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Adapt, don't shut down |
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The auto industry is important. |
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Phillip Hong
Originally published 8 Feb, 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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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? |
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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. Income tax cuts are useless if there is no income in the
first place. |
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