Toronto Star

Job security requires vision

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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

Web at thestar.ca/letters. Include full name, address, phone numbers of sender; only name and city will be published. Letter writers should disclose any personal interest they have in the subject matter. We reserve the right to edit letters, which run 50-150 words.

 ?? RENÉ JOHNSTON TORONTO STAR ?? “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,” Marty Fruchtman writes.
RENÉ JOHNSTON TORONTO STAR “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,” Marty Fruchtman writes.

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