Canada's Economic Action Plan at Work: Prime Minister Harper Announces Support for the Development of Green Automotive Technologies

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Good afternoon.  Thank you, Jim, and thanks to all the management and employees of Linamar for hosting us here today.  Greetings to Minister of Industry Tony Clement, to Minister of Science and Technology and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Gary Goodyear; and to all of my colleagues who've been able to attend today.  Thank you all for the outstanding work that you are doing, including the work you've done to help make today's announcement possible.  Thank you as well to Ontario's Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, John Milloy.  We appreciate your presence, as well as her Worship the mayor. 

Ladies and gentlemen, the grand opening of Linamar's new technology and training centre is a truly exciting day for this great city.  In just four decades, Linamar Corporation has grown from a basement machine shop into a multi-billion-dollar company with manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Germany, Hungary, South Korea, China, and of course some 25 plants right here in Canada.  Linamar is now our second largest auto parts manufacturer, a world leader in the design and production of a diverse array of automotive, industrial and consumer products.  I want to congratulate Frank, Linda, all the management and staff here for creating this fantastic success story for Canada. 

The auto sector is an essential part of the Canadian economy.  It has created hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs for Canadians.  Parts and assembly plants have fuelled the growth and prosperity of cities like Guelph, Drummondville, Oshawa, Oakville, Cambridge and Windsor, and they are major contributors to the wider economies of Ontario, Quebec and of course Canada as a whole.  The Canadians who work in these plants, like all of you who have joined us here today, not only produce top-notch products; you have built a Canadian reputation for manufacturing craftsmanship that is second to none in this world.

As we all know, the sector currently faces some of the toughest challenges in its history.  The global recession has hit the industry hard.  Challenges are being felt throughout the automotive supply chain.  Linamar Corporation is no exception, but Linamar and its people have never shied from the challenge.  That's why we are proud to be here today, proud to be helping turn this challenge into an opportunity for the future. 

The technology and training centre we are opening today is an example of this forward thinking.  Our government is proud to be joining with Linamar and the province of Ontario in supporting the centre.  Engineers and researchers here will focus on cutting edge R&D as well as advanced skills training.  So don't let anyone suggest that the future of the global automotive industry lies elsewhere.  It lies right here in cities like Guelph where the next generation of Canadian auto products will be engineered, auto products that will be competitive with those built anywhere in this world.

To help ensure that you stay at the forefront of the international auto industry, today I'm pleased to announce that the Government of Canada will make a repayable contribution to Linamar to support several projects focused on the development of new environmentally efficient automotive products and processes.  Our agreement with Linamar will help leverage a total investment of up to $365 million, almost seven times greater than our repayable contribution.

Our contribution comes from our Automotive Innovation Fund.  The fund supports strategic large-scale research and development to produce vehicles that achieve state-of-the-art standards for performance, safety, fuel efficiency and low emissions.  The fund complements both our national science and technology strategy, and our commitment to reducing pollution and protecting our environment.

Even more important, this announcement today is a key part of Canada's Economic Action Plan to counter the impact of the global recession.  Investments like this one here in Guelph are just one reason why this country does not need political instability, a wasteful and unnecessary election, but needs Parliament to work on the economy of this country.

The auto sector is one of Canada's largest manufacturing industries.  Your work helps power our country's economic and technological progress, creating high quality jobs in communities like this one.  We're proud of the work that you do here.  We're proud of the contribution you are making to our country, and we're proud to help you do even more in the future.  Friends, by looking forward today and supporting industry innovators like you, our government is committed to seizing the opportunities that will get us through these tough times and ensure that our country emerges stronger than ever.

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