Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  That's a question you really have to ask the parts industry itself. As I've said, we're highly integrated. We've got parts companies in Canada that, one, are diversifying, which is a good thing, and two, provide parts and components to companies, our assembly plants, on both sides of the border.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  It depends on how they engage the economy, I suppose. But I would say yes.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  Again, I have no means of answering that question.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  I assume the two companies that submitted viability plans provided some indication of that, or at least addressed that issue to some extent—and to the extent that it's even possible to. But in my position at the CVMA, I just do not have knowledge of that information.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  In fact, you might have more than three companies.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  The auto industry in Canada accounts for roughly 500,000 direct and indirect jobs. As Mr. Romano pointed out, whether it's through dealerships or the supply chain, we are located in virtually every community across Canada. When something happens to the auto industry, it doesn't happen only to the assembly jobs.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  Mr. Masse, this evening I'm not in a position to respond to that, because I don't know.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  Our view is that what is being negotiated right now with the Canada-Korea free trade agreement is not the right deal for Canada, whether it's the auto industry or perhaps elsewhere. In our case, what is currently being negotiated could bring as much as, or over, $1,300 on the hood of every vehicle Korea sends to this country, on top of being the wide-open market.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  That would be government money, but let's be clear here. You're also going to get some revenue in return, by virtue of those new sales. So we need to net it out.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  Well, in some ways, it's almost as if it should be there in perpetuity. As long as there's an interest in investing in Canada, as long as we have the right business conditions in Canada, it would have usefulness. So it's like one of these things where, when you look at the ledger in terms of the investment decision, one jurisdiction versus another—and we've seen this in the southern United States, where they have put literally a billion dollars cash on the table to attract new investment—the automotive investment fund provides a positive for Canada—

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  Nobody has drawn down on that money.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  I can't really comment on that, but those companies that are seeking bridging loans have disclosed viability plans to you or to the government. That discloses their operations, their viability, their liabilities, etc., in terms of being a going concern. That has to be presumably disclosed in those plans.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  I really can't say. I can't offer any guarantees. I can't say yes, that is going to be enough, or no, it isn't. Let's be clear here. When we take a look at the economic conditions, whether it be in Canada or the United States or elsewhere around the world, we are indeed a global economy now.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  If I could add to that, I think now it's evident that any major automotive jurisdiction around the world is supporting their domestic industry in some major way. Certainly, I think it's known that Toyota has sought funding assistance from the Japanese government, and of course that can take different forms as well.

Subcommittee on the Automotive Industry in Canada committee  Maybe I can kick that off. First, $350 million was a number we put out for roughly 100,000 vehicles. Our view of this is that we keep the program simple; we don't construct something like what we've already constructed, which is not going to work or provide any real economic stimulus.