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OUR ENERGY CRISIS PDF Print E-mail
Written by Allan Tucker   
Thursday, 08 May 2008

The Honourable Jim Prentice MP Minister of Industry May 8,2008
CC: The Honourable Joe Preston MP Middlesex
The HDDC Board of Directors
Dear Sir:
We speak on behalf of the Heavy Duty Distributor Council (HDDC) a
registered not-for-profit trade association representing a cross-
section of 250 Canadian SME’s and Branches that provide parts and
repair services at the ‘grass-roots’ level to the commercial road
transportation sector in Canada.

It is with a sense of urgency that we approach your office with
respect to the growing energy crisis and the negative impact it is
having on the cost of doing business in Canada. We are receiving
unsettling reports from individual members who are being inundated
with price increases - particularly on essential repair components –
inflated further by incoming fuel surcharges. It is quite literally
becoming overwhelming. Budget expenditure items are now being

cut, business travel plans put on hold and layoffs in this service sector
are inevitable with hundreds of jobs on the line.

We respectfully request that the Government of Canada act decisively

to reassure the business community that measures are being taken to
minimize the impact of speculative oil price increases. It is difficult
for the average Canadian to understand our predicament considering
that we have boasted for years about our self-sufficiency in energy
and natural resources and with an agricultural industry able to feed
the world!
Thirty percent (30%) increases on certain commodities have been
reported to our office this week alone. It appears we are on the
proverbial slippery slope. The recent news of record profits for
multi-national oil companies is a real slap in the face to hard
working Canadians. With economic forecasters fueling the crisis
with talk of $200/barrel oil, the anxiety is understandable.
Our Fleet Operators are truly in a bind with diesel fuel costs
already being reflected in the aforementioned surcharges and the
prices of commodities. We fear that hundreds of trucks could be
soon be parked. One case reported by a member, relates a recent
incident of a truckload of parts being delayed by three days
because of Truck Drivers who had decided that without a substantial
increase in their rates it just wasn’t worth the trip.

Mr. Prentice, please let us know specifically what we must do to
support the government with measures that will help keep Small-
Medium Enterprises (SME’s) – the life blood of our Canadian
economy – in business and competitive and prevent potential
irreparable damage to our economy and standard of living.

An encouraging response would be appreciated within the next 10
days so that the government’s message can be delivered to the
membership at large during our 24th. Annual AGM and Business
Conference that takes place ironically enough in Canada’s ‘Energy
Mecca’ the Province of Alberta May 30 -June 3, 2008.
Kindest regards
G. Allan Tucker, Managing Director
Heavy Duty Distributor Council

President's Speech Kananaskis AB, JUNE 2008 ON REQUEST

Shell/HDDC Technical Scholarship Program - Successful applicants will be awarded their scholarships by December 31, 2009.

English - Click the link below

www.shell.ca/home/page/ca-en/shell_for_businesses/transport/scholarship/app_transport_scholarship.html

French - Click the link below

www.shell.ca/home/page/ca-fr/shell_for_businesses/transport/scholarship/app_transport_scholarship_f.html

President's Speech from Kananaskis, AB

Click Here to download the PDF.

May 30th - June 2nd 2009

25th Annual Business Conference, Heavy Duty Distributor Council http://www.hddc.ca
Delta Meadowvale, Mississauga, ON

October 26th - 28th, 2009

Canadian Transportation Equipment Association
46th Annual Bussiness Conference

Association: http://www.ctea.ca

The Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa, ON
Last Updated ( Thursday, 12 February 2009 )
 
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