NDP SUPPLEMENTARY OPINION

Brian Masse, M. P.
Windsor West
NDP Industry Critic

POLICY INSTRUMENTS

With the manufacturing sector is made up of numerous sub-sectors that are distinctive and have a variety of challenges that need to be addressed. This can only be done by focusing with further detail before coming up with a series of policy instruments that are needed for each sub sector. Therefore the NDP recommends,

That the Government of Canada develop sector based strategies for the manufacturing industry to address the specific concerns and challenges that are distinct for that particular sub-sector.

For example the establishment of a National Auto Strategy that would encompass all trade, financing, labour, innovation, research, tax and environment policies as a whole. The NDP Green Auto strategy should be the model of such a policy. Other examples of sectors needing specific strategies include textiles, aerospace, shipbuilding, plastics, food processing, and chemicals.

FINANCING

Certain manufacturing industries are facing difficulties in regards to capital access and credit capacity. This difficulty is more pronounced in some sub-sectors than others. With large financial institutions not providing capital to sectors they previously did, this has created a unique challenge. As referred to by the payments for the Production Parts Approval Process (PAPP) system in the tool, die and mould industry being the most pronounced example of the financial barriers present in the manufacturing industry. The access to capital is essential for a capital intensive industry such as manufacturing. Therefore, the NDP recommends

That the Government of Canada establishes a sector specific financing mechanism for the manufacturing industry.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The Windsor-Detroit Gateway presently has four modes of crossing with a tunnel, bridge, rail tunnel, and truck ferry. With the potential addition of another crossing a few years away, a methodology of coordination and governance is urgently needed. This would increase the efficiency of the gateway for the movement of goods and people across the border while allowing for transportation management to fully utilize the present and potential infrastructure. This would significantly improve the long term investment climate of the region. Therefore the NDP recommends

That the Government of Canada work with the Province of Ontario and the City of Windsor to establish a Public Border Authority for the Windsor-Detroit gateway to coordinate and provide oversight for all present and future crossings in the region.

That the government of Canada ensures that the new crossing in the Windsor-Detroit Gateway is publicly owned and operated which provides for the lowest toll rates possible.

TRADE

With the Free Trade Agreement with the United States eighteen years old and the North American Free Trade Agreement in effect for thirteen years it is time for a comprehensive study to evaluate the economic outcomes of these agreements. When these studies are complete recommendations to ameliorate the operational difficulties that have resulted from these agreements must be implemented. Furthermore, a detailed analysis on sector based trade agreements must be conducted in comparison to comprehensive trade agreements. Therefore, the NDP recommends

That the Government of Canada conduct a comprehensive study of the North American Free Trade Agreement economic impact over its duration, and study the economic outcomes of sector based trade agreements in a variety of sectors and how this compares to comprehensive trade agreements

That the Government of Canada withdraws from the Free Trade talks with South Korea until it can be demonstrated that non-tariff and tariff barriers are eliminated in South Korea.