TWO OF WHICH WILL BE IN NEWFOUNDLAND, ONE IN NEW BRUNSWICK, AND ONE IN NOVA SCOTIA.

The news follows the recent sale of All EV Canada to Steele Auto Group. Steele Auto Group announced it had acquired the Halifax-based electric vehicle dealership on July 26, 2021. Peter Porteus, a vice president with Steele Auto Group, told news outlet Huddle that Steele Auto Group invested in All EV Canada because of its expertise in the EV field and its efforts to promote EV adoption in Atlantic Canada.

He added that Steele Auto Group is aligned with All EV Canada founders David Giles, Jérémie Bernardin, and Jeff Farwell in their vision for the EV market. “The change that our industry is going through towards electrification probably hasn’t been seen since the invention of the Model T,” Porteus told Huddle on August 3rd. Porteus added that the government’s investment in charging infrastructure combined with timelines by OEMs to transition their production to electric vehicles will “revolutionize the automotive industry.” Although EV adoption across the Atlantic provinces has been relatively slow compared to other parts of the country, new provincial cash rebates, like those recently introduced in Prince Edward Island are sparking sales. “The moment that incentive program was introduced in Prince Edward Island, retail happened,” Porteus said. “People who had been thinking about it for a year or two years, the day it was announced, were coming in and buying vehicles.”

Those rebates, which have also been introduced across other Atlantic provinces, are “‘directly responsible’ for Steele’s decision to invest in All EV Canada and its expansion,” he added.

All four of All EV Canada’s new expansions - in Corner Brook and St.John’s Newfoundland, Fredericton New Brunswick, and a new location in Halifax - will open in September of this year and will add to All EV Canada’s current location in Prince Edward Island, giving the company more complete representation across the Atlantic Provinces.

NEWS OF THE WEIRD . . .

BITS AND PIECES OF THE BIZARRE, THE HORRIFIC AND THE DOWNRIGHT PUZZLING, SCOOPED UP FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WEB SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO. YER WELCOME.

BIG BANG THEORY?

Autoblog recently reported a story about a semi truck carrying 13 tons of Degree deodorant in aerosol cans that exploded at an Oklahoma truck stop (photo above). The spray cans fired off as projectiles in all directions - even bouncing off the fire truck that responded to the blaze.

The explosion occurred early morning at a Love’s truck stop off I-44 near the town of Big Cabin, northeast of Tulsa, where the driver had stopped with brake problems. The hot brakes caught the tires on fire, and the blaze spread to the trailer and its explosive contents.

“It looks like Roman candles going off,” Big Cabin Fire Chief Kevin Oakley told local media “And you’re walking through everything, it looks like a war zone. Especially at 5 o’clock in the morning.”

The most interesting thing about the whole event wasn’t the fire but rather the aftermath — thousands of incinerated spray cans scattered like spent shell casings , as the chief said, a war zone. On the bright side, a reporter tweeted, “To certain degree, the scene smelled lovely.”

KIDS FIND THE DARNDEST THINGS

Motor 1 had a recent story about teenagers in Brazil who broke into an old building only to discover a huge collection of classic cars that looked like they’d been gathering dust for decades (right).

The kids filmed their escapades and posted the video on WhatsApp. It has now become a police matter.

The cars belonged to a collector who basically kept a private museum there. In addition to the cars, there was a technical library, various parts for the machines, a collection of gas pumps, and even a reconstruction of an old coffee shop.

The vehicles included cars built between the 1920s to the 1970s, including a Ford Model T and Citroën DS. The first

floor alone included a Chevrolet Corvair, 1952 Chevrolet Styleline, , and Hudson Hornet.The license plates indicated they hadn’t been on the road in decades.

On a second floor, rare vehicles were on wooden planks that appeared ready to collapse. The machines included an Austin A90 Atlantic coupe and convertible, Chrysler Airflow, 1938 and 1940 Ford coupes.

Until the 1990s or 2000s, it was visited only by collectors and friends of the owner and was never open to the public. Time passed, and the owner locked the building. Among the heirs who were twins, one wanted to keep the collection together, and the other preferred to sell everything.

