Canada’s prime minister said yesterday that he is considering providing monetary aid to the United States auto industry, which plays a large economic role in Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that he is looking at options to help out the auto sector, specifically General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.
All three automakers operate production facilities in Canada and employ numerous Canadians by way of dealers, suppliers and regional offices.
Harper said that he understands the massively detrimental effect on Canada’s economy that a failure in Detroit would produce, but he is opposed to a sector of the economy under government control or incapable of operating without government intervention.
“We are all aware of the deep problems of some of the major companies in the auto sector. We are also aware of some of the actions that are taking shape in the United States,” Harper told the Associated Press. “The government of Canada will examine all possibilities. We haven’t ruled anything out or anything in.”
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, who presides over the region most engulfed in the auto industry, said that Canada can’t compete with already-committed U.S. bailout offer of $25 billion.
Canada has about half a million workers in fields directly related to the auto industry.



11/11, 10:31 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Thanks, Johnny!
11/11, 10:32 AM
posted by:
A4
maybe thisll boost our process along
11/11, 11:21 AM
posted by:
golf4me
You know you hit rock bottom when….
11/11, 11:27 AM
posted by:
savedsol
It would only make sense! The CAW is bleeding and burying them as fast as the UAW!
11/11, 11:30 AM
posted by:
gehrhardt
So, instead of using that money to help out less fortunate areas of the country or use it to help the laid off auto workers train for a new job, he’ll give it away to foreign corporations. Wait, that’s what he’s always done anyway. No wonder 65% of the country didn’t vote for this clown.
Watch out Detroit. If you take money from Harper, he may ask you to do him a favour at a later date, no questions asked.
11/11, 11:49 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Don’t thank me yet, mayer_ray! Harper’s not a bad guy even though all my lobbying to lower the price of beer went largely ignored during our federal election. You don’t need a political science degree to realize our economies are so intertwined that when you get chopped at the knees we stumble as well. Despite the fact that Harper’s conservatives were unable to achieve a majority (don’t get me started again) I doubt there will be much opposition to some kind of relief package as there are also huge numbers of people affected in the province of Quebec as well. Our economy is surprisingly strong at this time when you put things into a global perspective so we can certainly afford it, and with our dollar being back where it belongs that also helps bring things back in line. So don’t worry about our end, and for gosh sake please no one break into a chorus of “Blame Canada”.
Gehrhardt, take away the Bloc’s tally and what percentage voted for Mr. Harper? (and if this thread becomes a rant he started it)
11/11, 12:09 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
Likely an act of goodwill than anything else, but it does state a lot about our neighbors, eh?
11/11, 12:39 PM
posted by:
planet_drive
Atleast the Canadians are nice enough and smart enough to see the value in helping us out. Not like the worthless thankless Mexicans which also produce domestic cars.
11/11, 1:11 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Planet_drive, there are only three Mexicans who could make a difference: Salinas, Calderón and Slim (although Salinas is no longer in México). And trust me, you wouldn’t want ANY of those three getting involved.
11/11, 2:40 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
planet_drive………
“Not like the worthless thankless Mexicans which also produce domestic cars.”
HAY “planet_drive” WHEN IS THE NEXT KKK RALLY?
ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO BURN ANOTHER CROSS?
MAKE SURE YOU PICK UP YOUR WHITES FROM THE KOREAN CLEANERS, THE ONE NEXT TO THE MEXICAN TACO PLACE, ACROSS THE STREET FORM THE INDIAN LIQUOR STORE, AS YOU DRIVE YOUR JAPANESE CAR, DON’T YOU LOVE CALIFORNIA?????
11/11, 4:59 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Here’s a little story so that you know how Mexicans do business:
Last year, NASA needed to send up a craft to fix a satellite. Well, they were having political trouble after the last shuttle disaster, so they decided to seek proposals from other places. They were approached by a German firm, a Chinese scientist, and a Mexican businessman, each bringing a separate quote. The German firm quoted $2,000,000 for the job, and when asked why, they said that they would need to pay the workers and get the materials, which didn’t come from Germany but from other markets. The Chinese scientist quoted $1,000,000, and he said it was because they don’t have to pay their workers nearly as much, and because most of the materials were from China and the prices were very low. The Mexican businessman quoted $3,000,000. The NASA official asked why such a high price, as he expected it to be lower than the German price. So the Mexican businessman said, “I keep one million for me, you keep one million for you, and we send the Chinese guy to do the job.”
But even with that, I love Mexicans. Hell, I married one.
11/11, 5:18 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
LOL…. that sound like my dad…..
11/11, 7:20 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
In today’s world Mexico has always been our ally. Since there has been no notoriety then we really do not know Mexico’s stance on matters, however, I suspect they too would be supportively in their own way. I get tired of those who constantly condemn Mexico and wish they would simply move to Mexico if they feel so vastly superior. After all, if they are that much better then would they not be able to run the factories where the Mexican labor is housed to make the goods for the US? Did I see you raise your hand planet_drive?
11/12, 1:22 AM
posted by:
acura_el2000
friggen “Conservatives” why waste our money? We already gave out a massive loan, which has gone completely unpaid, now they wanna give them more. idiots. This is why I didn’t vote for them.
anyway I feel that Detroit needs to file for bankruptcy and start over again. This is the only way, get rid of the UAW, and the CAW. Restructure.
11/12, 11:42 AM
posted by:
oldraven
Captain Calgary spending money OUTSIDE of the Athabasca Oil Sands? I’m amazed. The loan was from the Ontario Gov., wasn’t it acura_el2000? And that was to keep the Oshawa plant open, which will be closed anyway.
Here’s to the Canadian Gov. noticing that it has a manufacturing sector, after letting it all but disappear over the last five years. Cheers.