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56-664: CAA is not affiliated with the London, Ontario-based Dominion Automobile Association (c. 1948) or consumer groups such as the Automobile Protection Agency . The CAA considers itself to be an advocate for Canada's motorists and travellers. CAA is an active political lobby for Canadian consumers, pursuing the interests of drivers and travellers in public consultations over urban planning and public transit . CAA has lobbied to put in place stronger consumer protection laws for air passengers, commenting in support of Bill C-49,

112-507: A bill to improve various air passenger rights, before a House of Commons committee in 2017. As of 2016, CAA consists of eight autonomous clubs, if counting CAA Club Group as a single club operating under both the CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba brands. Some clubs serve multiple provinces and/or territories, while others operate in a single province. The province of Ontario is split into three territories, with most of

168-410: A broken political system. For instance in 2008, U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama utilized such a meaning when he said, "this was the moment when we tore down barriers that have divided us for too long; when we rallied people of all parties and ages to a common cause." Change.org and Causes are two popular websites that allow people to organize around a common cause. Topics upon which there

224-604: A fee, would test a clean car and report those results instead. Other test facilities would fail a well-tuned car to generate additional work. For these reasons and others, consumer reports suggest drivers try another garage if their car fails a Drive Clean test, before proceeding with expensive repairs. Ontario's Drive Clean program provides no financial assistance to low-income drivers. This contrasts with otherwise similar mandatory emissions testing programs such as those in California, Texas and Arizona. Critics of Drive Clean, including

280-530: A greater long-term impact on overall air quality would result from reinvesting the same provincial resources towards encouraging low-emitter technologies, some of which offer electric power as an alternative to 100% internal combustion propulsion. There has been a call for the Ontario government to admit to Drive Clean's minimal impact, and to begin promoting low-emissions vehicles such as hybrid cars , plug-in hybrid electric vehicles , zero-emission vehicles such as

336-500: A print magazine produced by Finally Content, known as AMA Insider in Alberta and CAA Magazine elsewhere, with slight differences between regions. CAA NEO moved to an online-only magazine format in late 2022, while BCAA ceased publication of its magazine following the fall 2023 issue, both citing environmental impacts. For similar reasons, CAA-Quebec will discontinue its separately-produced magazines in 2026. Advocacy Advocacy

392-442: A program to purchase and scrap old polluting cars called Car Heaven. This program is sponsored by General Motors and Exxon-Mobil among others. It is structured in a way which will cost taxpayers little, and acts as a small incentive for people to scrap older cars. This has the effect of boosting prices for remaining used cars by reducing supply, making it somewhat more expensive for low-income persons to drive in Ontario. Currently,

448-447: A variety of North American destinations. CAA Saskatchewan's insurance agency offers a wide range of insurance products, from basic coverage to all-risk comprehensive policies, for home and property, auto, health & dental, travel and life insurance, with added benefits and savings for CAA Saskatchewan Members. The Show Your Card & Save program also provides Members savings at thousands of attractions, retailers and merchants throughout

504-438: A wide range of categories and support several issues as listed on worldadvocacy.com. The Advocacy Institute, a US-based global organization, is dedicated to strengthening the capacity of political, social, and economic justice advocates to influence and change public policy. The phenomenon of globalization draws a special attention to advocacy beyond countries’ borders. The core existence of networks such as World Advocacy or

560-593: Is a not for profit organization with its head offices located in Thornhill, Ontario and Winnipeg, Manitoba . CAA Club Group primarily provides roadside assistance , auto, property & travel insurance services, as well as leisure travel services to its members. CAA Manitoba can trace its origins to the creation of the Winnipeg Auto Club in 1904, the first club of its kind in Canada. The organization later evolved into

616-455: Is a form of advocacy where a direct approach is made to legislators on a specific issue or specific piece of legislation. Research has started to address how advocacy groups in the United States and Canada are using social media to facilitate civic engagement and collective action. There are several forms of advocacy, each representing a different approach in a way to initiate changes in

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672-451: Is a more decent and a more just society Those actions, which vary with the political, economic and social environment in which they are conducted, have several points in common. For instance, they: Other forms of advocacy include: Different contexts in which advocacy is used: Margaret E. Keck and Kathryn Sikkink have observed four types of advocacy tactics: These tactics have been also observed within advocacy organizations outside