Over time, the place essentially became abandoned. That is, until a group of 10 teenagers, who were around 15 years old, decided that it was time to find out what was inside that “castle” and invaded the private property.

They broke into the collection and got into the cars without the slightest ceremony. They screamed with excitement at their magnificent “discovery.” Instead of keeping it a secret, they preferred to film everything and spread the images through WhatsApp. The next day, the police were already on the scene, and the cops were in contact with the kids’ parents.

BIOGAS REDUCES CO2 EMISSIONS BY 95%

Scotch whisky giant Glenfiddich has begun the process of converting its delivery trucks to run on low-emission biogas made from waste products from its whis-

ky distilling process as part of a “closed loop” sustainability initiative.

Glenfiddich said it has installed fueling stations at a distillery in northeastern Scotland that uses technology devel-

oped by William Grant & Sons to convert its production waste and residues into an Ultra-Low Carbon Fuel (ULCF) gas

Stuart Watts, distillery director at family-owned William Grant & Sons, said traditionally Glenfiddich has sold off spent grains left over from the malting process to be used for a high-protein cattle feed.

But through anaerobic digestion — where bacteria break down organic matter producing biogas — the distillery can also use liquid waste from the process to

make fuel and eventually recycle all of its waste products this way.

The distiller, which sells more than 14 million bottles of single-malt whisky a year, said its waste-based biogas is already powering three specially-converted trucks that transport Glenfiddich spirit from production at Dufftown through to bottling and packaging, covering four William Grant & Sons sites in central and western Scotland.

The distiller said the biogas cuts CO2 emissions by over 95% compared to diesel and other fossil fuels, and reduces other harmful particulates and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 99%. Glenfiddich currently has a fleet of around 20 trucks.

Each truck will displace up to 250 tons of CO2 annually, Glenfiddich said.

The trucks Glenfiddich is using are converted vehicles from truckmaker Iveco that normally run on liquefied natural gas.

The Scottish whisky industry hopes to hit carbon net zero targets by 2040

AND FINALLY… THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT?

Spotted on a highway in Catalunya, Spain, the Audi RS6 Avant was being driven with two kids in the trunk. Taking into consideration they were unable to close the tailgate, chances are those were a couple of teens riding in the trunk area.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, the RS4 Avant was being driven at highway speeds, so it’s fairly easy to imagine a worst-case scenario, be it a rear-end collision or hard braking. With no seatbelts for those teenagers to hold them tightly in place, things could go horribly wrong in a matter of seconds.

Local reports say a French tourist was behind the wheel of the RS4 Avant and was heading to the Costa Brava, a coastal region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. He was pulled over by the police and handed an €840 (nearly $1,000) fine for breaking no fewer than six driving laws: two violations for carrying two kids under the age of three in the back seats without proper child restraints, one for reckless driving, one for carrying more people than seats, and two more for putting two teenagers in the trunk.

WE’RE BIG ON SECOND CHANCES.

THE ATLANTIC ROAD REPORT

NEWS AND VIEWS COLLECTED FROM AROUND THE ATLANTIC REGION SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO…YER WELCOME!

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

New Accessible Vehicles for Reliable GoBus Paratransit Services in St. John’s

On August 6, the Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure; the Honourable Bernard Davis, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Environment and Climate Change; the Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South – Mount Pearl, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; and Danny Breen, Mayor of St. John’s, announced joint funding to replace St. John’s paratransit vehicles.

Through this investment, the paratransit fleet of buses used in the GoBus service in St. John’s and Mount Pearl will be replaced with Metrobus purchasing up to 18 new accessible paratransit vehicles. The new buses will ensure paratransit users continue to have access to the reliable transportation services they need.

The Government of Canada is investing more than $1.1 million in this project through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is providing over $755,000, while the City of St. John’s is contributing more than $377,000.

