Layton presents NDP's auto action plan
Last Updated: Thursday, December 1, 2005 | 2:44 PM ET
CBC News
NDP Leader Jack Layton was in Oshawa on Thursday, speaking about the auto industry in a city hit hard by the November GM announcement. Of the job losses, 3,000 are in the city east of Toronto.
Layton's proposal includes four key points:
Jack Layton addresses supporters at the CAW Hall in Oshawa, Ont. (CP photo)
- A sustained and serious commitment to research and development so Canadian auto plants can build the cars of the future.
- Incentives that would encourage retooling of plants and launching of new products.
- Negotiations with Korea and Japan to open those markets to Canadian-built cars.
- A national border infrastructure program.
Layton challenged the other parties to endorse the NDP proposal. He said he wants to see the plan adopted, no matter who forms the government following the Jan. 23 election.
"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," he said.
The NDP's key message so far in the campaign has been that the New Democrats became an effective force in the minority Parliament. Layton wants to have more of his party members elected so they can continue to influence the agenda.