728-688: Is a non-profit membership organization serving Saskatchewan affiliated with the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and the AAA (formerly American Automobile Association). The organization's headquarters are located in Regina, Saskatchewan , and it has over 184,000 members as of May 2010 and provides them with roadside assistance service, a range of auto touring and leisure travel services, insurance services, vehicle repair and sales services, and member discounts with preferred companies. CAA Saskatchewan

784-439: Is actively engaged in advocacy issues, most recently with its 'Move Over Manitoba' campaign to convince the provincial government to extend to tow truck operators the same protective measures that cover emergency roadside personnel. The Toronto Automobile Club was founded on May 4, 1903. By this time like-minded motorists were forming their own clubs throughout Ontario to exchange and share information about their vehicles. In 1907

840-568: Is affiliated with the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and the American Automobile Association (AAA) and has over 1 million members as of August 2024. The Alberta Motor Association provides its members with roadside assistance service, a range of auto touring and leisure travel services, insurance services, and member discounts with partners. AMA Financial has also begun offering a variety of mortgage and Guaranteed Investment Certificate products to members. The Association

896-613: Is also an advocate for motoring and related consumer issues and a supplier of automotive and other travel services. CAA Saskatchewan, formerly the Saskatchewan Motor League, has been in operation since 1917 and was organized by Frederick E. Betts . The association includes automotive sales and service facilities, a travel agency and an insurance agency. Besides providing a full range of travel services and packages, CAA Saskatchewan also owns and operates its own motorcoach company, WestWorld Tours, which offers fully escorted tours to

952-538: Is an activity by an individual or group that aims to influence decisions within political, economic, and social institutions. Advocacy includes activities and publications to influence public policy, laws and budgets by using facts, their relationships, the media, and messaging to educate government officials and the public. Advocacy can include many activities that a person or organization undertakes, including media campaigns , public speaking , commissioning and publishing research. Lobbying (often by lobby groups )

1008-598: Is an offence separate from Drive Clean but under the same Regulation). Some registrants circumvent an emissions test by registering their vehicles to addresses outside the Drive Clean testing areas. Circumventing an emissions test in this way is an offence and could result in a ticket or summons and could also result in licence plates being seized. The Drive Clean program has undergone several changes since its introduction in 1999. In 2003, standards for light-duty vehicles were tightened to require 11.5% lower vehicle emissions than

1064-429: Is increasingly playing a role in advocacy for migrants rights , and migrant advocacy organizations have strategically called upon governments and international organizations for leverage. Transnational advocates spend time with local interest groups in order to better understand their views and wishes. Ontario%27s Drive Clean Ontario's Drive Clean is an automobile emissions control program introduced by

1120-601: Is likely to remain. In the United States , any issue of widespread debate and deeply divided opinion can be referred to as a social issue. The Library of Congress has assembled an extensive list of social issues in the United States, ranging from vast ones like abortion to same-sex marriage to smaller ones like hacking and academic cheating . Topics that appear to involve advancing a certain positive ideal are often known as causes. A particular cause may be very expansive in nature — for instance, increasing liberty or fixing

1176-548: Is one of the largest CAA/AAA affiliates in North America. AMA operates Western Canada’s largest travel agency, AMA Travel. AMA publishes its member's Magazine AMA Insider from its Edmonton Headquarters. The association also owns Bridgewater Bank, a Calgary -based chartered bank. On August 8, 2016, the AMA announced that an executive was dismissed for cause related to "fraudulent activity". The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported

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1232-741: Is similar to that of a regressive tax , one imposed on drivers who cannot afford newer cars. In 2006, some unofficial current estimates put the total cost of the program to Ontario motorists close to 2 billion dollars. The most recent verifiable figure, $ 1.1 billion (in 2004), consists of some $ 435 million in Drive Clean test fees, and about $ 690 million for repairs to vehicles that failed. Costs for preliminary repairs to vehicles in order to qualify for Drive Clean tests have never been included in these figures, such as repair or replacement of corroded exhaust system components. Drive Clean test facilities are free to refuse to test any vehicle until such preliminary repairs are made. The Ontario government also has

1288-458: Is universal agreement that they need to be solved include, for example, human trafficking , poverty , water and sanitation as a human right . "Social issues" as referred to in the United States also include topics (also known as "causes") intended by their advocates to advance certain ideals (such as equality ) include: civil rights , LGBT rights , women's rights , environmentalism , and veganism . Advocates and advocacy groups represent

