Investment and Innovation Needed in Automotive Industry, says Report

The need for Innovation in the automotive industry is key to the long-term success of the Canadian automotive industry, according to a report released today.
Industry Minister Allan Rock joined members of the Canadian Automotive Partnership Council at their inaugural meeting today, where he released the Conference Board of Canada’s Report on Discussions of the National Forum on Automotive Innovation and Investment held in Toronto on June 26, 2002.
The report summarizes the discussions of the more than 150 private sector, labour, academic and government representatives who participated in the Forum hosted by the Industry Minister. It identifies the key medium- and long-term issues affecting the competitiveness of the Canadian automotive industry. “This report captures the broad range of views that Forum participants identified to strengthen the Canadian automotive industry’s position,” said Minister Rock.
The discussions at today’s Council meeting were, in large part, based on the Conference Board report and an earlier report on the Automotive Roundtable conducted by the Ontario government. “The goal of the Council’s first meeting was to review priority issues for the automotive industry and develop a work plan for the Council based on the priorities we agreed upon,” noted Don Walker, co-chair of the Council. Michael Grimaldi, newly elected Council co- chair and president of General Motors of Canada Limited, added, “Within the context of a strategic vision for the industry, the key areas of focus will include the innovation initiative, fiscal and investment policy, trade infrastructure, human resources and harmonization of regulations.”
“Ontario welcomes the opportunity to work with the Council to develop a long-term vision that will guide the automotive industry for years to come,” said Jim Flaherty, Ontario Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation. “I am also looking forward to working with the Council to advance Canada’s Innovation Strategy, and to build a strategic vision for the long term to allow Canada to retain existing investment and to attract additional investment in the auto sector,” said Minister Rock. “The auto sector is vital to our economy and we must make sure that it remains strong and competitive.”
The Canadian Automotive Partnership Council is composed of representatives from government, industry, and labour, and an academia. Its mandate is to identify and assign priorities to the actions needed to ensure that the Canadian automotive industry continues to develop and innovate in the short term and in the future.
To view the Conference Board of Canada’s Report on Discussions National Forum on Automotive Innovation and Investment, visit www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca/cmb/innovation.nsf/vRTF/auto/$file/CAPCeng.pdf