Brian And Joe Finally Listened To Me
Nice to see that our two NDP members are worried about re-election and have convinced their Leader to do something on the border. Finally it looks like the NDP has recognized the importance of Windsor and the border to Canada and the auto industry in particular
Here are some excerpts from Jack Layton's speech today:
Jack Layton's speech at Oshawa, Ontario
Thu 1 Dec 2005
Now let’s talk about jobs in the auto industry.
Today I’m going to speak very directly about this topic… I’m going to make a commitment to you, and then I’m going to issue a challenge to Prime Minister Paul Martin and the other party leaders.
Canada cannot and we will not permit the Canadian auto industry to fade away. Nobody knows better than you why that’s important. So here’s what we’ll do about it.
In the next Parliament, we will introduce and insist on early adoption of a comprehensive auto strategy. Our auto strategy will have four key pillars.
First, a sustained and serious commitment to research and development to get products that will give our auto industry the cars of the future.
Second, carefully-designed, targeted incentives – tied to performance – to encourage the retooling of our plants and the launch of new products here in Canada.
Mr. Martin’s government is about broad-brush, no-strings-attached tax giveaways to corporations. We’re about getting results for people – including protecting their jobs by turning targeted incentives into real work.
Third, a fair trade policy. As I speak today, Mr. Martin’s government is entering into negotiations with Korea and Japan. Diversifying our trade has a lot to recommend it. But fair has to be fair. Canada must not enter into agreements that open our markets even wider than they are now to foreign car imports, when the doors are closed to our products over there. It has to be a level playing field, or it’s no deal.
Finally, we have to address border infrastructure – right now, as quickly as possible. As Sid Ryan likes to say, Oshawa is a border town. What happens on that bridge in Windsor drives what happens to your jobs here.
Canada needs a national border infrastructure program… Ontario’s auto industry does… and so does Oshawa. One broken down dump truck on that bridge can bring the auto industry to a halt.
R&D, targeted incentives, fair trade, infrastructure. We’re running out of time to get going on these priorities. If Plant number 2 in Oshawa – the jewel of General Motors… one of the best, most-productive plants in North America – can be put under threat, then there are no safe jobs in this industry.
If the plants aren’t safe, you know what’s next. What’s next on the block are the promises made to workers for decent pensions. This is high stakes for the working families of Oshawa. So here is a commitment I’m going to make to you today.
A comprehensive and effective auto strategy will be a core element of our program in the next Parliament. Any political party hoping to work with us in the next Parliament had better understand that an early, comprehensive, effective auto strategy must be part of the agenda.
I’m told Prime Minister Martin will be dropping by the Canadian Autoworkers National Council tomorrow.
I issue this challenge to him, to Stephen Harper and to Gilles Duceppe. Don’t tell us about promises you’ve made in the past. And Mr. Prime Minister, don’t tell us about programs you launched that clearly have done nothing for the working families in Oshawa and in industrial communities across Canada.
Instead I challenge all of you to commit that you will support our plan for the auto industry no matter what role the Canadian people decide to give your party in the next Parliament.
Here are some excerpts from Jack Layton's speech today:
Jack Layton's speech at Oshawa, Ontario
Thu 1 Dec 2005
Now let’s talk about jobs in the auto industry.
Today I’m going to speak very directly about this topic… I’m going to make a commitment to you, and then I’m going to issue a challenge to Prime Minister Paul Martin and the other party leaders.
Canada cannot and we will not permit the Canadian auto industry to fade away. Nobody knows better than you why that’s important. So here’s what we’ll do about it.
In the next Parliament, we will introduce and insist on early adoption of a comprehensive auto strategy. Our auto strategy will have four key pillars.
First, a sustained and serious commitment to research and development to get products that will give our auto industry the cars of the future.
Second, carefully-designed, targeted incentives – tied to performance – to encourage the retooling of our plants and the launch of new products here in Canada.
Mr. Martin’s government is about broad-brush, no-strings-attached tax giveaways to corporations. We’re about getting results for people – including protecting their jobs by turning targeted incentives into real work.
Third, a fair trade policy. As I speak today, Mr. Martin’s government is entering into negotiations with Korea and Japan. Diversifying our trade has a lot to recommend it. But fair has to be fair. Canada must not enter into agreements that open our markets even wider than they are now to foreign car imports, when the doors are closed to our products over there. It has to be a level playing field, or it’s no deal.
Finally, we have to address border infrastructure – right now, as quickly as possible. As Sid Ryan likes to say, Oshawa is a border town. What happens on that bridge in Windsor drives what happens to your jobs here.
Canada needs a national border infrastructure program… Ontario’s auto industry does… and so does Oshawa. One broken down dump truck on that bridge can bring the auto industry to a halt.
R&D, targeted incentives, fair trade, infrastructure. We’re running out of time to get going on these priorities. If Plant number 2 in Oshawa – the jewel of General Motors… one of the best, most-productive plants in North America – can be put under threat, then there are no safe jobs in this industry.
If the plants aren’t safe, you know what’s next. What’s next on the block are the promises made to workers for decent pensions. This is high stakes for the working families of Oshawa. So here is a commitment I’m going to make to you today.
A comprehensive and effective auto strategy will be a core element of our program in the next Parliament. Any political party hoping to work with us in the next Parliament had better understand that an early, comprehensive, effective auto strategy must be part of the agenda.
I’m told Prime Minister Martin will be dropping by the Canadian Autoworkers National Council tomorrow.
I issue this challenge to him, to Stephen Harper and to Gilles Duceppe. Don’t tell us about promises you’ve made in the past. And Mr. Prime Minister, don’t tell us about programs you launched that clearly have done nothing for the working families in Oshawa and in industrial communities across Canada.
Instead I challenge all of you to commit that you will support our plan for the auto industry no matter what role the Canadian people decide to give your party in the next Parliament.
posted by JoeBlog at 3:50 p.m.
<< Home