1344-536: The Advocacy Institute demonstrates the increasing importance of transnational advocacy and international advocacy. Transnational advocacy networks are more likely to emerge around issues where external influence is necessary to ease the communication between internal groups and their own government. Groups of advocates willing to further their mission also tend to promote networks and to meet with their internal counterparts to exchange ideas. Transnational advocacy

1400-465: The AMA had commenced a lawsuit against the former vice-president of information technology seeking recovery of $ 8.2 million CAD related to fraudulent invoices. CAA Club Group was formed in 2016 by the merger of CAA South Central Ontario with CAA Manitoba, is an affiliated club of the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) in the Canadian provinces and territories of Manitoba, Nunavut, and parts of Ontario. It

1456-549: The Automobile Protection Association. In APA surveys, it was shown that the same car can have extremely variable results in test results (up to 800 percent in one survey), even at the same garage or on the same day with no work being carried out on the car. In 2004, the Ontario Auditor General reported on myriad cases of fraud within the Drive Clean program, such as test facilities (garages) that, for

1512-620: The CAA locations that double as Ministry of Transport licence renewal and vehicle registration offices. The Ontario Motor League originally was not affiliated with the CAA or AAA. The OML set up various committees such as the Legislative and Good Roads Committee and also started a Touring Bureau which informed members where they could drive without getting mired in mud, and which hotels would provide gas and water. New automobile clubs sprang up across Ontario, amalgamating in time with others, but still using

1568-514: The Drive Clean program, which was supposed to be revenue neutral had a surplus and was expected to have a surplus of $ 50M by 2018. As a result, the Government of Ontario reduced the price of emissions testing from $ 35 CAD to $ 30 CAD. In 2014, testing methods were changed from tailpipe emissions testing to using the On Board Diagnostics (OBDII) port under the driver's side dashboard. OBDII

1624-516: The Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). At its inception, the program required light duty vehicles under 4,500 kg (cars, SUV, light trucks) that were over three years old to have an emissions test completed every two years (vehicles manufactured on even years are tested on odd years and vehicles manufactured on odd years are tested on even years) before

1680-522: The Government of Ontario and came into effect April 1999. The program was initially intended to weed out vehicles producing unrestrained amounts of particulate emissions contributing to smog and increasing pollution. It applies only to vehicles registered in southern parts of Ontario from Windsor to Ottawa due to the volume of vehicles in that part of the province. It is administered by privately owned facilities (such as auto repair shops and vehicle dealerships) that have been accredited by Ontario's Ministry of

1736-498: The Manitoba Motor League, becoming an integral part of motoring history in the province – from developing the first road map, to marking highways, to implementing road safety programs. The MML was renamed CAA Manitoba in 1993. Today CAA Manitoba represents more than 190,000 members and has expanded beyond emergency road service to include a full service travel agency, home and property insurance and travel products. CAA Manitoba

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1792-525: The Ministry of Environment posted a request for proposals on MERX Canadian Public Tenders service. The modernized Drive Clean program, which was fully implemented on January 1, 2013, is intended to provide significant benefits by implementing OBD2 testing. Since January 1, 2013, the OBD2 testing has led to an average of 10% failure rate. On 1 April 2017, the $ 30 fee for a drive clean test was eliminated, however if failed

1848-583: The OML as a unifying organization to represent motorists to the government of Ontario. Over time, the names of both the individual clubs and the OML changed. By 1996, the old Toronto Automobile Club was known as CAA Central Ontario, and the OML as CAA Ontario which still exists as a formal organization to help represent the remaining clubs to the Government of Ontario . In 2005, after mergers with CAA Eastern Ontario, CAA Peterborough, CAA Windsor, CAA Mid-western Ontario and

1904-591: The Toronto Automobile Club and clubs representing Hamilton, Ottawa and Kingston formed the Ontario Motor League (OML) with the purpose of helping automobile owners to lobby governments, as opposition to the automobile was extensive at the time. It had a paid membership from the various clubs of 170 active, and 56 associate, individual members. In Ontario, the CAA was formerly the 'Ontario Motor League'. It facilitates Ontario's Drive Clean program from

