The Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) is about to undergo a significant change in governance for the first time since its launch 25 years ago.
Maureen Harquail, who was appointed to the role of OMVIC CEO in August 2022, told Canadian auto dealer the change is “huge” because of what the board will look like and the experience and expertise going forward.
“I’m really excited about that,” said Harquail. “It’s foundational. It’s really about driving us to being that modern regulator that I am bound and determined to get us to. Instead of having a board that has majority dealers on it, we will have a more measured distribution of voices at the table.”
Historically the board has 12 individuals, nine of which are elected dealer representatives and three ministerial appointees. The new board will be reduced to nine individuals, including three industry representatives elected by the OMVIC dealers, three public members who are not employed in the industry and will have more of a consumer focus, and three ministerial representatives.
The change was made following an Auditor General’s report for OMVIC to look at its governance structure and a subsequent order from the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, Kaleed Rasheed. It will take effect at OMVIC’s Annual General Meeting at the end of June.
Harquail said the change brings a better balance to the board, while still ensuring the industry has a very strong voice at the table. “It’s really a big change in terms of the people who sit around the table and who provide oversight, governance and direction to me.”
OMVIC was also asked to create an industry advisory council, which will be done over the summer and launched September 1. It will be composed of dealers and salespersons, the OMVIC board, OMVIC registrants, and individuals who are directors, officers, employees or agents of registered motor vehicle dealers.
“I’m pretty excited about what that will look like and who we can have sitting around the table to give us that advice, certainly as CEO, but also for other leadership groups within OMVIC,” said Harquail. “It will be a great opportunity for us to have a place to go to do consultations and talk about issues within the industry.”
Harquail visited two dealerships in early May — Precision Honda and Pfaff BMW — continuing a practice she did before her appointment and plans to do much more of it to get an understanding of what is going on in the industry.
“When I go to do these (dealership) visits, I certainly hear about specific pressure that might be impacting one dealer or one dealership group for example, and sometimes it’s more about pressures that are impacting the industry as whole and the sector as a whole,” she said.
