2001-2002 ANNUAL REPORT - AUTO21

8 Driving innovation through research excellenceTHEME BS OCIETAL I SSUES AND THE F UTURE A UTOMOBILETheme Coordinator: Dr. Charlotte Yates, McMaster UniversityThrough the years, the automobile has had a profoundeffect on society. More than 150,000 Canadians areemployed directly in the automotive industry, withthousands more employed in related industries.Enormous wealth is generated for Canada as a resultof this industry. Yet, the conditions under which thisindustry operates are changing as a result of regionaleconomic integration with the United States andMexico and changing government policy.The automotive industry and use of theautomobile also entail significant social and societalimpacts. As a major force in Canadian society, theautomobile affects national employment, governmentpolicy, standards and regulations, labour relations andinternational trade relations. Increasing volumes ofvehicular traffic on roads in densely populated regionsnot only impact the environment, but can also lead toincreased vehicle operator stress resulting in anti-socialbehaviours in the operation of motor vehicles.Theme B focuses on the effects the automobile hason modern day society by exploring four sub-themes:• Public policy;• Work and labour;• Anti-Social behaviour (including drunk driving,road rage, etc.); and• Business and economic analysis of theautomotive industry.Project TitleProject LeaderB01 Public Policy and the Automobile in Canada Dr. Maureen Molot, Carleton UniversityB02 Labour and Work Dr. Charlotte Yates, McMaster UniversityB03 Anti-Social Behaviour and the Automobile Dr. Reg Smart, Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthDr. Bob Mann, Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthB04 Business/Economic Analysis of Canada's Dr. John Holmes, Queen's UniversityAuto IndustryDr. Pradeep Kumar, Queen's UniversityBB01More than just a form of transportation, the vehicle affectsall aspects of society. Theme B investigates the positive andnegative societal impacts generated by today's automobileand its successor.The broad public impacts of the automobile make it asignificant topic for the formation and management ofgovernment policy. Conversely, enacted government policyhas significant effect on the well-being of the industry andauto users. Project B01: Public Policy and the Automobile, ledby Dr. Maureen Molot at Carleton University, investigates whatgovernment can do through the implementation of publicpolicy, to optimize the benefits of the industry, and use of theautomobile for the Canadian public.