Mr. Speaker, the member's question gives me a chance to discuss Ontario becoming the number one producer of finished vehicles this year. It overtook the state of Michigan, and that happened for a number of reasons.
Michigan recently lost several plants that suffered the same fate of having to leave or close, and this affected production quite significantly. Therefore, it has taken a step back. A couple of plants have been retooling. Because of that, production over the last year was reduced. However, in the future this will be good for Michigan because new vehicles and products will begin to roll off the assembly line.
Ontario taking the place of Michigan is a testament to our own auto workers in terms of the high degree of their productivity and the value they place on quality. Additional shifts have been added because of the experience, skills, commitment and pride that those auto workers have for their products.
The issue of the Toyota plant is potentially back on the table. However, Canada still does not have an auto policy so we have to shoot from the hip on individual plant procurement, which is the wrong way to go on a national auto strategy. Windsor lost a plant as a result of this and Liberals were quite critical of the situation.
A little more than a year ago DaimlerChrysler, which is with CAW, negotiated a potentially new plant in Windsor. The government was not interested in pursuing it very hotly. Later on the tide turned. The government became interested, but the automaker changed its mind and Windsor lost the plant. Even Liberals were critical of what happened. That is because we do not have a national auto policy.
The member was quite correct to point out the excellent work being done in research and development. The University of Windsor, the Ford Centre for Excellence and the St. Clair College in my constituency are great examples of investment in R and D, improving not only the knowledge base at the university but more important newer technology.
The important thing though is whether that new technology will be used for assembling and manufacturing in Canada to create Canadian jobs. We have seen with the textile industry and other industries in the past that we can invent new technology only to have it exported somewhere else. The company might benefit, but the workers do not. That is the catch with the national auto strategy. That is one reason why I would like to see a national strategy for the auto sector. That is why I believe the textile industry is linked to the debate today. It requires the same support in terms of a national industrial strategy which would benefit Canada.