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Phillip Hong
8 February, 2009 |
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It is chilling to hear that this country has lost at least a hundred
thousand jobs according to a Statistics Canada report. The automobile
industry is definitely affected considering the endless layoffs, slowdowns
and temporary shutdowns that have affected much more than just the
manufacturer.
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We can't deny the fact that Ontario's economic progress for the past few
decades is due to the auto sector. We have to thank the average family to
American and Japanese automakers for enabling many people to survive in
this area.
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There are some who believe that the auto industry should be cut down
immediately. "If they fail, they fail". But considering that the livelihoods
of many that are based on the success of the car, it would be at least
impossible to seriously consider that.
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Why would anyone need banking if there is no money to go around and no
means of paying back debts? How could we maintain our hospitals, our
schools, our government services without tax revenue? That's a question to
solve and just telling everyone who gets laid off that they only had "bad
luck" - bad luck doesn't pay the bills for either the government or the
average middle class citizen.
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Let's face it. The auto industry is our backbone. At least I'm not afraid
of admitting that.
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What can we do to alleviate the problem? How will we survive this recession?
I am one of the minute few who don't suggest that tax cuts are the answer.
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How could we fund any deficit spending if the coffers, federal and
provincial, dry up? If we spent money completing infrastructure projects
like the Mississauga Transitway, ready in everything except for funding,
we could get those caught up in the auto meltdown to work. The tendering
system should include local labour requirements no matter how much "free
trade" suffers. We need work, not government handouts.
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Why can't we produce our own transit vehicles in the Greater Toronto Area?
Considering the fact that people don't buy enough cars to keep the economy
running, I'm sure subway trains and other potential transit vehicles,
current and future, will need parts and other related whistles that are
similar to what cars need.
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The governments of this country should make a good decision for the
environment as well as for commuters by forcing transit operators to buy
from home literally, and fund conversions for existing auto factories in
loans and grants to enable these places to operate again.
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Income tax cuts are useless if there is no income in the first place.
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