“Our government works with municipalities in all areas of the province so that we can provide better infrastructure and services for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. By replacing the accessible paratransit fleet with newer vehicles, we are proactively ensuring the GoBus service can continue without disruption for everyone who depends on it.” Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

NEW BRUNSWICK

Eleven communities receive provincial and federal funding for infrastructure projects

The provincial and federal governments announced $8.3 million in funding August 5 for 11 infrastructure projects across the province that are intended to provide residents with safe and reliable infrastructure and better position their communities for growth.

“Investments of this type help equip communities with the infrastructure they need for both population and economic growth and help ensure they will continue to flourish for generations to come,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Gary Crossman, who is also minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation.

Projects include road improvements in Oromocto and Gagetown as well as a wellfield expansion in McAdam. In addition, maintenance depots in Debec, Centreville, Petitcodiac, Woodman’s Point, Gagetown, Hampton, and Hanwell will receive structural upgrades. These upgrades include removing hazardous material, new roofing and windows, and improved heating and plumbing. A sand dome in Grand Manan will also be upgraded.

“These investments will extend the life of important department facilities,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Jill Green. “The upgraded facilities will help us to effectively manage our large network of roadways, bridges and infrastructure.”

The federal government is investing more than $6.6 million in these projects through the COVID-19 Resilience Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The provincial government is contributing $980,000 while municipalities and other funding partners are contributing more than $686,000.

“The Government of Canada is taking strong and quick action to protect the health and safety of all Canadians, to stabilize our economy, and support communities across Canada. These projects will extend the lifespan of important community infrastructure across New Brunswick and create energy efficient cost saving benefits,” said Fredericton MP Jenica Atwin. “Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities.”

NOVA SCOTIA

Province to Introduce Bilingual Stop Signs in Acadian Communities

The province will begin installing bilingual stop signs on provincial roads in some Acadian communities this summer.

“This is an historic moment for our province that strengthens our commitment to French language and culture in Acadian communities,” said Acadian Affairs and Francophonie Minister Lena Metlege Diab. “As part of the province’s Culture Action Plan, we continue to work with communities to find new ways to acknowledge and celebrate our diverse, inclusive province.”

In 2019, a group of young Acadian students from Clare met with government representatives including Clare-Digby MLA Gordon Wilson, as part of their project to introduce bilingual stop signs in the Municipality of Clare.

This regulation change mirrors other francophone communities in Canada

where bilingual stop signs have been introduced to support, reflect and celebrate francophone language and culture. “We applaud the initiative of these young students, their teachers and La Société acadienne de Clare. They have demonstrated commitment to citizenship and making meaningful change, not just in their community, but across the province, said .Lloyd Hines, Transportation and Active Transit Minister “I am very proud of the work the students have done. It was a very enriching experience for them. Not only have they learned how different levels of government work, they have learned how to be agents of change.

I hope that they will continue to participate in civic engagement as they become adults and continue to be active members of their communities,” said Natalie Robichaud, executive director, la Société acadienne de Clare

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Canada and PEI invest in road upgrades across the province

The health and safety of Canadians are top priorities for the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island. Investments in Prince Edward Island’s infrastructure during this extraordinary time provide an opportunity to create jobs, economic growth, and make our communities more sustainable and resilient.

On August 12, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Cardigan; the Honourable Wayne Easter, Member of the Joint Interparliamentary Council and Member of Parliament for Malpeque; Robert Morrissey, Member of Parliament for Egmont, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, and the Honourable James Aylward, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, announced funding for road upgrades across the province.

The project will see approximately five kilometres of construction and 36 kilometres of rehabilitation on local roads across Prince Edward Island. New construction will include placing borrows, granular materials and asphalt, and the rehabilitation work will include asphalt resurfacing.

The project aims to improve connections between communities through increased road quality and durability that will extend their life expectancy for many years to come.

The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island are each investing more than $2.3 million in this project through the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

“Investments in road upgrades for rural communities like the project we are announcing today will not only help Islanders stay connected but it will also support our various industries. As we build back better, Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds stronger, safer, and more resilient communities,” said The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Cardigan, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development.