Hi Mark, Chris and all fellow beaver tails,
For those of us afflicted with the dream of building / owning a replica of a signifigant and otherwise unobtainable super car who aren't encouraged by Transport Canadas' position on Kit Cars, have hope. I believe every vendor selling parts would gladly support a Government initiative that specifically allowed hand built automobiles.
This would of course require Transport Canada and those interested vendors to come up with a formula that protects the public intrest and yet retains the flair and passion of the original cars.
With a defined class of allowed cars there would actually be a replica industry in Canada, along with job creation, investment in retail and manufacturing, tax revenues for all levels of Government and a whole lot less confusion, animosity and subterfuge some have eluded to.
Each province has inspection and classifications for home built cars, that settles the putting it on the road issue. However Transport Canada would remain in control of safety as related to vehicle construction.
SEMA has simple classifications for these types of non mass produced cars. This has served as a template for many US States enacting legislation on what, by all counts, is a growing hobby.
I don't think we need an Act of Parliment to get this done, no existing laws need to be rewritten or new ones passed. A plain english (and french of course) guidance statement on Transport Canadas' website would clear the air.
Let the provinces take care of safety certificates like they already do, let Transport Canada satisfy themselves the cars are roadworthy to at least to provincial safety standards and let us have our dream cars!
I would be remiss not to reinforce the economic impact of a healthy vs non existent specialty car industry in Canada: A) new taxed annual sales in the tens of millions of dollars initially - growing to hundreds of millions B) Job creation and skills training in trades that are mostly aerospace, manufacturing and fabrication in nature, C) Export sales will grow exponentially, improving Canadas' balance of trade, D) Revenue for provincial coffers in HST, Income Tax, Corporate Tax, CPP, WCB. What's not to like?
Obviously more dialog and examination of the issues are required but this can be done quite easily in a spirit of co-operation and mutual respect. I keep my rose coloured glasses close by just for moments like these.
Cheers