Job security requires vision
Re It’s time for a truly Canadian automaker, Olive, Nov. 27
I applaud David Olive’s visionary solution to the dilemma we face in this province of being constantly held hostage by foreign automakers’ threats of plant closures.
He makes a convincing case for a domestically owned and controlled auto sector in Canada; and that we have the know-how, money and infrastructure in place to make a successful transition to publicly owned auto manufacturing.
We just need the will of our federal and provincial legislatures to make it happen. We’ve done everything in the auto industry, except own it. Now’s the time. Grant Orchard, Toronto
Re Ford’s Ontario not so ‘Open for Business,’ Cohn, Nov 27
General Motors is clearly focused on the future of the automotive industry as it moves to significantly invest in the next generation of electric and selfdriving vehicles.
As Martin Regg Cohn so clearly articulates, Premier Doug Ford’s vision of an Ontario “Open for Business” is rooted in 1950s thinking.
Given the proximity of the GM assembly plant in Oshawa to both GM’s Canadian Technical Centre in Markham and the Automotive Centre for Excellence in Oshawa (a collaboration with UOIT and government), there might have been reason for optimism for the future of the Oshawa plant, had the premier of Ontario been a progressive visionary rather than Doug Ford. Lyle Goodin, Bowmanville, Ont.
Re Trump fights while Trudeau and Ford roll over on GM plant closure, Walkom
Thomas Walkom’s column really addressed the true reasoning by GM for closing plants in Canada and the U.S. He notes his disappointment with the “wishy washy” reaction from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but I was especially disappointed to see Premier Doug Ford throwing in the towel so easily.
At least U.S. President Donald Trump is committed to the American workforce and industrial base, and will make it pretty uncomfortable for GM to go ahead with its closure plans.
The fact is that GM Oshawa is not producing automobiles that are of interest to consumers. Just seven or so years ago, Chevrolet Impalas were everywhere — family sedans, fleet sales, taxis and police cars. Today, you hardly see any on the road.
The bottom line is that the facility in Oshawa has an amazing history and reputation for its workforce, quality and productivity. General Motors could easily and cheaply convert this facility to manufacture other models, including hybrid and electric.
But obviously, it is looking to manufacture in offshore facilities it can operate at much lower costs. Marty Fruchtman, Toronto First, Premier Doug Ford triumphantly launches a new “Ontario is Open for Business” policy with his minister of economic development, job creation and trade, who then resigns in disgrace amid sexual misconduct allegations.
Then, almost the same day, auto parts manufacturer Tenneco announces the 2020 closing of its Owen Sound plant, with the loss of close to 500 jobs. And now GM has announced it is closing Ontario’s automotive crown jewel, its Oshawa plant, putting 2,500 people out of work.
It’s starting to look like Ford’s political opportunism of selling Ontario to U.S. businesses — in the wake of scrapping the Liberal’s cap and trade program — is coming back to haunt him. Ian Scott, Toronto
The federal government, which is supposed to look after Canadians’ future, has spent billions on a heavy-oil pipeline while General Motors demonstrates that the future is electric vehicles. Apparently surprised by GM’s shutdown, federal and provincial governments seem to have no ideas and are rolling over and playing dead.
Our branch-plant economy has always been vulnerable. Tarsands shutdowns could come soon. Will we ever be mas-
ters of our own house? Douglas Buck, Toronto
So General Motors wants out of Canada? Fair enough.
Now, of course, Canadians — private, corporate and government — should avoid buying or using anything made by GM. Andy Turnbull, Toronto
Re Where does Oshawa go from here? Letters, Nov. 27
It is regrettable that many hard-working men and women will likely be losing their jobs as GM closes the Oshawa plant.
Although GM may have repaid its contractual obligations from the 2009 bailout, any hope that it would maintain a loyalty to those who helped make that happen was misplaced.
GM insists the motivation is to find savings to restructure its product platform, so an underutilized plant making vehicles that fewer and fewer buyers want has paid the price.
In a market soon to be dominated by autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles and SUVs/light trucks, we need manufacturing, research and development, training and tax strategies to ensure that Canada is at the top of the list for investment.
Just as important, those who lose their jobs during this restructuring must have access to the training they need to re-enter the workforce in well-paying, forward-looking jobs. The same upheaval and restructuring is playing itself out in other industries, particularly the oil sector.
Whatever the solution, whether it be renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, robotics or information technologies, looking nostalgically to the past for inspiration is not an option. Richard Schertzer, Milton Send email to lettertoed@thestar.ca; via
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