Historically speaking, Canada has gotten the blunt end of the stick when it comes to new car pricing compared to its southern neighbors. Pricing on many vehicles versus an otherwise identical U.S. counterpart has long been comparatively inflated, and America's recently passed Cash-For-Clunkers bill has left many Canadian consumers feeling even more short-changed than normal.
But help may be on the way. The Vancouver Sun reports that Jim Prentice, Canada's environmental minister, is reviewing whether the Great White North should get a Cash-For-Clunkers scrappage incentive program of its own. According to the story, Prentice has met with "a number of auto manufacturers over the past few months" in order to discuss whether the government should issue its own $3,500 incentives to junk old vehicles and purchase new ones.
Interestingly, before a decision is made, Prentice plans to analyze whether a small, existing auto salvage trade-in program in Alberta has had any effect. That program apparently gives eligible owners a comparatively modest sum – $300 – for scrapping their 1995 or older vehicles. Instead of the cash incentive, alternative awards for the current program include up to $490 toward a new bicycle or as much as a year's worth of mass transit passes.
A decision on a Cash-For-Clunkers program for Canada will likely be handed down in the next 60 days.
[Source: The Vancouver Sun | Image: Theo Heimann/Getty]
But help may be on the way. The Vancouver Sun reports that Jim Prentice, Canada's environmental minister, is reviewing whether the Great White North should get a Cash-For-Clunkers scrappage incentive program of its own. According to the story, Prentice has met with "a number of auto manufacturers over the past few months" in order to discuss whether the government should issue its own $3,500 incentives to junk old vehicles and purchase new ones.
Interestingly, before a decision is made, Prentice plans to analyze whether a small, existing auto salvage trade-in program in Alberta has had any effect. That program apparently gives eligible owners a comparatively modest sum – $300 – for scrapping their 1995 or older vehicles. Instead of the cash incentive, alternative awards for the current program include up to $490 toward a new bicycle or as much as a year's worth of mass transit passes.
A decision on a Cash-For-Clunkers program for Canada will likely be handed down in the next 60 days.
[Source: The Vancouver Sun | Image: Theo Heimann/Getty]
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