1960-555: The USA. Groups involved in advocacy work have been using the Internet to accomplish organizational goals. It has been argued that the Internet helps to increase the speed, reach and effectiveness of advocacy-related communication as well as mobilization efforts, suggesting that social media are beneficial to the advocacy community. Advocacy activities may include conducting an exit poll or

2016-539: The air (including most so-called "alternative" fuels). The Greenpeace co-founder, Robert Hunter , wrote in 1999 that Drive Clean "has turned out to be an agonizing bureaucratic nightmare that hits drivers with what is basically another tax and a huge hassle, while accomplishing -- in Environmental Commissioner Eva Ligeti 's assessment -- 'minimal benefits.'" Critics of Drive Clean, who included Hunter and many other environmentalists argue that

2072-827: The average car donation to Car Heaven is 16 years old (model year 1990-1991). The typical vehicle donated to Car Heaven would otherwise have been on the road for three more years. Drive Clean's impact on air pollution in Ontario has been contested. Since its creation in 1999 the Ontario Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Association have each released estimates of the number of illnesses caused by air pollution in Ontario. The Ontario Medical Association estimated in 2005 that total air pollution (from all sources) would cause some 5,800 deaths and 17,000 hospital admissions that year. It also estimated that

2128-464: The cost of equipment purchased to perform emissions tests in 1998/1999 would not be fully amortized until 2014 and therefore the program has been continued despite calls for its cancellation. As of 2015, Ontario was the only province in Canada requiring emissions testing on its vehicles, with British Columbia phasing out their program December 31, 2014. In 2012, Ontario's Auditor General determined that

2184-570: The cost of operating the TTC, it is by far the least-funded mass transit system in North America and one of the least-funded in the world. Another lost opportunity to reduce smog was the quiet shut-down of the Hamilton Street Railway 's all-electric trolleybus routes in 1992. The Ontario government has however invested toward expanding public transit in Ontario. It agreed to fund a variety of transit projects under The Big Move . On June 7, 2010,

2240-494: The direct health care costs of air pollution in Ontario were about $ 507 million, and the total economic cost of air pollution to be about $ 7.8 billion. However, three years later the Canadian Medical Association released a report that estimated that in 2008 there would be 4,597 hospital admissions in Ontario caused by air pollution, of which around 1,178 would result in acute premature death. It also suggested that in

2296-412: The filing of an amicus brief . People advocate for a large number and variety of topics. Some of these are clear-cut social issues that are universally agreed to be problematic and worth solving, such as human trafficking . Others—such as abortion —are much more divisive and inspire strongly held opinions on both sides. There may never be a consensus on this latter type of issues, but intense advocacy

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2352-1036: The former CAA South Central Ontario (Hamilton and region), CAA Central Ontario took the name CAA South Central Ontario. It has over 2 million members and covers the entire province except for the Niagara Region (CAA Niagara) and the far north and eastern (including Ottawa ) regions of the province (CAA North and East Ontario). CAA South Central Ontario covers the City of Toronto, and the following areas in Ontario: Districts of Algoma and Muskoka, Counties of Bruce, Dufferin, Elgin, Essex, Frontenac, Grey, Haliburton, Hastings, Huron, Lambton, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox and Addington, Middlesex, Northumberland, Oxford, Perth, Peterborough, Prince Edward, Simcoe, Wellington and City of Kawartha Lakes, Regional Municipalities of Brant County, Chatham-Kent, Durham, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton, Hamilton-Wentworth, Peel, Waterloo and York. CAA Saskatchewan

2408-608: The ill-fated General Motors EV1 , and personal transports like the Segway PT . Unlike over 40 U.S. states, the Ontario government has banned low-speed electric vehicles citing "safety concerns". On March 23, 2006, Ontario's McGuinty government doubled their former $ 1,000 ceiling sales tax rebate on hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius up to a maximum of $ 2,000, but stopped short of making such vehicles PST-free. Politicians Norm Sterling and Howard Hampton have argued that diverting

2464-543: The most stringent American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended standards. On November 18, 2005, the Minister of the Environment , announced several proposed changes to the Drive Clean program. Standards were tightened by a further 11.5%. Newer vehicles, which have a very high pass rate due to better emission control technology off the assembly line, were exempted from the program until they are seven years old. Critics have long argued against emissions testing, however

