VSA BULLETIN
November 8, 2007

VSA Annual Report now available

The 2007 annual report of the VSA, for the year ending March 31, 2007, is now available online (www.vehiclesalesauthority.com). If you would like a published hard copy version, please phone us at 604-294-9889 or toll free at 1-877-294-9889. The report covers the third year of the independent authority, and it was a landmark year in which we developed a new name (formerly Motor Dealer Council) and logo, more appropriate for our mission: to serve dealers, salespeople and consumers.

The 2007 annual report is titled SYNERGY - working together is a worthy goal.

Compensation Fund Board changes

A challenge in the past year has been to review and improve the operation of the Motor Dealer Customer Compensation Fund. In an effort to improve co-ordination between the fund and the VSA, the VSA President/Registrar Ken Smith has also become the acting chair of the Compensation Fund. We are also pleased to welcome a new member to the fund board of directors, Gary Peden.

"This fund is over 10-years-old now and in need of review," Smith said. "We think there should be more face-to-face hearings when dealers and consumers cannot resolve disputes, and better integration with the VSA's other regulatory services."

Welcome Gord Valente

West Vancouver dealer Gord Valente, a veteran of both the new car and used vehicle sectors, joined the VSA Board of Directors during the current fiscal year as one of two Automotive Retailers Association (ARA) representatives of the VSA Board. He is the Chair of the Independent Dealers Division of the ARA and succeeds Catherine Rankine, Assistant General Manager/Sales Manager of Adesa, Inc. Vancouver.

VSA seeks Deputy Registrar

The VSA has begun an executive search for a suitable candidate to fill the position of "Deputy Registrar." This individual will share the hearing load and regulatory responsibilities of The Registrar, but will also be the executive responsible for licensing and compliance services, a centrepiece of operational restructuring.

"Experience taught us that licensing and compliance were so integral to each other it was less than efficient to have separate solitudes within the one office," said Ken Smith, the VSA President and Registrar.

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