Thank you.
For the record, my name is John Toth. I am first vice-president of Unifor local 195, but that in itself does not define me. I am also the vice-chair of Workforce WindsorEssex, the local labour planning council. I'm also on the campaign cabinet of the Windsor-Essex county United Way and I'm also the past chairperson of over a dozen labour adjustment committees that were established to help people who lost their jobs due mostly to workplace closures. I tell you this, not because I'm presenting you my resume, although I may need to do that at some future time, but to give you some context as to my comments and the perspective from which I come.
During the last recession, our area, Windsor-Essex county, lost over 29,000 jobs, it's estimated, in parts, in assembly—I'm sorry, that's in Canada—and only about half of those jobs returned. I am not a radical person, but I am a realist, and the reality of the situation, as I look at the TPP, is that most credible people, most analysis, and most independent analysis as well have come to the conclusion that this trade agreement will have a negative impact on the auto industry regardless of what you think it does to the other industries. I think there's a consensus that the auto industry will be deeply impacted and will suffer loss of jobs as a result of that.
During the last recession, as I said, we lost a number of jobs. Most of those companies were able to rebound, but those jobs were transferred to lower cost jurisdictions. Under the TPP, there are going to be more options for those manufacturers to go to lower cost jurisdictions, and fewer jobs will come back to Canada.
I used to work for a company that employed over 500 people here in Windsor-Essex and I saw that workplace dismantled and shipped to another jurisdiction. I saw thousands of other jobs disappear as well and I saw the impact of those jobs on the people. I saw people lose their jobs. I saw people lose their benefits. I saw people lose their homes, their wives, and their lives in some cases. I see this as a continuation of that phenomenon because, inevitably, there will be a further reduction in jobs in the auto parts sector under the TPP.
The auto parts and auto itself are a major export market for Canada. Canada employs over 500,000 people in the industry. It's Canada's number one export. Locally it's extremely important. Windsor is a microcosm of how important that industry is. Just locally in Windsor, Windsor produced $11 billion worth of products and vehicles last year.
Does that mean I have one minute or does that mean I'm out of time?