FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 8, 2018

STATEMENT FROM BRIAN MASSE MP ON DEAL BETWEEN GENERAL MOTORS AND UNIFOR

 

OTTAWA, ON – NDP innovation, Science and Economic Development critic Brian Masse MP (Windsor West) issued the following statement on the deal between General Motors and Unifor regarding the new product and jobs at Oshawa Assembly:

 

“I want to congratulate General Motors (GM) and Unifor for coming together to improve a plan for workers at the Oshawa Assembly Plant.  The resilience of Unifor, and workers across the county, is admirable.  The ability of General Motors Canada to come together and work with the union and workers in such difficult circumstances demonstrates that they know the work from Oshawa is world-class and deserves respect.

 

Moving forward, it is these situations including the loss of the third shift at the Fiat-Chrysler Assembly plant and the loss of the third shift at the Ford Motor Company Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ontario, demonstrate the immediate need to curb further job loss with a National Automotive Policy.

 

Recent investment decisions outside Canada, and our diminished footprint in the automotive capacity are not warning signs, but rather the result of a passive strategy that has had limited success and resounding failure when it comes to investment and product planning for our future.

 

I am calling on the Liberal Government to take note of this development and understand that there is a better way forward with a National Automotive Policy.  Companies, workers and Canadians cannot sit around and wait any longer.  The time for action is now.  It has been months since I have asked the Minister of Innovation to act on lost opportunities to Detroit.  These are not entirely lost opportunities and with a plan we can still seize them.”

 

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For further Information: Mohummed Peer at 226.280.2229