Thank you.
I'd like to, once again, thank my colleague MP Masse for his kind words. Indeed, I learned a lot. INDU was one of the very first committees I joined. I definitely learned from someone who has been there a long time. I really appreciate it.
Where did we end up yesterday? We were talking about the fact that we are a willing partner and that we remain a willing partner, because we think it's a success story. We were talking about the fact that we are being extremely transparent, but we are balancing that transparency with making sure we mitigate the risk of unintended consequences as a result of full disclosure. The option on the table—and I strongly recommend we look at it, consider it and approve it—is for us to go through a staged process.
Stage one is having unredacted contracts in front of all of us for a whole week. I'm willing to sit here for longer than a week. I'm talking on my behalf. I'm willing to forgo...and be here right after the House rises for Christmas in order to look at these, because I think it's a success story and we are accountable to stakeholders. However, to mitigate the risk of unintended consequences that would result from full disclosure, we are saying that we'll ask the company to redact a copy and that this redaction could be made public.
We also talked about making sure we go through the integrity of the process. We talked about the various stakeholders we are accountable to. We talked about the fact—I'll reiterate it—that the hiring plan submitted to the Government of Canada during the process of incentive negotiation clearly states who we're hiring, for how long we're hiring them, how we're housing them, etc. I wanted to raise a point last night.... I've been reflecting on this since last night: What's the real reason we are trying to do this and we are not accepting that very balanced approach, which allows us to mitigate the risk.
Before I come to that, I want to go back to MP Masse.
MP Masse said that he believes there was a lack of planning. I'd like to submit that I am led to believe, at least based on what I'm reading, and I'm hoping that, once we have an opportunity to look at these—unredacted, in committee, in camera, with the clerk present—we'll see that a lot of planning has gone on. At the very least I can quote this fact about the planning, which I have been quoting since then. I will read it from a briefing that was prepared, at least, for me. It says, LG Energy Solution has confirmed to Seoul investor officers that they still intend to hire 2,500 Canadians, have hired 130 since March and continue to hire as per their hiring plan submitted to the Government of Canada during the process of the incentive negotiation. This tells me that, at least on the labour side, there's definitely a plan.
Last night, my colleague spent a lot of time talking about IP. He talked about the training report. Once again, it is clearly stated that these are temporary, special skill.... They're coming to Canada. They're crossing the border back and forth, between Canada and the U.S., to implement as well as train. Once again, my colleague MP Masse brought up proper training. I don't think that's something that will get redacted, whether it's unredacted or the company redacts it. It's a success story. Nobody wants to hide the fact that we are bringing, under the free trade agreement we have with Korea...as well as the genesis of the contract.
Also, look at the unions. Unions have already been a part of this. They've looked at it. I'm sure the heads of the unions have been in touch with you. Around proper training, at least, it's quite clear why these resources are coming. Regardless of whether we look at it in public or in camera, training is already part of it and it's being discussed.
You also talked about housing. That's great. As you know, since August, we have been going around and making announcements in various cities. We have been working with all provinces and municipalities. I am proud to say that in Richmond Hill on Monday—I was with Mr. Fraser—we made an announcement of $31.2 million of housing accelerator funding. That funding is also available to the City of Windsor.
Just as MP McCauley said, my daughter is also a graduate of Windsor's dual JD, and yes, housing was a big issue. I'm glad this might be an opportunity for us to be able to make recommendations. The recommendation that you're bringing is a great recommendation. I don't think that's going to be something that's going to get redacted, which we are so worried about. If you're openly and publicly talking about it, that's great.
When we talk about a lack of planning, I think there is a plan, at least on the labour side. I believe there is a plan on the implementation of these technologies. We are onboarding 130 people to be able to do this. We are already issuing visas under the free trade agreement for these experts to come to Canada. As far as proper training goes, it naturally fits into the fact that these special resources and skills are coming here. Housing is a great cost to them, but it's open for us to discuss it.
Now, MP Masse also talked about a national auto strategy. I think that's a great idea.