2520-540: The province split between two clubs of comparable size; the third club (CAA Niagara) operates in a single regional municipality covering about 3% of the province's population. The Alberta Motor Association (AMA) is a non-profit membership organization serving Alberta and the Northwest Territories . The organization was founded in 1926 with 1400 members; original dues were $ 6.50. It is headquartered in Edmonton and

2576-487: The province's own consulting firm, the Eastern Research Group, have strongly recommended that financial assistance should be provided. The repair cost limit is about to triple since the program's inception (from $ 200 to $ 450, and a proposed $ 600 RCL ) while emissions standards have simultaneously become 23% more stringent leading to a greater percentage of vehicles that fail emissions tests. The social welfare effect

2632-545: The same provincial funds used for paying for Drive Clean towards improving existing public transit networks might have yielded a far greater overall environmental benefit. Proper funding may have also acted to reduce the well-documented disproportional fare increases seen in Toronto from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in recent years. The TTC has argued in the past that with riders covering more than 80 per cent of

2688-453: The society. One of the most popular forms is social justice advocacy. Cohen, de la Vega, and Watson (2001) state that this definition does not encompass the notions of power relations, people's participation, and a vision of a just society as promoted by social justice advocates. For them, advocacy represents the series of actions taken and issues highlighted to change the "what is" into a "what should be", considering that this "what should be"

2744-447: The test. On September 28, 2018, the Ontario government announced the cancellation of the Drive Clean program and instead focusing on heavy duty vehicles; the change became effective on April 1, 2019. Heavy duty trucks and buses are also covered by the Drive Clean program. They are tested annually once the vehicle is more than one year old, with no age limit to testing; A 1975 diesel powered truck or bus would still be tested so long as it

2800-432: The vehicle's owner or lessor can renew their licence plate. Vehicles that were manufactured up to and including 1988 are exempt as new vehicle emissions standards were coming into effect beginning in 1989. The minimum age for testing has been increased twice since the beginning of the program. As of 2011, vehicles that are over seven years old require emissions testing, however vehicles manufactured before 1988 are exempt from

2856-594: The world, with point-of-sale discounts and the opportunity to earn CAA Dollars which can be redeemed on CAA merchandise and services. Membership benefits and pricing varies by club; however, membership levels can generally be categorized as follows: From at least early 2020 to September 2023, CAA South Central Ontario offered a program focused on transit users and cyclists called "On the Move powered by CAA" (green card) which included access to most CAA discounts and one Bike Assist call per year, but no other roadside assistance. This

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2912-401: The year 2031 there would be 2,222 deaths in Ontario caused by air pollution, compared to 7,774 hospital admissions. In addition, the number of smog advisory days in Ontario peaked in 2005 at 53 days. In 2013, there were only two smog advisory days in Ontario. In addition, there were no smog days reported in 2015, according to a report by Air Quality Ontario In late 2004, Norm Sterling , who

2968-631: Was discontinued and merged with CAA SCO's previous red-card (À La Carte) plan as the Everyday plan in September 2023. Membership benefits include discounts at restaurants, affiliated insurance companies, and on fuel and other products at Shell Canada stations (nationwide as of September 2024; previously CAA-Quebec had a separate partnership with Couche-Tard ). Most CAA clubs distribute a print magazine to members. Since 2023, six clubs (counting South Central Ontario and Manitoba as separate clubs) have distributed

3024-532: Was introduced in 1996 and became standard in 1997 on all new vehicles. Older vehicles that are not equipped with the OBDII port continue to be tested under the older tailpipe emissions platform. Drive Clean's emissions test results have been shown to be unreliable in surveys carried out by the media such as in-depth work done by The Hamilton Spectator , the Fraser Institute , and consumer advocacy groups such as

3080-454: Was still registered. All vehicles on Ontario roads are further monitored by a 'smog patrol' team for MOECC and can be stopped at random and roadside tested. The Smog Patrol team drive vehicles that are equipped with mobile testing equipment to perform roadside tests. The Smog Patrol can also perform a visual inspection to ensure all emissions control equipment is in place and functioning as originally built (tampering with or removing this equipment

3136-556: Was the Environment Minister in the Progressive Conservative premier Mike Harris 's cabinet, stated that Drive Clean had already had its greatest impact on air pollution and had served its purpose. Sterling is often referred to as the founder of Drive Clean. Drive Clean can only address a small fraction of the total automobile emissions problem, because all internal combustion vehicles burn fuels which ultimately pollute

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