I'd like to thank our presenters. Right before the session started, I was over in Japan. I'm co-chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, and we had an opportunity to visit a Toyota plant in Nagoya. We met with their executives who are responsible for North American production. It was a great conversation about the importance of the auto sector industry. During that conversation, we talked about government support for GM and others. They mentioned that they were for supporting what I would think would be almost their competition in the area, General Motors, etc. They told us it was because of the person sitting beside you: because of the auto parts suppliers. Their feeling was that if people like GM go elsewhere—and hence the critical mass—the auto supply people go with them, and it makes it challenging for them to stay in Ontario.
My first question is for you, Mark. What is it that we as a government can do to support the auto sector industry, in particular noting that we have a big innovation agenda? When I worked for the government, for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities in Ontario, I used to go into auto shops. If you walked onto the floor, you'd see a bunch of tools on the wall. Now when you walk into an auto shop, it's like going into NASA. There are computers everywhere. What can we do to support the innovation agenda for that industry?
Mr. Volpe, every riding wants to know what it would take to get an auto manufacturing parts place in their riding. What things do you guys look for, and what does your industry look for?
Thank you.