Mr. Ian Deans (Hamilton Mountain):

May I address my final supplementary to the Prime Minister? He will recall, as most of us do, that during the election, speaking in Windsor he indicated he was prepared to renegotiate the auto agreement with the United States. He made reference to the fact that there was a $3 billion deficit in the auto trade pact arrangement.

Can the Prime Minister indicate whether he has personally met with any of the Big Three leaders or all of the Big Three leaders, whether he is prepared to meet with them or whether he has asked for or obtained a letter of commitment for the production of parts, for research and development and for the

May 1, 1980

Oral Questions

manufacturing of vehicles which in fact might even sell on the North American continent?

Is there any indication from the Prime Minister on what he proposes might be done with the auto industry, given that Chrysler is not the only one that is ailing and that 25,000 people and their families in Ontario are not earning a living-

Mr. Ian Deans (Hamilton Mountain):

Madam Speaker, 1 ask leave, seconded by the hon. member for Winnipeg North Centre (Mr. Knowles), to move that adjournment of the House under Standing Order 26 for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter requiring urgent consideration, namely the immediate crisis reflected in the automotive industry in Canada with over 25,000 Canadian workers laid off; the further announcement yesterday of additional lay-offs by General Motors of Canada; the cancellation by Chrysler today of its planned building of a new V-6 engine plant; the impasse in the negotiations with Chrysler Canada regarding

May 1, 1980

future plans; and the failure of the Government of Canada to seek formal renegotiation of the automotive agreement with the United States to ensure that Canada obtains its fair share of investment, jobs and research and development.

Mr. Ian Deans (Hamilton Mountain):

Madam Speaker, 1 have a question for the Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce. I am sure that everybody in the House, the minister included, is aware that the president of Chrysler, Mr. Iacocca, has publicly indicated that there will be no job guarantees in the agreement he is attempting to sign with the Canadian government, that there will be no engine plant in Windsor and no small size, world car built in Canada, and that they have just completed negotiations to sell off their Australian holdings to a Japanese company.

Oral Questions

Can the minister tell the House exactly what it is we are putting on the negotiating table in an effort to preserve for Canada that portion of the auto industry, and preserve for Canadian workers the jobs, which he long since promised would be preserved?

Mr. Deans:

Since it is clear that all the matters which, according to the minister, ought to be contained within the agreement have been discarded by the chairman of Chrysler- there is to be no guarantee, no engine plant, no small car production-what is it that we are asking for in return for the $200 million guarantee he is prepared to put up?

Mr. Deans:

Where is the minister of trade?