October 22, 2019 — Toronto, Ontario — Three quarters of collision repair business owners and managers are concerned or angry about the results of yesterday’s federal election, a new survey has found.
The post-election survey from Collision Repair also found that more than 70 percent of collision repair owners and managers feel less optimistic about their business’s future now than before the election.
The prospect of a Liberal minority government that may have to rely on the support of the NDP to pass key legislation did not sit well with three-quarters of the respondents. The most commonly cited reason for discontent was the possibility of increased taxes on businesses and incomes–with half of all respondents calling for them to be cut.
“Create economic growth and stop the environmental fear-mongering,” wrote one repairer asked what he would tell Parliament on behalf of the industry.
“This government is going to destroy the middle class and create more divide than ever before in this country,” wrote another respondent, and collision facility manager. “Who do you think pays the most taxes? Lower class people want all the services, while upper-class people don’t pay any taxes. Cut out the middle class, and there are no more taxes.”
While the general mood of the Canadian repair community sunk in the wake of yesterday’s results, some optimism remains. A number of respondents proposed policy ideas that could both benefit the needs of the collision industry and appeal to the Liberals and likely NDP power-brokers.
Some provided suggestions that, while encouraging increases in public expenditure, could reduce labour concerns.
“At one point in time, high schools in Toronto offered shop classes teaching auto mechanics, electrics, welding, machining and woodwork. This provided many students with the option to experience a trade before joining the workforce. I firmly believe this would assist our industry with a solid foundation for the future,” wrote one repairer.
Others proposed industry figures appeal to left-wing sympathies.
“Insurance companies are forcing customers to use DRPs, and that is killing small businesses. No small shops means no new workers in the trade. It is time the industry speaks up.”
Whether these proposals are able to gain any cross-industry traction remains unclear, but it is likely to have to wait for the moods of some repairers to cool. The survey responses indicate that, for repairers living in the provinces west of Ontario, emotions are running quite high.
“People in Ontario really enjoy being slaves to public servants or are just flat out stupid,” one wrote.
