I'd be glad to speak to it.
The automotive industry is a very important industry in the Canadian economy. It employs about 480,000 Canadians and represents 10% of manufacturing GDP. Manufacturing as a whole is also a key part of the Canadian economy. It represents about 12% of GDP, but it really accounts for almost half of the country's business R and D and a significant proportion as well of Canada's exports. Within that envelope, automobiles constitute one of the largest sectors.
The automotive innovation fund is a fund that allows the government to contribute to innovation and to research and development in this industry, which assists the industry to renew its plants, to upgrade, and to ensure the long-term viability and footprint of the Canadian automobile industry.