I have just a minor housekeeping point before I ask some questions, and it is with respect to the question of a national auto strategy. Maybe this is a point that sticks in my craw a bit, but in February 2008, then Industry Minister Prentice announced at the Toronto Board of Trade our four-point auto action plan. I believe Bob Chernecki was there representing Buzz Hargrove for the CAW national executive. He publicly commended the minister for the auto action plan. From that auto action plan, of course, comes the auto innovation fund, which the $80 million federal investment in reopening the Ford Essex engine plant came from. As it stands today, that is the only good news, the only place where the footprint is actually expanding in the automotive industry, with that particular investment.
I think it's fair to say there may be a fulsome debate on whether you think the strategy is comprehensive enough, but I don't think it's fair to say that there is no national auto strategy, in light of those announcements. I leave that for the record. You may want to comment on it at some point.
Mr. Chair, more specifically, the most recent announcement is that there's a tentative agreement reached with General Motors and the CAW. I think the minister has been clear that we commend the step forward. It will now go to some number crunching with some of the other issues in the overall viability of General Motors to see whether the numbers add up and what amount of support can be expected from the federal government.
One of the issues, of course, is GM's unfunded pension liability. To the best of your knowledge, what is that unfunded pension liability currently at? Can you give us a ballpark figure on what you think it is? I've heard anywhere from $4 billion to $6 billion. Are we in the ballpark on that?